Autumn Leaves (film)

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Autumn Leaves is a 1956 American psychological drama directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Joan Crawford as Milly Wetherby, an older woman who falls for a younger veteran, Burt Hanson (Cliff Robertson). They marry after a whirlwind romance, but Burt’s past and lies catch up with him. His ex-wife arrives, Burt’s father comes looking for him, and Burt begins to lose control. Milly has him sent to a mental hospital. With treatment, Burt improves and breaks away from his old life. Milly and Burt look forward to a hopeful future together.

Key facts
- Based on a screenplay by Jean Rouverol and Hugo Butler (credited to Jack Jevne due to blacklisting).
- Produced by William Goetz; music by Hans J. Salter; cinematography by Charles Lang; editing by Michael Luciano.
- Production company: William Goetz Productions; distributed by Columbia Pictures.
- Release date: August 1, 1956; running time: 106 minutes; language: English; budget: $765,000; US box office: about $1.1 million.
- Original working title was The Way We Are; the title Autumn Leaves was chosen to echo the popular song of the same name, which accompanies the film’s opening and closing credits. The song’s English version was by Johnny Mercer.
- Robert Aldrich won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 1956 Berlin International Film Festival.
- Reception was mixed at the time, but the film has grown in reputation among fans of Aldrich and Crawford. Crawford later called it one of her favorite older-woman/younger-man stories.