How can one not help but sympathize with Shirley Booth in this story of love that cannot be fulfilled. In these days it seems silly that a divorce would be such a large problem, but I cried over Shirley's position, perhaps since most of us have been in the situation of being in love without the possibility of it being returned in kind. Shirley plays a wonderful woman that puts herself in an emotionally impossible situation. At first glance, the childish antics of Shirley Booth's renter seem to serve no purpose, but her interaction with the rude younger generation reminds us that everyone has a story, a fact that younger people usually fail to see. The idea that everyone needs to love someone to get through this sometimes unfair and angry world, is a huge theme in this tearjerker. I would highly recommend it to couples that sometimes face adversity.
32 Reviews
Booth Was a Great Actress
LomzaLady11 April 2006
This is a silly, tear-jerker of a story, but interesting in spite of itself, the kind to help you pass a rainy day when you're feeling kind of blue.
However . . . . if anyone wants to know who was one of America's greatest actresses, they have only to watch Shirley Booth in this film. She was a very low-key, actually kind of dumpy-looking woman, with a not very pretty speaking voice, but she will keep your attention, amaze you, and break your heart. Even though she looks sort of like she could be Robert Ryan's mother, or at least his older sister, you don't have a moment's doubt that this tall, handsome leading man could fall for her and maintain a long-term relationship with her. She is luminous in her quiet way.
Booth did many stage plays, and to give you an idea of the heft of her acting abilities, several of the parts she played on the stage were subsequently played on screen by Katharine Hepburn. Booth unfortunately lacked what Hollywood considered glamor, but she was chock full of talent and charisma. If you know her only from re-runs of the sitcom "Hazel," you are in for a big surprise if you see her in this film, or in the even better "Come Back Little Sheba."
However . . . . if anyone wants to know who was one of America's greatest actresses, they have only to watch Shirley Booth in this film. She was a very low-key, actually kind of dumpy-looking woman, with a not very pretty speaking voice, but she will keep your attention, amaze you, and break your heart. Even though she looks sort of like she could be Robert Ryan's mother, or at least his older sister, you don't have a moment's doubt that this tall, handsome leading man could fall for her and maintain a long-term relationship with her. She is luminous in her quiet way.
Booth did many stage plays, and to give you an idea of the heft of her acting abilities, several of the parts she played on the stage were subsequently played on screen by Katharine Hepburn. Booth unfortunately lacked what Hollywood considered glamor, but she was chock full of talent and charisma. If you know her only from re-runs of the sitcom "Hazel," you are in for a big surprise if you see her in this film, or in the even better "Come Back Little Sheba."
In love with a dollar a year man
bkoganbing10 November 2013
If people did not accept back street arrangements like Shirley Booth did in About Mrs. Leslie a whole lot of romance novels and soap operas would never be written. In one of her few film appearances Shirley Booth plays Mrs. Leslie who owns a boardinghouse in Los Angeles and deals with the problems of her tenants while thinking back on her wartime romance with what was called then, a dollar a year man.
Her dollar a year man is Robert Ryan whom she met back east when she was singing in some second rate supper club. They more than hit it off and she accepts his proposition for a six week vacation on the southern California coast though her breaking her contract puts her career such as it is in jeopardy.
She only finds out about who this man really is when she sees a newsreel in the theater and finds out that 46 weeks a year he's a business executive and former World War I ace who married a Senator's daughter to advance his career. Ryan regrets this and Booth regrets having to settle for back street status though in the end financially she comes out well.
Combining elements of both Back Street and Maytime, About Mrs. Leslie is a fine film, one which we used to call a woman's picture. Booth made too few feature films for the big screen, but when she got there everyone was a gem.
About Mrs. Leslie is an uncut diamond. It should be broadcast more often.
Her dollar a year man is Robert Ryan whom she met back east when she was singing in some second rate supper club. They more than hit it off and she accepts his proposition for a six week vacation on the southern California coast though her breaking her contract puts her career such as it is in jeopardy.
