JohnHowardReid Executive producer: Howard Hughes. Copyright 7 February 1954 by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Criterion: 26 February 1954. U.S. release: 15 February 1954. U.K. release: 6 July 1953 (sic). Australian release: 25 June 1953. 10 reels. 8,250 feet. 91 minutes.U.K. and Australian release title: BEAUTIFUL BUT DANGEROUS.COMMENT: A very minor bucolic romantic comedy, indifferently written, acted and directed. The scriptwriters had the germ of a promising comedy idea, but they fail to develop it satisfactorily. There are loose characters and loose plot ends all over the place and the film's grand roster of support players like Raymond Walburn, Edgar Buchanan and Wallace Ford have in fact very little footage whereas Mitchum and Simmons are literally swamped with dialogue.Unfortunately, Mitchum doesb't rise to the bait and delivers his usual bored, off-handed portrayal. But at least he does give a performance of sorts. Jean Simmons, on the other hand, can make absolutely nothing of her part, which is understandable - the character is so ridiculously and unconvincingly conceived. Her hair style is unattractive too and her numerous close-ups make her look considerably less ravishing than the second female lead Sally Watson.Bacon's direction can only be described as steadfastly unimaginative. George Amy's film editing rates as plodding and pedestrian as the direction (in fact the film could do with considerable trimming). Other credits are likewise routine and production values skimpy.

dougdoepke Plot— Wow! The people of small town Progress, Arkansas, are getting free money in the mail. So where's it coming from since the mail doesn't say. Is it greenbacks from heaven. No, it's from wealthy New Yorker, Simmons. Seems she wants to thank the town for saving her life as an infant. Now in town anonymously, Simmons meets the local characters, including straitlaced, hunky doctor, Mitchum. Trouble is, the sudden money may not be really helping this rural community with its traditional ways.I'm not sure what the producers were reaching for. But, what they got is a rather flat result with a few lame stabs at comedy. Director Bacon makes no effort to liven up either the narrative or the acting. It's like he's just transferring script to screen. At the same time, Mitchum walks glumly through his doctor's role, never changing his one expression. Likely he's thinking about that obstacle course he has to run, while we get our ears blasted by moviedom's most infernal sounding horn. To say he's miscast is an understatement. Then too, Simmons seems unsure what to do, and since her scenes are ill-defined by the script or director, that's understandable. What's surprising is that such colorful hayseeds as Hunnicutt and Buchanan have little chance to practice their brand of hayseed humor. At least that would have lifted the lackluster results.Nonetheless, the movie does remind us that the money economy is not the only basis of productive exchange. Instead of money, the small town residents use barter—an aspirin bottle may cost one chicken, for example. Of course, barter doesn't work in a complex economy. Still, I think it's well to be reminded that money (in whatever variety) is not the only possible means of meeting needs.Anyway, after the Simmons-Mitchum triumph in the drama Angel Face (1952), this venture proves a disappointment, despite the titillating title. For sure, it's not a highlight of Mitchum's storied career, or Simmons's, for that matter.

dbdumonteil This movie could easily pass for "angel face" in reverse ,using the same actors,in the genre of comedy;one can only wonder what Frank Capra would have done with such a subject : a woman whose life was saved when she was a child and who wants to thank everybody (at the end everybody sings "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer "says the news);without a great director the movie lacks tempo,madness ,all that made "it's a wonderful life" " Mr Smith goes to Washington" or "meet John Doe" masterpieces ."She couldn't say no " is a pleasant little comedy ,with two actors whose chemistry is obvious ,a nice village where you can have an ice cream whenever you want,the fishing parties ,Mitchum tells it so:when Simmons asks him why he did not leave for the broader horizons of a big city ,he did not need to answer .He has found his Shangri La ,his Brigadoon and the ending is revealing:all those people coming from every part of the country and only for the money is a danger for a peaceful community which does not seem to know greed,hunger or violence.

The-Lonely-Londoner One of three films where Mitchum is paired up alongside the young Jean Simmons. She really does like the spitting image of Vivien Leigh. Her dark, mysterious features make her photogenic and interesting to watch. Mitchum is just the tall, broad shouldered protagonist as usual.