Panamint Joan Crawford was a great screen actress and her performance in this otherwise routine melodrama is terrific. But her eyebrows are yikes- in at least one scene they are not smooth across but spiked, the result is unintentionally frightening. Oh well, thats just Joan being Joan.Usually Anthony Perkins would have played the confused ex-soldier part, but I guess he was busy. So we fortunately have Cliff Robertson in the role. Robertson was at that time a virile and vibrant young New York stage actor who is perfect for this role. Crawford and Robertson work well together.While the actual character emotions are intense, the methods and practice of psychiatry is rather shallow and obviously just there to up the melodrama quotient. Shallow, skimmed-over psychiatry in a melodrama that is at the same time so definitely intense with Robertson's fine portrayal of suffering is a dichotomy I find detrimental to the film. And in a desperate attempt by the film-makers to enhance the melodrama effect, they actually carry the May/December angle into Mommie territory, emphasizing Crawford's motherly qualities (to the extent she had any). If you view "Autumn Leaves" strictly for its performances and dramatic attributes while ignoring its implausibility and unnecessary references to May/December Mommie relationships you will certainly enjoy this highly dramatic film. Look for Lorne Green and Vera Miles in excellent portrayals of an unhealthy relationship- and wow does Crawford verbally chew them out in a magnificently acted scene by Ms.Crawford.Overall "Autumn Leaves" is a noteworthy accomplishment by Aldrich and a great example of his ability and skill.

grizzledgeezer "Autumn Leaves" is a pop standard, an agreeably sentimental, even elegiac, song. Someone must have thought that an effective screenplay with that title could be written. Unfortunately, this isn't it.Joan plays a middle-aged woman who earns a modest living typing manuscripts. She's content to be lonely and alone, until a handsome young man (Cliff Robertson) shows up. After an extended courtship, she finally agrees to marry him -- then starts realizing he's a pathological liar, and worse.Generally speaking, a story should be about //one thing//. The original idea -- of the difficulties of an older woman marrying a man 20 years her junior (from which an excellent film could have been made) -- abruptly swerves to Joan's fight to cure her husband of his problems. These are (unconvincingly) worked out by throwing him into a mental institution, and giving him drugs and electroconvulsive therapy. The character has real problems -- largely induced by his father breaking up his former marriage by seducing his previous wife (!) -- but the diagnosis of schizophrenia seems, at best, excessive, at worst, absurd.The casting is so-so to poor. Crawford was never a //great// actress, but though lacking the depth the part would benefit from, she acquits herself fairly well. Cliff Robertson is okay up to the point he has to start acting crazy, then he opens his eyes real wide as if someone has goosed him with a pointy barbecue implement.Ruth Donnelly gives a noisy imitation of Thelma Ritter, while Lorne Greene delivers his patented canned-ham performance. Vera Miles is wasted, giving no indication that she's a good actress.Even with such poor casting, Robert Aldrich could have done a lot to mitigate an ill-conceived script. He didn't. Aldrich was one of those "competent hack" directors whose films were good when the script and casting were good, but not otherwise."Autumn Leaves" is worth watching mostly for laughs. It's prime MST3K material.

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.