She only finds out about who this man really is when she sees a newsreel in the theater and finds out that 46 weeks a year he's a business executive and former World War I ace who married a Senator's daughter to advance his career. Ryan regrets this and Booth regrets having to settle for back street status though in the end financially she comes out well.
Combining elements of both Back Street and Maytime, About Mrs. Leslie is a fine film, one which we used to call a woman's picture. Booth made too few feature films for the big screen, but when she got there everyone was a gem.
About Mrs. Leslie is an uncut diamond. It should be broadcast more often.
a revelation
hipthornton27 November 2002
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
About Mrs. Leslie
nyescape25 February 2006
Warning: Spoilers
This is a wonderful love story. Shirley Booth is Vivien; Robert Ryan is George Leslie - Leslie is actually his middle name - he wanted to keep his identity a secret from Booth.
Booth is an "old maid" type who is introduced to George Leslie, a wealthy businessman. They have a long-term affair as Ryan is married. This was rather risqué as the flashbacks take place in the late 1930s through VJ day, 1945.
As the movie opens, Booth is an elderly woman who runs a boarding house. She recounts her life with Ryan in a flashback method.
The scene near to the end is most moving. It is VJ day in NYC. Booth is working in a dress shop and she is pulled out to the street to join the celebration that WWII is finally over. As she stands in the street near Times Square, she see the news ticker flash the message: "George Leslie _______, died suddenly today of a massive heart attack . . ., " at which point she swoons. The film returns to Booth as an older landlady.
The catch phrase in the film used by Booth was, ". . .Mr. Leslie, honey," each time she would meet with or part from Ryan.
It was a moving film, different from the typical post-war movies of the time. Shirley booth was excellent. Robert Ryan, who was a Marine and served with the OSS in Yugoslavia in WWII, was excellent.
I wish I could get a copy of the film. It made quite an impression on me and I saw it only once. I hadn't noted the title, but when I described it to my dad, who knew every movie, I said "Mr. Leslie, honey." and he knew it immediately.
Booth is an "old maid" type who is introduced to George Leslie, a wealthy businessman. They have a long-term affair as Ryan is married. This was rather risqué as the flashbacks take place in the late 1930s through VJ day, 1945.
As the movie opens, Booth is an elderly woman who runs a boarding house. She recounts her life with Ryan in a flashback method.
The scene near to the end is most moving. It is VJ day in NYC. Booth is working in a dress shop and she is pulled out to the street to join the celebration that WWII is finally over. As she stands in the street near Times Square, she see the news ticker flash the message: "George Leslie _______, died suddenly today of a massive heart attack . . ., " at which point she swoons. The film returns to Booth as an older landlady.
The catch phrase in the film used by Booth was, ". . .Mr. Leslie, honey," each time she would meet with or part from Ryan.
It was a moving film, different from the typical post-war movies of the time. Shirley booth was excellent. Robert Ryan, who was a Marine and served with the OSS in Yugoslavia in WWII, was excellent.
I wish I could get a copy of the film. It made quite an impression on me and I saw it only once. I hadn't noted the title, but when I described it to my dad, who knew every movie, I said "Mr. Leslie, honey." and he knew it immediately.
One of the best love stories EVER!
audiesgirl7 February 2007
It amazes me how this movie is so seldom shown is not available on DVD. It's one of the most original love stories ever made, the leads are superb, overcoming the initial impression they are miscast. That proves what gifted actors Booth and Ryan were. This bittersweet love story between a less than glamorous piano girl in a shabby bar and a handsome businessman covers several years of their annual clandestine meeting until their romance is interrupted by World War II. All along the way you have a foreboding of doom for these two unlikely secret lovers, but you root for them anyway. I've written to TCM begging them to show this film, I hope they do so soon.
