Indiscretion of an American Wife

Released May 10, 1954

1h 3m

Romance

List

43%

Tomatometer

14 Reviews

38%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

While on vacation in Rome, married American Mary Forbes (Jennifer Jones) becomes entangled in an affair with an Italian man, Giovanni Doria (Montgomery Clift). As she prepares to leave Italy, Giovanni confesses his love for her; he doesn't want her to go. Together they wander the railroad station where Mary is to take the train to Paris, then ultimately reunite with her husband and daughter in Philadelphia. Will she throw away her old life for this passionate new romance?

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TIME Magazine

The boredom is surprisingly unrelieved.

Aug 13, 2014

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

The stars give the drama a real pro try and the professional standards of delivery are high, even though the character interpretations will not be liked by all.

Mar 26, 2009

Full Review

Edward Murrain

New York Age

The story line isn't original, but Truman Capote's dialogue and the make believing of Jennifer and Clift makes Indiscretion a winner.

Jul 7, 2021

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

While Indiscretion of an American Wife and Terminal Station aren't anything special, the mild fascination comes in comparing the two versions.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 5, 2020

Full Review

Tony Sloman

Radio Times

It has a raw truth about it that is still deeply moving.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 13, 2014

Full Review

TV Guide

The filmmakers must have been trying to create another Brief Encounter (the railway station, the impossible love, etc) but missed by a mile and a half.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 13, 2014

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harwee h

The story aged a bit and the soundtrack is confusing. Charming cast, but the dialogue ho hum. The ending with the cop tearing the paper is quite absurd.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/24

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Bill B

I confess that I only viewed the last thirty minutes, but it seemed to be nothing but (over-sentimental) melodrama baloney....and a waste of good celluloid.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

05/25/23

Full Review

Rich S

Suffice it to say that a beautiful, but vain, American wife has met her match with this caveman in Europe. He's got small-man's disease and he tells her as much. "I will beat you," he says, almost with pride. He's the boyfriend and he is Montgomery Clift. He's one of the pretty people. And it's only his charm(!?) and good looks makes this movie the least bit believable.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

07/01/20

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scott s

A great performance from Jones as she deals with the struggle of fulfilling her duties to her husband and daughter while dealing with the strong feelings from her lover over seas.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

5.9/10, my review: https://boxd.it/gGST3

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

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Audience Member

Ugh. I thought this would be a rather romantic film, in a doomed love affair sort of way. Instead, it was a rather boring film, full of melodrama (along with an overly dramatic soundtrack). I didn't understand why Jennifer Jones' character would consider leaving her husband for a pretty boy she barely knew (Montgomery Clift's character), who really only seemed to want her in his bed. (He said otherwise, but I had the feeling his charming words were only the means to an end). He was unpleasant to her nephew and when he hit her, I thought, "that's it--run the other way!" In the end, I was glad the movie was over.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

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Vittorio De Sica

Director

Jennifer Jones

Mary Forbes

Montgomery Clift

Giovanni Doria

Gino Cervi

Police commissioner

Richard Beymer

Paul

Paolo Stoppa

Baggage Clerk

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Synopsis

While on vacation in Rome, married American Mary Forbes (Jennifer Jones) becomes entangled in an affair with an Italian man, Giovanni Doria (Montgomery Clift). As she prepares to leave Italy, Giovanni confesses his love for her; he doesn't want her to go. Together they wander the railroad station where Mary is to take the train to Paris, then ultimately reunite with her husband and daughter in Philadelphia. Will she throw away her old life for this passionate new romance?

Director: Vittorio De Sica
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 10, 1954, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 17, 2016
Runtime: 1h 3m

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