Watch About Mrs. Leslie For Free

Thanks for the memories!

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

was horribly miscast as the off and on romantic lead to one of America's great scientists, Robert Ryan (Hendershall), who was already married with 2 children. Throughout the first half of the move, before we learn of Mrs. Hendershall and the boys, I was starting to think that not only was Robert Ryan's character might be gay, but that this was an early Hollywood forage into that material. But as it turned out, he was married, had 2 kids and used Mrs. "Leslie" as a mere diversion (which of course will be debated ongoing). What was a complete turnoff was her addressing him as Mr. Leslie up to the last time she saw him. There were some very bizarre sexual dynamics at work throughout the film until the very last scene with the two young kids.The movie never succeeds until the last five minutes when the young couple in love are ready to embark on a lifetime of "happiness". The juxtaposition of youthful optimism with the cynicism and realism of the Shirley Booth character, Mrs. Leslie, forces the viewers to reflect on some of the choices in their own lives, thus engaging the viewer with the on screen action.Shirley Booth was a wonderful actress. She wasn't right for this part but she would go on to win a Tony (stage), Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Actress for Come Back Little Sheba. She was one of the true bright lights of Broadway stage and film.

Love is the winner in this move, not satisfaction, not financial security, although financial security is Ryan's legacy to Booth. Just look at the expressions on the actor's faces when a/ Ryan finds Booth at last after she has discovered that he is Married With Children and b/ when she sees up close and personal via a newsreel that he has a backstage * to Booth * wife and family and you see the price that love extracts. Booth's gentle voice and smile and her calling her mother 'Mama' even though she herself is adult tell reams about the character. 'Mama's' advice 'politeness is the way to go with everyone' *paraphrased* is what got Booth into a dignified yet down- trodden life after Mama's death (an eviction is mentioned). It's to Ryan's credit that he appreciates Booth and to his discredit that he didn't have the guts to divorce his wife and form a life with Booth, since his kids were grown. The kids, apparently, knew that Dad was messing around and considering leaving his loveless marriage, because their pressure on Dad to stay with Mom was also mentioned. Maybe Ryan just lacked the time to gather his strength and quit the marriage, because we the audience hear along with Booth that he leaves this world right on VJ Day after his war job is completed. About Mrs. Leslie is a stunning and heartfelt drama, yes it's soapy, but I enjoyed it thoroughly while soaking up the notion that Ryan and Booth's characters probably got it on. Like Booth's non-grilling of Ryan over his marital status, I'm content to leave things to the imagination. I also remember fondly 'Hazel' so there you go.

This movie was ahead of it's time, but still posturing to the "Code" and Hayes Office. "Mrs. Leslie" knew she was a once a year Date for a married man, in a "Open Marriage". The movie treated her with respect, as a woman, and not a cheap whatever, going to a Motel with a married man. It didn't matter to her the "reasons" that this man craved her companionship once a year. He never gave her the trite, "I'm getting a divorce", or "She doesn't understand me" spiel when he arranged their vacations. He didn't say anything about his wife, i.e. put-downs, horror stories, when he was Mrs. Leslie, either. The only people in the film that treated her like scum were the Lawyer for the Estate, and the neighbor she babysat.

One of Shirley Booth's true acting performances. For audiences who thought she could only play burned out losers like the plodding,dull houswife in "Come Back,Little Sheba," this film shows she definitely had leading lady status. The story of a boarding house owner recalling her one great love in conjunction with the woes of her boarders is very good. The entire cast shines in support. The carping of Robert Ryan is a strange one.He is entirely believable as her lover. Miss Booth's appearance was almost a shock,she wears nice dresses and tailored suits with ease.Not every woman back then looked like Lana Turner!Surely show business had singers who were slightly dumpy and past their prime. Miss Booth duly projects the longing and lonliness all people feel at one time.The final scene where the last of the boarders leave is sadly sweet,as she sighs and puts out her rooms for rent sign again