A surprise
marcslope23 May 2016
I'd seen this years ago on AMC and remembered little about it, but a revisiting on TCM reveals it to be a surprisingly solid, moving, adult romance. Sure, it's soap opera, and disconcertingly close to "Back Street" (or Capra's "Back Street" ripoff, "Forbidden"), and it's not helped by unexciting cinematography or a soupy, repetitive Victor Young score, like he's trying to be Max Steiner. What lifts it well out of the ordinary are the screenplay and the leads. Ketti Frings was a frequent adapter of literary works (she did the stage drama of "Look Homeward, Angel") who could plumb expertly beneath the surface; her co-screenwriter, Hal Kanter, was more of a sitcom specialist. Together, they probe with remarkable depth this illicit affair between a married industrialist and an unmarried chanteuse. These two behave like grownups, have real conversations on a variety of topics, with a surprising amount of Civil War history, of all things, mixed in, and say unexpected, witty things to each other. Shirley, who's superb, may not be a glamour gal, but it's entirely credible that the handsome Ryan, who underplays effectively, would fall for this intelligent, generous, questioning woman. There's a second couple, Marjie Millar and a not-very-good Alex Nicol, and you may wonder why so much time is being spent on them, but their narrative does complement the first couple nicely, and the other residents of Mrs. Leslie's boarding house provide color and contrast. Soap opera, yes, but I was moved, and ready for a second viewing not long after the first. Too bad Hollywood couldn't find more for the prodigiously gifted Ms. Booth to do, but this is one of her best roles, and you'll long remember her reactions, her delivery, and the way Daniel Mann lovingly lingers on her face.
One of the best movies you can see
Scoval715 December 2006
What a movie. I don't know how or where to start to rave and praise it. The acting, the story. So very believable, and for a woman to live with a man outside of wedlock in the 1930's...well, unheard of then...or maybe not so. This is the story of a woman who accepts a man who can only offer her a six week a year commitment. But, oh, it is so worth it. You have to see this movie to fully understand it. The casting of both Shirley and Robert were perfection. So realistic. A very, very poignant and touching piece. Youth vs. age, many subplots, but done in a superior way of flashbacks. The character of Mrs. Leslie is one who has learned all about life's foibles and disappointments. She has her memories of her "Mr. Leslie, honey," to sustain her. I cannot praise this movie enough. I have it on VHS, recorded from TV. I cannot locate it on DVD. See this if and when it replays on television. It is amazing.
Touching romantic drama
HotToastyRag27 May 2018
Daniel Mann, a master director of dramas, reunites with leading lady Shirley Booth after their successful collaboration in Come Back, Little Sheba to create the wonderfully romantic drama About Mrs. Leslie. If you like these two of their films, be sure to check out their third film together, Hot Spell!
Told in flashbacks, Shirley starts the film off as the owner of a boarding house. Her tenants and neighbors often come to her with their problems, since she's such a sympathetic mother type, and while she deals with their trifles, she remembers her earlier years, before she was Mrs. Leslie. Back then, she was a nightclub singer who fell in love with the handsome, charming, enigmatic Robert Ryan. Their slow-burning love affair is fascinating to watch, and while both actors are naturally likable anyway, they'll instantly win a place in your heart.
As you might expect, since this is a Shirley Booth movie-her movies are much different than Hazel-you might want to keep your Kleenexes handy. Her darling wobbly voice and her terribly sad face makes me cry every time.
Told in flashbacks, Shirley starts the film off as the owner of a boarding house. Her tenants and neighbors often come to her with their problems, since she's such a sympathetic mother type, and while she deals with their trifles, she remembers her earlier years, before she was Mrs. Leslie. Back then, she was a nightclub singer who fell in love with the handsome, charming, enigmatic Robert Ryan. Their slow-burning love affair is fascinating to watch, and while both actors are naturally likable anyway, they'll instantly win a place in your heart.
