Hilda Crane (1956)

Hilda Crane: Directed by Philip Dunne. With Jean Simmons, Guy Madison, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Judith Evelyn. Twice divorced Hilda Crane, feeling she’s run out of chances, returns to her mother’s house in her small hometown and tries to decide what to do next while still hoping to hold onto her independence. That proves to be a challenge.

“Despite a really decent effort from Jean Simmons in this, it is all rather shallow and empty otherwise. She depicts the eponymous, twice divorced, woman who returns to her motheru0026#39;s home where she soon attracts the attention of young man made good u0026quot;Burnsu0026quot; (Guy Madison) whilst also rekindling a friendship with university professor u0026quot;Jacquesu0026quot; (Jean-Pierre Aumont). I suppose for little better than reasons of expediency, she marries u0026quot;Burnsu0026quot; but very much to the chagrin of his mother Evelyn Barden. When tragedy ensues (very) shortly after the wedding, the couple become distant; she hits the bottle in some really quite ingenious ways, and it all looks like she is heading for divorce number three… Simmons was undoubtedly a star, and like so many, she lit the screen when she did the simplest of things. Sadly, though – aside from an effervescent performance from the sceptical Varden – the rest of the cast are really lacklustre. The story has an inevitability to it that effectively thwarts the whole purpose of the story, rendering the ending both disappointing and light weight. The story moves far too fast for us to take on board any ballast of characterisation, so in the end I was largely indifferent to all concerned. Pity, a weightier co-star for Miss Simmonds could have given this some oomph, but as it is – itu0026#39;s OK, but just ok.”