The Indiscretion of an American Wife from 1953 is directed by Vittoria de Sica, Italian realist par excellence. The movie is something of a departure for him because it doesn't involve Italians struggling against poverty, loneliness, or rejection. Instead, we have two American actors, Jennifer Jones as Mary, and Montgomery Clift, as Giovanni--two lovers caught up in a whirlwind American-Italian romance. Both Jones and Clift display the raw emotions of two people in a love affair that seems destined to end. Behind the exterior of a gracious lady who dotes on her nephew Paul, played by Richard Beymer, there is a woman longing for the forbidden fruit. But she is married with a young daughter and she feels she has no choice. Clift is equally passionate and cannot be kept from the pursuit. I have trouble liking the character played by Montgomery Clift, for reasons that should be clear to anyone who sees the film. He does redeem himself by risking his life to see her one last time. What he has is charisma. It's purely physical but he is loaded. The movie is played out in a short drama inside Rome's vast train station, housing young families, migrant workers, priests, schoolchildren and these star-crossed lovers. Family members, onlookers and even the local authorities seem to deny them their last few moments together. While it seems dated in many ways, the tension is as riveting as ever.

This natural setting (all in a train station) is so typical of those great Vittorio De Sica films that I have come to love so much over the years. So, if you love De Sica's films, please don't overlook this one.There are some great scenes here with real suspense. It is amazing how powerful a movie can be, even though it is only 1 hour long. It is my understanding that this is an Italian movie with only 3 actors speaking English: Jennifer Jones, Montgomery Clift, and Richard Beymer (between The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) and West Side Story (1961). I think the other characters' English may have been dubbed. It is also interesting that Jennifer Jones is directed by De Sica here and shortly after that they were co-starring in A Farewell to Arms (1957).

I generally don't like love stories, too schmaltzy, but this film, along with Brief Encounter are my favorites. Ironically they both have train stations as important location. However, I think that their major attraction is that they are about love lost in a time long ago before I was born, and made before I was born. Criticism has been made about the casting of Jennifer Jones and Montgomery Clift. However, I think that they are perfect together. So Monty does not have an Itallian accent. but if this film is shown in foreign countries, his voice is probably dubbed, and hopefully dubbed with the same performance that he is able to give in his English performance.He is able to give a great performance of a man who is going to lose a woman, though married, who he has had an affair with, and who is older than him. If you have ever been in that position of having been infatuated with someone who is older than you, or have had that love, and known you would not be having her in your life, Montgomery Clift gives that amazing performance, and you can feel his pain. His last shot in the film, is a classic. Jennifer Jones in this film, what can I say, if you are a man, you can understand Clifts feelings. It was rumored, from another source here on IMDb, that Jones was interested in Monty. If true, she is able to give those feelings in her performance. Their dialog together has the feeling of sexual needs that an American film could not have had at that time. Even young Richard Beymers character, I felt a young boy who wishes he could have a love affair with Jennifer Jones.Wonderful cinematography in this film, that takes place in this international train station, and wonderful supporting characters. Their arrest is quite memorable as well, though (according to the audio commentary on the Criterion DVD) elicited laughter in Italy, where they said such an arrest would not have happened, though another IMDb observer apparently claims would have happened. Which is the truth.A great film about love and lust all rolled into one.

The film starts out beautifully, thanks to director Vittorio De Sica, and camera-persons Aldo Graziati and James Wong Howe. Jennifer Jones (as Mary Forbes) is an unhappily married woman who has been visiting her sister in Rome; there, she has had an affair with half-Italian Montgomery Clift (as Giovanni). Ms. Jones and Mr. Clift, have, from the looks of things, fallen madly in love during the liaison. Unfortunately, "Indiscretion of an American Wife" (aka "Stazione Termini"), set exclusively in a Rome train station terminal, never progresses from its initial visual stimulation.Jones and Clift are worth watching, especially if you are a fan; however, their relationship does not exactly enchant. Although it would, admittedly, alter De Sica's artistic intention, some scenes of their initial meeting, and attraction, would have helped. The fact that Clift swats Jones rather forcefully suggests some cruelty in their relationship; additionally, Clift sometimes looks at Jones with a touch of madness in his eyes. The two seem to inhabit a slightly demented world of their own; but, not enough of their background is known to make it interesting. Richard "Dick" Beymer (who'll later be "Tony" in "West Side Story") is an unexpected highlight as Jones' overprotective young nephew Paul, who hangs out at the train station. ***** Indiscretion of an American Wife (4/2/53) Vittorio De Sica ~ Jennifer Jones, Montgomery Clift, Richard Beymer, Gino Cervi