Die Männer um Hilda Crane

Jean Simmons plays twice-married and twice-divorced lady in her late-20s who leaves behind New York City for her small hometown, moving back in with her eternally-disappointed mother; immediately upon her arrival, she starts getting marriage proposals...unfortunately, the man she chooses to be Husband No. #3 is a mama's boy. Glossy, fairly enjoyable soaper from the play by Samson Raphaelson, although we never quite get a grip on Simmons' Hilda Crane; she's alternately haughty, overwrought, idealistic yet aloof (she wants her happily-ever-after, though she needs to be supported financially as well). Hilda's taste in men seems to be her biggest hurdle--perhaps in place of the tall, thin, men's catalogue type, she should try for one of the construction workers over at her fiancé's job site? These assembly-line Twentieth Century-Fox potboilers never seemed to work out that way, making "Hilda Crane" another predictable 'woman's picture' from the '50s, occasionally engaging but nothing particularly special. **1/2 from ****

If there were a variant on the Bechdel Test that involved a film containing a scene in which two women are engaged in a conversion and one of them is incessantly talking about herself - and particularly about her feelings - 'Hilda Crane' would pass such a test with flying colours.

Despite both male leads being of the Alpha variety, the real action derives from the interaction of the women of the piece; especially the conflict between sweet Jean Simmons (suffering in the lap of luxury while draped in furs in the sort of role you'd normally expect to see Joan Crawford) and grotesque matriarch Evelyn Varden.

I am surprised to read so many bad reviews of this movie on IMDd after having watched the restored version in glorious Technicolor and CinemaScope. Jean Simmons shines as usual and most of the secondary characters deliver a more than satisfying performance. Editing, cinematography and direction are fine.

So I agree with the former review untitled "Feverish melodrama, fifties malaise", except for one important point: I found the David Raksin score to be extremely annoying in the numerous intimate scenes with dialogue, undermining them with strings. It's not a matter of using dissonant music, rather a too old fashioned, and sirupy approach. Except for the opening titles and a few short dynamic passages, Raksin did a lousy job which actually deserves an otherwise very good film.

Hilda Crane (Jean Simmons) is a woman who was just divorced for the second time and she's returned to her old home town to visit with her mother...and perhaps pick up a new husband in the process. The problem is that she's narrowed it down to two guys---both of which would make horrible husbands. Evidently Hilda's learned nothing during her adult life.

The problem with Russell (Guy Madison) is that she really doesn't love him, he's a 'momma's boy' and his mother is incredibly difficult. The mother is worried about her son marrying a woman twice divorced (a very reasonable concern) but she handles it about as badly as possible by being manipulative and vicious. As for the other guy, the Professor (Jean-Pierre Aumont), she loves him...though his intentions are simply dishonorable. He is passionate and offers thrills...but he essentially wants her as a mistress and makes no bones about it. Oddly, the film acts as if these two putzes are her only options. Marrying a goat would make more sense than either of these two guys.

"Hilda Crane' is well made. But the film is a difficult sell because it's hard to like or respect the titular character. Instead of remarrying, she could use some time out as well as therapy! And, by the end of the movie, it's obvious that she's suffering from a mental illness or a personality disorder. In this sense, the film is very interesting...even if you don't like Hilda or care about her poor life choices. Worth seeing but not one of Simmons' more enjoyable pictures.

Women dominate the movie : Jean Simmons, excellent as ever, as a woman who wants to live like a man at a time woman's lib had not yet happened ; her character is very modern : a racy past ,two failed marriages and yet,she comes back to her native town to latch onto one of the best matches :Russell ,a well-to-do guy ,still waiting for her . But this boy has an overpossessive mom, masterfully played by Evelyn Varden as the worst mother-in-law you can think of :doesn't she get as far as to compile a complete file about Hilda ,actions , doings ?

By comparison ,male acting is lackluster:Guy Madison was not suited for melodramas -action movies is his field- and French romantic male lead of the thirties in his native land Jean -Pierre Aumont is already too old for the part of a professor/novelist:maybe his slight accent could seduce a woman who's seen it all before ?or is -it some nostalgia for her student years?

The colors are sparkling in the restored version , recalling Douglas Sirk's melodramas ,but the master is not here .