ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

Lancoor A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action

ChicDragon It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

writers_reign Robert Aldridge was on a roll in the mid-fifties when he turned out The Big Knife, Attack, and this one virtually back to back. Although easy to classify as a 'womans' picture' it was definitely enjoyed by this man. It was hard to go wrong with Joan Crawford at this time in her career though she would (and did) inevitably turned out her share of dross (Berserk) because she chose to prolong her career past its sell-by date. Here she is inch-perfect as a lonely, repressed spinster dealing with her frustration by working from home as a highly professional and successful typist with lots of 'repeater' clients. Once her lifestyle is established she meets the fly in her ointment (years later Cliff Robertsom would play the 'Mosca' character in Mank's take on Volpone, The Honey Pot), Burt Hanso, a much younger man (there was actually 17 years between Robinson and Crawford). They have their mayfly moment in the sun then the new husband begins behaving like Norman Bates on steroids. On paper it should have ended in tears but we were still in the grip of happy endings. Overall it's a better than average example of the genre.

evening1 This film starts out extremely interestingly as we get to know sex-starved "spinster" Millicent Wetherby, a sensitive writer who never had a real relationship because she spent her good years attending to a sickly father.The movie creates genuine interest and suspense as we try to figure out what motivates Burt (a 33-year-old Cliff Robertson) to pursue Milly, played by Joan Crawford when she was 52.The film takes a garish turn when we realize that Burt has been driven mad by his philandering wife (a slimy Vera Miles) and lascivious father (Lorne Greene), and the film's best moment pits Millicent against this incestuous pair: "Your filthy souls are too evil for hell itself!" Crawford, wearing a strikingly unflattering bob, is nevertheless the heart of this film. She plays prim and prissy well and comes up with a number of memorable zingers, i.e., "The only trouble with the future is it comes so much sooner than it used to"..."There's something unladylike about a black eye on a woman." Though an asylum psychiatrist does a creditable job of normalizing the option of mental-health treatment, I found Burt's symptoms to be overdone and over-the-top.Crawford's unwavering sympathy for her mate strained credulity at times. For example, when he smashes a leaden typewriter onto her hand she doesn't seem to mind at all! The final scene, in which Burt gains his "walking papers," is interesting, although a bit facile. Can six months in an asylum cure pathological lying? The happy ending would have us believe as much.

Mike Conrad (conono) And if you think that's weird, his mom looks exactly like Michael Jackson did just before he died.But seriously, this sudsy bit of kitsch stars none other than the high priestess of camp herself, Joan C. She gets to perform her trademark overwrought teary thing almost continuously throughout this flick, and the viewer is invited to pretend along with her that Cliff falls head over heels for this freak. The day after they meet he's all "What would I ever do if you left me?" and I'm like "WTF, you just met her dude!" Back in the day, Charles Busch did this act really well in drag. I actually found this film fun to watch though. I laughed along with it but mostly at it. Is that so wrong?

m-santana Joan Crawford is probably one of my favorite actresses of all time because in every film I've seen of hers she never falls short. Possibly her genetics have some what to do with it, but I also believe it's talent because she has a way of reacting such a way through her facial expressions that just suck you in. After seeing many of her films, when I watch one I never think anything negative, such as why she did something. Although she can be many different characters I never say that she was better as the other because like I said Joan delivers. Milly is a character that is very talented and true to herself, and it was obvious from the beginning a man wasn't what she needed in life. It was more of something deserved. When Bert made his pass at Milly I wondered what he'd get her into. Lovely enough this movie wasn't about any sort of mystery. Bert and Milly seemed like they could really make things work, after of course the usual test. Women always test men to see if they are as legitimate as they claim to be. Not to give anything much away, Milly was surprised as any women would have been, but she stayed true to her heart. Also, probably my favorite part of the film was during the beach scene. The editing and shots were moment to moment and messed very well. The song of autumn leaves being such a solid part of the film was a nice aspect also. The song is filled with emotions in every word.