HOME BEFORE DARK
US, 1958, 137 minutes, Black and white.
Jean Simmons, Efrem Zimbalist Jnr., Dan O' Herlihy, Rhonda Fleming, Mabel Albertson.
Directed by Mervyn Le Roy.
Home Before Dark is what was traditionally called 'a woman's picture'. It comes from the late 50s, is the material of soap opera. The film focuses on Jean Simmons and her release from a mental asylum, her having to cope with her husband and her stepsister. Dan O' Herlihy in suitably cold as the husband. Rhonda Fleming is glamorous as the stepsister. Mabel Albertson is appropriately grating as the stepmother. Efrem Zimbalist Jr. is in the wings as a suitable rescuer.
The film was produced and directed by Mervyn Le Roy. Le Roy had made a number of sharp dramatic films at Warner Bros. in the '30s including I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang. At MGM in the '40s he made longer romantic dramas like Blossoms in the Dust, Random Harvest. At Warner Bros. in the '50s and '60s he made very long, big-budget films including Gypsy, Mary Mary, A Majority of One.
The film opens interestingly, is well-acted by Jean Simmons, but is very long, and becomes very soap operatic.
1. Enjoyable melodrama? Soap opera? The popular ingredients of this kind of 'woman's' picture?
2. Black and white photography? The atmosphere of Massachusetts, the university town, affluence, the home? Boston? Musical score? The romantic theme song?
3. The significance of the title? The focus on Charlotte? Her period in the asylum? Coming home?
4. Jean Simmons as Charlotte: her appearance, as blonde, haggard coming from the asylum, leaving, reuniting with Arnold? The drive home and, her fatigue? her stepmother and her grating chatter? Interfering with her? The rivalry with Joan? Trying to settle in, pampered, treated as a child? Shopping and having no money? People looking at her? Drugs and tiredness? Wanting to socialise? The tension in the relationship with Arnold? Separate rooms? The encounter With Jake, friendliness, walking with him in the early morning, the boat? His kissing and apologising? Her relationship with Hamilton Gregory? His own marital situation? Financial advice? Her reliance on him? Her friend, the suspicions about the relationship between Arnold and Joan? Her demands, wanting to stand on her feet? Arnold avoiding her? His not taking her into his confidence? Academic difficulties? Socialising, her absence? Going shopping in Boston? Getting her hair done like Joan's, the dress, her coming in and making a fool of herself? The confrontation with Arnold? Wanting the truth? Making demands of Arnold and Joan? Her reliance on Jake, the arrangements with Ham? Her decision to leave? the background of her marriage, as a young girl (and dark-haired)? Her luring Arnold? Dancing with him? The marriage? Its failure?
5. Arnold and his academic status, his inhibition in expressing feelings? His attraction towards Joan but unwillingness to admit it? Taking Charlotte home, caution, excluding her from his academic interests and socialising? Fostering her awareness that she was ill? Getting over her time in the asylum? His being unfeeling, demanding, tantrums? Jealousies? Concerned about what people thought? Comfortable working with Joan? The holiday in Boston? Its failure? His being humiliated with the academics? The return, the final dance, Charlotte standing up to him? Her confronting him? Leaving?
6. Joan and the relationship with Charlotte, the attraction towards Arnold, receiving her home, her supporting her, her friendliness with Arnold and helping him with his work, the gift of the dress, the final confrontation and the truth? Charlotte declaring her hate for her?
7. The stepmother and her presence in the house, incessant chatter, concern, ordering Charlotte about, The clash? The maid and her haughtiness, bossing Charlotte about? Charlotte firing her?
8. Jake and his presence in the house, renting, helping people with their fishing? Doing things for other people? The friendship with Charlotte? The kiss and his apology? His being ousted from the academic world?
Decision to go to New York, the magazine? Leaving with Charlotte? Ham and his friendship, at the dance, her not marrying him? Visiting him? His broken marriage, drinking? His financial advice? Finding a home for her?
9. Themes of love, romance marriage, marriage breakdown, lack of communication between husband and wife, inhibition of feelings, frustration, jealousy, madness?