As you might expect, since this is a Shirley Booth movie-her movies are much different than Hazel-you might want to keep your Kleenexes handy. Her darling wobbly voice and her terribly sad face makes me cry every time.
"Real Life" Drama, In Melodramatic Form
bjon22 October 2005
First, it must be mentioned that Shirley Booth was a fantastic actress in both film and stage, the latter being her forte. Here was an actress who, despite the fact that she was not Hollywood model material by any means, could run rings around scores of her drop-dead gorgeous contemporaries in the acting department! It's really a pity that she became typecast as "Hazel" in her popular television series, because she could, and did, offer so much more.
That said, now comes the plot of this particular film. A fairly good looking, well to do up and comer in politics, albeit married to someone else, falls in love with Ms. Booth's somewhat frumpy character. Highly unlikely, some people would say, but it happens in this film, and it happens in real life, no matter what the media would have you believe. Robert Ryan rendered a fine performance, and both of them generated the right chemistry. This is where it gets really good. The love that's shared between these two comes across as quite genuine. In fact, it blossoms throughout the film by way of a good plot! No spoiler here! You must see the film in its entirety to understand this.
Yes, the film plays out like a soap opera for the most part, but the idea behind it, the love between these two people, no matter the odds, is very real. There are lots of sub-plots going on throughout, but they all seem to come together perfectly and sensibly in the end. Many facets and foibles of human nature are addressed quite well in the process.
This is a must see, as are all of Shirley Booth's movies, at least in my opinion. It's too bad she didn't make more of them.
That said, now comes the plot of this particular film. A fairly good looking, well to do up and comer in politics, albeit married to someone else, falls in love with Ms. Booth's somewhat frumpy character. Highly unlikely, some people would say, but it happens in this film, and it happens in real life, no matter what the media would have you believe. Robert Ryan rendered a fine performance, and both of them generated the right chemistry. This is where it gets really good. The love that's shared between these two comes across as quite genuine. In fact, it blossoms throughout the film by way of a good plot! No spoiler here! You must see the film in its entirety to understand this.
Yes, the film plays out like a soap opera for the most part, but the idea behind it, the love between these two people, no matter the odds, is very real. There are lots of sub-plots going on throughout, but they all seem to come together perfectly and sensibly in the end. Many facets and foibles of human nature are addressed quite well in the process.
This is a must see, as are all of Shirley Booth's movies, at least in my opinion. It's too bad she didn't make more of them.
Never underestimate the passions of a lonely older woman. You may be surprised.
mark.waltz8 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
1954 was an outstanding year for leading ladies in film, and sadly, with only five Oscar nominees, there have to be some who do not get nominated. Unfortunately, one of those not nominated gave one of the greatest performances ever seen on screen, one that truly stands the test of time and will tear your heart out. That is Shirley Booth, fresh from her Oscar winning turn in "Come Back Little Sheba", returning for her second film and every bit as memorable as she was in that William Inge classic. When you first meet Mrs. Leslie, it is assumed that the "Mrs." part is simply just an honorary title she has not to be considered an old maid by the people who rent rooms from her. They include a man who likes to drink far too much (and runs over her flowers when trying to pull in the driveway), an idealistic young lady searching for love, and a spoiled teenager filled with entitlement who will make you want to reach through the screen and throttle her. Their assumptions about their landlady are completely wrong, as the audience finds out through her reflections on her life with the shy Robert Ryan, playing against type.
Once a nightclub chanteuse, Booth met the handsome industrialist Ryan who swept her away for summer vacations on the ocean and gave her the romance she has been craving all of her life. When around Ryan, Booth can truly be herself, and she gives up her career as a singer so she can be with him. But they are summer flings only, and when September arrives, it is back to reality for Booth who must find other ways of supporting herself because of a blackballing in the nightclub scene for her running out on her contract simply to be with Ryan. She mothers him in a way he obviously seems to need mothering, as it is obvious that his character has many hidden demons that would prevent them from actually getting married. But he gives her the honorary name of Mrs. Leslie when they are together simply so she won't feel that their romantic summers are about living in sin.
