Le retour à l'amour

"Affair with a Stranger" is an excellent, though poorly named, movie. It's really not about an affair but what could become one unless both the husband and wife attend to their marriage instead of their respective careers. And, it's a good object lesson for couples.

When the film begins, the star of William Blakeley's latest play calls a gossip columnist to announce that she is about to run off with married Blakeley (Victor Mature). It seems, however, a tad premature as no affair has yet occurred...but the lady's 'female intuition' tell her he'll soon be hers. What follows is a very interesting story....told through flashbacks as the couple's friends read the gossip column and then recall the ups and downs of the Blakeley marriage. And, in every case, the folks love the Mr. and Mrs. (Jean Simmons) and wish the story wasn't true...which, it really isn't...though the marriage is in trouble though neither the husband nor wife realize it. It seems over time, they both began focusing too much on their own careers...and this puts the marriage in serious jeopardy.

I liked this film for many reasons. The leads were both at their best and the story really was intelligently written and adult--and I mean that in the best possible way. In other words, it's not sleazy but a good drama illustrating a great object lesson couples could learn from and avoid. Well worth seeing.

I really enjoyed this film. I have never seen a black and white movie filmed with the theme of flashbacks. the plotline is interesting and even though it is from the 50's everyone can relate. It is clearly a movie that will stand the test of time. The best thing about the movie is the way the lead actor can so eloquently portray the man who lives off a dream. The lead actress also does a great job, in my opinion she is very good and i would like to see more of her movies. This film is special because it was the first to film a child actor. That was told to me by my grandmother so I am sincerely sorry if I am wrong about the child actor thing. All in all this is a great movie and I give it 9 stars.

I'm not sure why RKO Pictures entitled this film Affair With A Stranger since what it is is the story of two married people played by Victor Mature and Jean Simmons. It's told from the point of view of their friends who read about it in the Broadway gossip column of Henny Backus and the influence of that other RKO classic Citizen Kane is unmistakable.

Mature is a likable enough fellow who is an aspiring playwright on Broadway who likes to gamble and have a good time as well and Simmons is a girl who nurtures him until he gains success. But then being a Broadway success he falls prey to the usual temptations. A really big temptation comes his way in the form of his latest leading lady, husband collecting Monica Lewis.

The cast has some real scene stealing character players like George Cleveland, Jane Darwell, Wally Vernon and Dabbs Greer all of whom are part of the lives of Simmons and Mature. They form a real rooting section for this marriage and they all care about the two leads and make you care as well. The story is told mostly through their recollections of how the relationship of Mature and Simmons has developed over the years and you get to know them as good if flawed people, especially Mature.

It's not Citizen Kane hardly, but Affair With A Stranger is a good entertaining drama with a great cast even if the title of the film was probably done to sensationalize the film a bit and get folks to plunk down their money thinking it might be something else. It's good enough as it is, on its own merits.

Having just watched this I thought I'd post a comment.

A fine film, with lots of deft touches.

Victor Mature is very enjoyable to watch in this.

Jean Simmons is perfect for her role.

And supporting the story there is a range of wonderfully talented actors who play their parts so well.

It is old fashioned, sure, but that is no bad thing.

Definitely worth a watch. The script is good.

Highly enjoyable and very entertaining.

I rate this 8 out of 10.

I do not like Victor Mature (VM) in films - put it down to his greasy hair, chain-smoking habit and uncultured voice.He seems particularly miscast in this film as a playwright.A modern playwright should be like Arthur Miller, Robert Bolt or Tennesee Williams.I just did not "buy" our delightful export to Hollywood, Miss Jean Simmons (JS) wanting to have a relationship with VM's character which sponged off her, took her chicken legs food and generally forced his attentions onto her.However I did not buy the DVD to see VM but to see the beautiful brunette JS at the peak of her looks.Basically "Affair With a Stranger" is the story of a struggling playwright who cannot sell his plays to the producers of commercial theatres.He meets JS on New Years eve and starts a relationship poncing off her job as a model.JS has faith in his ability to produce a hit play and of course Hollywood comes to his predictable aid when "Venus Films" agrees to buy the screen rights.During his life of penury VM gets a job as a waiter at a posh restaurant and slips his manuscript into the pile a famous producer is considering at his table.To keep body and soul together VM visits a restaurant and mixes together a soup from various condiments with hot water.This scene has always stayed in my mind over the years when I only saw it on TV (although you do not have access to hot water today in the restaurants I know).

JS and VM marry but lose the child they wanted and VM is told by the male doctor dealing with JS that she cannot have any more children.I laughed when I saw them both lighting up in his surgery.I will not reveal any more of the plot which is predictable.I rated it 6/10.It is one of two JS films I taped off the TV some time ago - the other was Adam and Evelynne (1949) which is the better of the two.My rating reflects the performance of JS and the able supporting actors who did a good job with the script.