I first saw this movie, as a teenager, in 1965. It broke my heart then and I didn't even know or understand a third as much as I do now. But I did understand hurt, anger and violence.
Lorne Greene and Vera Miles were just plain evil in this movie.
Virginia (Vera Miles) married Burt Hanson (Cliff Robertson), to get at his his loving, doting and very wealthy father (Lorne Greene).
Burt, left, totally disillusioned. But, down the road a bit, he met Millicent Wetherby (Joan Crawford) in a diner where she was having dinner. She was sitting alone at a table, he needed a place to set and insisted on joining her. Milly, finally, agreed.
A bit of history on Milly. She didn't like her full name. She had stayed at home to care for her ailing, invalid father. Milly's job was an at-home-typist. She was a hard worker though somewhat reclusive.
A beginning history on Burt. He was younger than Milly, 15 or so years. He was a sweet looker and a romantic talker. In spite of not knowing him or his past, he romanced her off her feet and they ran off to Mexico to get married.
After their wedding, life became very uncomfortable very fast. Milly became the target of rage that Burt had pent up inside of him. She couldn't do anything right. There were beatings and the famous typewriter scene that left her hand smashed. It was obvious he was mentally ill.
Burt's illness was the direct result of finding his wife in the arms of another man...his father. (I don't think it takes much imagination to figure out what was going on.) Of course, Milly didn't know any of this.
After a period of time the 'wife who never was', Virginia, knocked on Milly's door. The 'father who was dead', Mr. Hanson, showed up, too. They wanted to talk to Burt. At that time Burt broke down. Milly learned exactly what happened to him. She became very protective of Burt no matter what he had done to her. She now understood.
Milly came to realize that Burt was destroyed by the actions of his 'wife' and 'father'. She, also, came to realize that he needed more healing than her love alone could give. The look on her face as she followed Burt's doc's advice told all. Milly was letting go of Burt to receive the healing he deserved. She committed him to a psychiatric hospital for treatment. She knew that once healed he might never return. That would be Burt's decision but she loved him!
Meanwhile, before making the decision, Milly had it out, in a big way, with Mr. Hanson and, especially, dear Virginia.....Milly's angry words to her: "And you, you SLUT! You're both so consumed with evil, so ROTTEN!" (Quote from the "Autumn Leaves" fight scene.)
Curious about the ending? See the movie if at all possible. It's worth it.
"Autumn Leaves" directed by Robert Aldrich. Cliff's first starring role along side a pro. Joan is amazing. It stretched both of their emotional abilities. Lorne and Vera are people you usually love, not this time. Unusual hate-filled roles for 2 excellent actors.
"Theme from Autumn Leaves" sung by Nat 'King' Cole! It's beautiful.
Lorne Greene and Vera Miles were just plain evil in this movie.
Virginia (Vera Miles) married Burt Hanson (Cliff Robertson), to get at his his loving, doting and very wealthy father (Lorne Greene).
Burt, left, totally disillusioned. But, down the road a bit, he met Millicent Wetherby (Joan Crawford) in a diner where she was having dinner. She was sitting alone at a table, he needed a place to set and insisted on joining her. Milly, finally, agreed.
A bit of history on Milly. She didn't like her full name. She had stayed at home to care for her ailing, invalid father. Milly's job was an at-home-typist. She was a hard worker though somewhat reclusive.
A beginning history on Burt. He was younger than Milly, 15 or so years. He was a sweet looker and a romantic talker. In spite of not knowing him or his past, he romanced her off her feet and they ran off to Mexico to get married.
After their wedding, life became very uncomfortable very fast. Milly became the target of rage that Burt had pent up inside of him. She couldn't do anything right. There were beatings and the famous typewriter scene that left her hand smashed. It was obvious he was mentally ill.
Burt's illness was the direct result of finding his wife in the arms of another man...his father. (I don't think it takes much imagination to figure out what was going on.) Of course, Milly didn't know any of this.
After a period of time the 'wife who never was', Virginia, knocked on Milly's door. The 'father who was dead', Mr. Hanson, showed up, too. They wanted to talk to Burt. At that time Burt broke down. Milly learned exactly what happened to him. She became very protective of Burt no matter what he had done to her. She now understood.
Milly came to realize that Burt was destroyed by the actions of his 'wife' and 'father'. She, also, came to realize that he needed more healing than her love alone could give. The look on her face as she followed Burt's doc's advice told all. Milly was letting go of Burt to receive the healing he deserved. She committed him to a psychiatric hospital for treatment. She knew that once healed he might never return. That would be Burt's decision but she loved him!
Meanwhile, before making the decision, Milly had it out, in a big way, with Mr. Hanson and, especially, dear Virginia.....Milly's angry words to her: "And you, you SLUT! You're both so consumed with evil, so ROTTEN!" (Quote from the "Autumn Leaves" fight scene.)
Curious about the ending? See the movie if at all possible. It's worth it.
"Autumn Leaves" directed by Robert Aldrich. Cliff's first starring role along side a pro. Joan is amazing. It stretched both of their emotional abilities. Lorne and Vera are people you usually love, not this time. Unusual hate-filled roles for 2 excellent actors.
"Theme from Autumn Leaves" sung by Nat 'King' Cole! It's beautiful.