The connections between her past and present lives help make her more understandable in the way she deals with her tenants, particularly the nasty Eilene Janssen as the 18 year old tenant who expects Booth to wait on her hand and foot and shows no gratitude for anything, leading to a confrontation when Booth ends away Janssen's ill-mannered date. So her character is far from perfect, interfering in subtle ways that makes her more human. Brief appearances by familiar character actors such as Ellen Corby (a gossipy neighbor), Percy Helton (a frustrated bartender), Harry Morgan (a business associate of Ryan's) and Mabel Albertson (a fussy customer) add some amusing characterizations. This is extremely well written and directed, but when it is all over, you will come out singing the praises of Ms. Booth who only did one film comedy ("The Matchmaker") before taking on the TV sitcom role ("Hazel") which overshadows much of the great dramatic work she did on screen and has made her classic stage work ("My Sister Eileen", "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn") completely forgotten.
Once a nightclub chanteuse, Booth met the handsome industrialist Ryan who swept her away for summer vacations on the ocean and gave her the romance she has been craving all of her life. When around Ryan, Booth can truly be herself, and she gives up her career as a singer so she can be with him. But they are summer flings only, and when September arrives, it is back to reality for Booth who must find other ways of supporting herself because of a blackballing in the nightclub scene for her running out on her contract simply to be with Ryan. She mothers him in a way he obviously seems to need mothering, as it is obvious that his character has many hidden demons that would prevent them from actually getting married. But he gives her the honorary name of Mrs. Leslie when they are together simply so she won't feel that their romantic summers are about living in sin.
The connections between her past and present lives help make her more understandable in the way she deals with her tenants, particularly the nasty Eilene Janssen as the 18 year old tenant who expects Booth to wait on her hand and foot and shows no gratitude for anything, leading to a confrontation when Booth ends away Janssen's ill-mannered date. So her character is far from perfect, interfering in subtle ways that makes her more human. Brief appearances by familiar character actors such as Ellen Corby (a gossipy neighbor), Percy Helton (a frustrated bartender), Harry Morgan (a business associate of Ryan's) and Mabel Albertson (a fussy customer) add some amusing characterizations. This is extremely well written and directed, but when it is all over, you will come out singing the praises of Ms. Booth who only did one film comedy ("The Matchmaker") before taking on the TV sitcom role ("Hazel") which overshadows much of the great dramatic work she did on screen and has made her classic stage work ("My Sister Eileen", "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn") completely forgotten.
A Movie Ahead Of Its Time For Those Who Have Loved Deeply
fairy-lady4 October 2007
Warning: Spoilers
****May contain spoilers**** Shirley Booth radiates in this movie. This movie ranks as one of my top five favorites. If you love a TRUE soap opera tear-jerker then this qualifies as a 5 tissue box movie so have them ready!! The love story is touching, heartwarming, and if you love romance movies it will touch your heart right to the core. People say that Robert Ryan is miscast as the love interest but they could not be more wrong! He is a kind, shy, gentle man who finds the love of his life in Shirley Booth. Shirley Booth gives up jobs and suffers to be near her "Mr Leslie, Honey" six weeks out of each year. The movie is done entirely in flashback showing how they meet and how their relationship grows and blossoms into love over the years. Shirley Booth uses these memories to sustain her life over the years remembering the love they both shared. For anyone who cherishes romance and the joys of love THIS IS A LOVE STORY FOR THE AGES! HOW I WISH THIS MOVIE WERE ON DVD!!!! You can't even find it on video. I had to settle for a bootleg copy. If it is ever released I'll be FIRST in line to BUY IT!!!! If you get a chance find a way to WATCH THIS MOVIE. It is one to love and ENJOY!!
Minor but charming.
