Affair with a Stranger

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Affair with a Stranger
Affair with a Stranger poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Roy Rowland
Written by Richard Flournoy
Based onstory by Richard Flournoy
Produced by Robert Sparks
Howard Hughes (uncredited)
Starring Jean Simmons
Victor Mature
Mary Jo Tarola
Monica Lewis
Jane Darwell
Dabbs Greer
Olive Carey
Cinematography Harry J. Wild
Edited by George Amy
Music by Sam Coslow
Roy Webb
Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
Release date
  • June 20, 1953 (1953-06-20)(US) [1]
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Affair with a Stranger is a 1953 American comedy-drama directed by Roy Rowland and starring Jean Simmons and Victor Mature. It was originally to be released as Kiss and Run.

Contents

The film centres on the rumoured marital troubles of a successful playwright. As various people who came into contact with the couple reminisce about the couple's past, the story of the relationship and the budding affair that is potentially destroying it is told through a series of flashbacks.

Upon release, the film was met with lukewarm reviews, Bosley Crowther of The New York Times calling it "a virtual collection of cliches". [2]

Plot

On a train, playwright Bill Blakeley (Victor Mature) fends off the romantic flirtations of Janet Boothe (Monica Lewis), an actress from his play. But, when wife Carolyn (Jean Simmons) decides not to join him, Bill makes a dinner date with Janet, who plants a story with a gossip columnist about the Blakeleys possibly heading for a divorce.

Friends and acquaintances begin recalling how the couple met. Carolyn Parker was a fashion model who bought a Toledo, Ohio, newspaper each day. Bill pretended to be from Toledo as well to get to know her, only to learn that Carolyn's actually from England and has been buying the papers for a neighbor.

After their marriage, Bill's struggles to find work, combined with his gambling, force Carolyn to support them. He finally takes a job as a waiter and slips a copy of a manuscript to a customer, a producer who makes Bill's play a success.

One night, Carolyn must miss the opening of a play because she is having a baby. The child dies, and she can have no more. Bill is as supportive in her hour of need as she had been in his.

Concerned that he might be vulnerable to an ambitious actress, however, Carolyn takes the next train to New York. She runs into Bill at the station and into his arms. They both deny leaking the information. Bill realizes the trains are leaving and talks to the station master. Meanwhile Carolyn looks at the hanky she used to wipe her tears. It has lipstick on it. As Bill returns to tell her there are no more trains and they will have to find a hotel, she drops the hanky into the garbage.

Cast

Production

Victor Mature was going to star in Split Second. However he assigned to this instead and production on Split Second was pushed back. [3] Filming started 9 July 1952 and papers reported it being "rushed before the cameras". [4]

The original title was Break up. [5] This was changed to Kiss and Run in April 1953 [6] before becoming Affair with a Stranger.

The film was the fourth Jean Simmons made for Howard Hughes and RKO. Simmons and her husband Stewart Granger sued Hughes to get out of the contract. It settled out of court. Part of the final arrangement was she would do this film for no extra money. [7] Also, Simmons agreed to make three more movies under the auspices of RKO, but not actually at that studio – she would be loaned out. She would make an additional picture for 20th Century Fox while RKO got the services of Victor Mature for one film. [8] (Simmons and Mature would team two other times, on Fox's enormously popular The Robe and in The Egyptian)

Olive Carey, widow of Harry Carey, had a small role. [9] Steve Rowland, son of director Roy Rowland, made his debut in the film. [10]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called the story "quite ordinary" and said the film "can't seem to make up its mind if it's comedy or drama." [11]

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References

  1. ↑ "Affair with a Stranger: Detail View". American Film Institute. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  2. ↑ Crowther, Bosley (1953-07-11). "Jean Simmons and Mature Endure the Vicissitudes of Marriage in 'Affair With a Stranger'". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2020-08-25.
  3. ↑ "GARSON, ALLYSON NAMED FOR ROLES: Former Will Play Marjorie Lawrence, 'Met' Opera Star -- Latter in Comedy". New York Times. July 11, 1952. p. 13.
  4. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (July 10, 1952). "Victor Mature Stars Opposite Simmons; Wald Seeks New Hayward Deal". Los Angeles Times. p. A11.
  5. ↑ Hopper, Hedda (July 15, 1952). "Looking at Hollywood: Victor Mature Adds Another to His Busy Picture Schedule". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. a2.
  6. ↑ "STUDIO BRIEFS". Los Angeles Times. Apr 28, 1953. p. 21.
  7. ↑ Hopper, Hedda (July 18, 1952). "Looking at Hollywood: Story of Talking Animals Bought for Movie". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. a4.
  8. ↑ "Jean Simmons Suit Settled by Hughes: British Actress Wins on Points; Producer to Pay All Costs of Trial". Los Angeles Times. July 18, 1952. p. A1.
  9. ↑ Schallert, Edwin (Aug 2, 1952). "Joan Crawford Studies 'Penthouse' Dual Role; Franz in 'Jazz Singer'". Los Angeles Times. p. 13.
  10. ↑ "Romance Plays Important Part in War Feature". Los Angeles Times. Sep 2, 1952. p. B9.
  11. ↑ Scheuer, Philip K. (July 9, 1953). "Jean Simmons, Mature Share Mild Vicissitudes". Los Angeles Times. p. B8.
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