People talk a lot about Douglas Sirk and Ross Hunter when it comes to glossy soap operas, but let's not forget about "written, directed, and produced by Delmar Daves." As a writer, Daves was responsible for some wonderful films such as "An Affair to Remember," "Dark Passage," and one of my favorites, "It All Came True." Once the late '50s hit, he was happier with the big glossy films for the younger set - "Rome Adventure," "Youngbood Hawke," "Parrish," "A Summer Place," and "Susan Slade," all of which he directed.
"Susan Slade" stars Troy Donahue, Connie Stevens, Lloyd Nolan, Brian Aherne, Bert Convy, and Dorothy McGuire. Stevens plays the title role, that of a sheltered young woman who's been living with her parents overseas. She becomes involved on the ship back to America with a mountain climber named Conn (Grant Williams) who loses his life on a mountain and leaves Susan pregnant. She has a couple of men after her: the brooding Hoyt Brecker (Donahue), whose father was involved in a scandal, and Wells Corbett (Bert Convy), the son of the Slades' best friends (Brian Aherne and Natalie Schaefer). Susan's loving parents (Lloyd Nolan and Dorothy McGuire) are very concerned that an illegitimate child will ruin Susan's life and her prospects.
Well, needless to say, this is pretty dated, considering nowadays most people have babies and don't think about getting married, if they do, until much later! So all the hoopla hearkens back to a different morality.
Connie Stevens is good, though I prefer her in lighter comedy, where she really shone; and Donahue looks good (by Palm Springs Weekend he'd really had it) and Daves knew how to direct him to his best advantage. However, he always did a lot with that brooding look. Bert Convy doesn't seem all that comfortable, or is it that I associate him with game shows, I don't know.
Stevens and Donahue are surrounded by a terrific cast of veterans, which also includes Kent Smith as the doctor.
"Susan Slade" is very lushly photographed and scored, with young, vital, good-looking leads. It's entertaining, as are all of the Daves films in this genre.