MOscarbradley5 August 2019
A strange little romantic drama that many people have never seen or even heard of. "About Mrs Leslie" is the story of an over-the-hill New York chanteuse who accepts an invitation from a stranger, (Robert Ryan), to spend six weeks with him as his companion in California. It was based on a Vina Delmar novel, was directed by Daniel Mann and it gave Shirley Booth another plum part after her Oscar-winning turn in "Come Back, Little Sheba". Perhaps sexless, middle-aged romances weren't quite what the public was after at the time and the film all but disappeared and Booth, who came to movies late in life, never became a film-star, (she only made four feature films in her career). However, she did make it big on television in the long-running series "Hazel". She was a highly gifted actress and here she found the perfect partner in Ryan, surely among the most underrated of all great actors. There isn't a great deal in the way of plot but it does have a lot of charm and Booth looks like she could make reading the phone book sound interesting. One to seek out.
A lot of suds in this soaper
BILLYBOY-1021 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Shirley Booth runs a rooming house in Beverly Hills before WWII. She's an unmarried frump. Thru flash-backs we see her pathetic life unfold. First she's a torch singer in a bare shoulder evening gown. Unfortunately, Shirley Booth is not the hotsy torch singer type and she looks ridiculous. Then she agrees to run off to California with Robert Ryan who has a continuous scowl on his face. The go for a swim in the ocean and Shirley wears a one piece suit with a frilly skirt on it. Shirley Booth should not do bathing suit scenes. Time passes and affairs of her present day boarding house intermingle with her platonic 6 weeks a year "arrangement" with depressing Ryan. Soon, Shirley finds out Ryan is married so she disappears but he finds her one night roaming the streets of New York. They reconnect but he has to split and she has a foreboding that they will never see each other again. The war is over and Ryan dies. He leaves her money to buy a house and then all her current roomers move on. There is a useless scene with the neighbor girl, Pixie which does'nt make sense and Shirley calls Ryan "Mr.Leslie,honey". Throughout the film there is lush, loud overly violiny music blaring. In the scene with Pixie she serves her a sandwich of cold ham. How appropriate.
About Miss Booth
jarrodmcdonald-130 July 2014
Though she was known for her many roles on Broadway and an even more famous part on television, Shirley Booth did not seem to build much of a career as a movie star. Maybe this is because she was rather unlike other actresses that were headlining motion pictures in the 1950s. And that's a good thing, really, because for every Marilyn Monroe, it's kind of nice to have a Shirley Booth, who stands out and gives us something decidedly different and special.
In this film, ABOUT MRS. LESLIE, she is paired with Robert Ryan who plays against type as a mysterious magnate. It's fun to watch him make romantic gestures towards Miss Booth's character. Of course, his idea of companionship differs significantly from hers, yet a bond is forged and it is a lasting connection. Booth displays a range of emotions in this film, and she gets the chance to sing. The story of the couple's unusual courtship is told mostly in flashback, with several subplots in the present to balance out the narrative.
In this film, ABOUT MRS. LESLIE, she is paired with Robert Ryan who plays against type as a mysterious magnate. It's fun to watch him make romantic gestures towards Miss Booth's character. Of course, his idea of companionship differs significantly from hers, yet a bond is forged and it is a lasting connection. Booth displays a range of emotions in this film, and she gets the chance to sing. The story of the couple's unusual courtship is told mostly in flashback, with several subplots in the present to balance out the narrative.
Shirley Booth.......
bfp1310811 June 2016
Warning: Spoilers
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.
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.
Shirley Booth reminisces about a back street romance
AlsExGal27 January 2023
In this romantic melodrama from Paramount Pictures and director Daniel Mann, boardinghouse proprietor Vivien Leslie (Shirley Booth) flashes back on her romance years earlier with George Leslie (Robert Ryan), an aircraft manufacturer and wartime (WWII) military adviser struggling with personal demons. Mrs. Leslie also tries to help out the various tenants at her residence whose dilemmas include a good cross section of middle class angst 50s style.
