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Autumn Leaves

Play trailer Poster for Autumn Leaves 1956 1h 48m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
After lonely, middle-aged woman Millicent Weatherby (Joan Crawford) meets the vibrant and young Burt Hanson (Cliff Robertson) at a restaurant, they go out on a date. Although Millicent is wary of their age difference, she eventually marries him. Soon she is shocked to encounter Virginia (Vera Miles), Burt's ex-wife. Virginia claims that Burt is mentally unstable, which is later backed by Burt's father (Lorne Greene). Confused and scared, Millicent tries to learn the truth about her new husband.

Critics Reviews

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Richard Brody The New Yorker 09/19/2016
It's a story about mental illness, which is presented with a terrifying frankness as well as a constructive view of psychotherapy at a time when it was often stigmatized. Go to Full Review Dan Callahan Slant Magazine 06/16/2004
4/4
The collision of Aldrich's tough style with the soapy material makes for a film that never loses its queasy tension. Go to Full Review Francois Truffaut Arts (France) 04/04/2022
What we ought to admire here is essentially the precision of the direction of the actors... Joan Crawford, raw and at fever pitch as never before, stroking Cliff Robertson, a frail and mischievous youngster -- this alone is worth the price of the ticket. Go to Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm 03/22/2022
2.5/4
...another earnest exploration of mental illness starring Joan Crawford. Go to Full Review Nathanael Hood MUBI 12/27/2018
8/10
For once we see Aldrich look upon a broken world and smile to himself that things could be better. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 07/29/2010
B+
Robert Aldrich puts his signature grim and dark sensibility on this intense noir melodrama, starring Joan Crawford as an older career-driven femme falling for the younger and handsome Cliff Robertson, not realizing his mental problems. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Ronald R 06/11/2024 Ron R It was a very engaging movie, and Joan Crawford did a splendid, convincing portrayal of a lonely spinster...Not too dissimilar to spam dating today. As a psychologist, the mental health treatments back then (shock therapy, etc.) are badly outdated. But, for a 1958 vintage movie, I enjoyed it, See more Sister I 03/19/2024 One of the very best Joan Crawford movies I've ever seen. Real-to-date raw emotions, thoughts, and reactions to real-life mental health crises. This film could easily be made today. Essentially, because of how mental health awareness has been essential in the fight to save millions of people who have suffered in silence due to its stigma. The particular method of shocking a person in this movie, of course, would not be the method used today. One thing for sure without a doubt is that the characters are very relatable and therefore each of the main characters (husband & wife) has individual challenges. Enclosing, it took extremely phenomenal actors to create in them the emotions, fears, stress, and distrust, that most feel or felt at one time or another in this life in dealing with a mental health crisis or not. See more Steve D 01/24/2024 Takes a while to get going but it is powerful and beautifully acted. See more Les P 10/19/2023 Disturbing but good. See more s r @ScottR 04/15/2018 Pretty good, but Crawford's melodrama horribly distracted. See more 05/21/2017 interesting to watch. Melodramatic See more Read all reviews
Autumn Leaves

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Aldrich

Director

Joan Crawford

Millicent Wetherby

Cliff Robertson

Burt Hanson

Vera Miles

Virginia Hanson

Lorne Greene

Mr. Hanson

Ruth Donnelly

Liz Eckhart

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Autumn Leaves

Autumn Leaves (1956) Autumn Leaves (1956) Autumn Leaves (1956) Autumn Leaves (1956) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis After lonely, middle-aged woman Millicent Weatherby (Joan Crawford) meets the vibrant and young Burt Hanson (Cliff Robertson) at a restaurant, they go out on a date. Although Millicent is wary of their age difference, she eventually marries him. Soon she is shocked to encounter Virginia (Vera Miles), Burt's ex-wife. Virginia claims that Burt is mentally unstable, which is later backed by Burt's father (Lorne Greene). Confused and scared, Millicent tries to learn the truth about her new husband.
Director
Robert Aldrich
Producer
William Goetz
Production Co
William Goetz Productions
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 48m