From the responses on view it's clear that many were greatly affected by this movie and have much nostalgia for it. "Home Before Dark" is one of those movies that strangely disappear, hardly ever shown on television and not available in any other form. This state of rarity often bestows a movie a quality of being somehow special, which is not always the case.
I would guess that the reason that so many remember this movie is solely the performance of Jean Simmons. It's a very tricky role and Simmons really does extremely well in the part. She manages to walk the tightrope between mental unbalance and lucidity in the most credible fashion.
The rest of the cast are competent but hardly memorable and the film is way too long. There is a lovely theme song, (whose lyrics as is often the case, have nothing to do with the plot), it's credited to McHugh and Cahn, though no credit is given at all to the lovely vocal by Mary Kaye
I would guess that the reason that so many remember this movie is solely the performance of Jean Simmons. It's a very tricky role and Simmons really does extremely well in the part. She manages to walk the tightrope between mental unbalance and lucidity in the most credible fashion.
The rest of the cast are competent but hardly memorable and the film is way too long. There is a lovely theme song, (whose lyrics as is often the case, have nothing to do with the plot), it's credited to McHugh and Cahn, though no credit is given at all to the lovely vocal by Mary Kaye