In the flashback, Vivien meets George Leslie at a nightspot where she is an entertainer. The two hit it off and he asks her to come to California with him for a six week vacation that he needs to treat the strain he is under and his resulting nerves. What starts out as friendship quickly turns to love and a "same time next year" arrangement with the two having six weeks together in the same beach house every January. Leslie is a bit of a Civil War buff, and Vivien starts to read about the Civil War too, because it makes her feel close to him when they are apart. And this brings me to the most shocking part of the film when it comes to modern sensibilities - A bookstore owner actually says something positive about Robert E. Lee! Oh the humanity!
Booth's nightclub act at the beginning is really quite bad. In spite of that and the fact that Booth and Ryan look every bit of their eleven year age difference, I was moved by Booth's various plights. Her great acting talent managed to transcend her age and even her singing. I also liked Harry Morgan in a small role as a sleazy talent manager with a pencil mustache. In his youth, Harry Morgan could always be counted on to be whatever kind of slimy little weasel the production required, and be memorable in the process.
The film also has a great score, and it turned out to be one of those films that is better than it ought to be.
In the flashback, Vivien meets George Leslie at a nightspot where she is an entertainer. The two hit it off and he asks her to come to California with him for a six week vacation that he needs to treat the strain he is under and his resulting nerves. What starts out as friendship quickly turns to love and a "same time next year" arrangement with the two having six weeks together in the same beach house every January. Leslie is a bit of a Civil War buff, and Vivien starts to read about the Civil War too, because it makes her feel close to him when they are apart. And this brings me to the most shocking part of the film when it comes to modern sensibilities - A bookstore owner actually says something positive about Robert E. Lee! Oh the humanity!
Booth's nightclub act at the beginning is really quite bad. In spite of that and the fact that Booth and Ryan look every bit of their eleven year age difference, I was moved by Booth's various plights. Her great acting talent managed to transcend her age and even her singing. I also liked Harry Morgan in a small role as a sleazy talent manager with a pencil mustache. In his youth, Harry Morgan could always be counted on to be whatever kind of slimy little weasel the production required, and be memorable in the process.
The film also has a great score, and it turned out to be one of those films that is better than it ought to be.
Good story, but please don't flame my review
ringsindiamonds14 July 2015
The story is very believable and likely raised a lot of eyebrows back when it was released. I love older movies because they do not show all the gratuitous sex scenes but rather, hint at the possibility. I also appreciate Shirley Booth and Bob Ryan as actors. However, now here is the part that is going to rebut the previous reviews, I personally feel both of these actors are miscast in this movie. Neither seem to deliver heartfelt lines. It really feels like they are just reading the script. Robert Ryan is exquisite in film noir and this is movie is not his forte. And I don't know why Shirley Booth doesn't put any more feeling into delivering her lines because I know she is capable of doing so. So while I think the movie is a very good story line, I wish they would have cast other actors. Just stating my opinion is all and I do appreciate and respect the previous reviewers felt both were absolutely stunning in their parts.
Love Wins Again, At Last, And Evermore
pronker14 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
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.
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.
Excellent acting but it's a bit tough to really like the main character
planktonrules28 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Shirley Booth proved what a good actress she was in this film. While she was memorable and received an Oscar for her performance in "Come Back, Little Sheba", here in "About Mrs. Leslie" she gives a more well-rounded and less pathetic performance. Here, her acting was tops, though the casting was a bit unusual--I might have expected someone like Lana Turner for such a role. That's because the rather ordinary looking Booth plays 'the other woman'--an odd role for a slightly overweight middle-aged woman. Now I am NOT against Booth getting this role and actresses like her getting more roles. Hollywood is too often filled with beautiful women--beautiful and unrealistic women. So, seeing a good actress who is more plain was nice--but in this particular case, the casting was even more unusual.
This brings me to my major problem with the film. Although I marveled at the acting (as Booth managed to be even better than the wonderful Robert Ryan--and that's no small feat), I had a hard time loving this film because the film is essentially about a rather pathetic affair. You see, the single lady Booth had an odd affair that lasts six weeks every year, as she vacations with a man (Ryan) and they pretend to be husband and wife (the whole question of sex is omitted in the film). They know little about each other and she knows NOTHING about him--a sure recipe for contentment and lifelong security, huh? But, it did end well and I appreciated how her character seemed to understand this at the end.
A magnificently acted film--too bad they didn't put a little more effort into the ordinary script.
This brings me to my major problem with the film. Although I marveled at the acting (as Booth managed to be even better than the wonderful Robert Ryan--and that's no small feat), I had a hard time loving this film because the film is essentially about a rather pathetic affair. You see, the single lady Booth had an odd affair that lasts six weeks every year, as she vacations with a man (Ryan) and they pretend to be husband and wife (the whole question of sex is omitted in the film). They know little about each other and she knows NOTHING about him--a sure recipe for contentment and lifelong security, huh? But, it did end well and I appreciated how her character seemed to understand this at the end.
A magnificently acted film--too bad they didn't put a little more effort into the ordinary script.
Beautiful film
gdstewart-1757029 April 2017
Beautiful film where a single lounge singer sparks a friendship and eventually a relationship with a successful businessman. They meet once a year in California by the sea. Every year, the man and his girlfriend meet and enjoy fishing, running in the surf, and intimate dinners at a local seafood restaurant. She doesn't ask questions, but simply enjoys his company. He appreciates their time together without any prying into his life. Mrs. Leslie's advice to a young couple embarking on marriage: "Be honest with each other. Give everything you've got. Don't settle for half. You gotta have it all: marriage, kids, the works. It cost me a life to find that out."
Well this was a massive disapointment.
PatrynXX8 December 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The acting only turned on an hour in. Nothing really happened for an hour. Went to sleep on it twice. But after that hey the young couple , the wannabe dance and actress. They spiced things up. Alot of this movie is vague and one of the poorest lacklust scripts one could ever find. Has zero explanation on why she's called Mrs Leslie.. There is zero chemistry between the two actors. Except that younger couple . Not a clue why people like it. The dvd wasn't bad. Although it did have lines in it later on. But I'll stick this one in the worst MOD movie I've gotten so far. I'll stick with Rhonda Fleming. I can't imagine Ronald Reagan movies being better but this movie made sure of it.
Quality: 3/10 Entertainment: 5/10 Re-Playable : 1/10.
Quality: 3/10 Entertainment: 5/10 Re-Playable : 1/10.
An adult romantic drama
jjnxn-111 May 2013
Lovely little drama about a hopeless love affair told in remembrance. Shirley Booth is incredibly moving in a beautifully simple performance and Robert Ryan a fine match in a understated part very different from his usual gruff often cruel characters. If you are only familiar with Shirley Booth from her years as "Hazel" she will be a revelation here. She and Ryan are pretty much the whole show with the other actors unmemorable excepting the neighbor's daughter and only because she is such an odious little brat. For discriminating audiences who enjoy superior acting and don't mind that the actors look and behave like real people.
What a Turkey!
ponchito-005881 March 2019
I could not believe the scene where Shirley Booth plays a night club singer! Absolutely absurd to even imagine her in such a role. Her voice is horrendous.
I see many positive reviews which I think are based more on her stellar reputation having recently won the Academy Award. Reviewers seem afraid to tell the truth about her performance here. I don't care how accomplished any director, producer, cinematographer, or actor is. What counts is only what is on the screen. Someone said its a shame Booth is typecast in our minds today because of her starring role in the TV series Hazel. Yet, I see little difference between this turkey and that television program. Different name, but she's still a domestic servant catering to household customers.
Mrs. Leslie, ahead of her time
Randall419 April 2006
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.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
