The Story of Esther Costello

Plot

With her marriage to womaniser Carlo Landi (Rossano Brazzi) in ashes, wealthy and childless Margaret Landi (Joan Crawford) finds an emotional outlet in patronizing a 15-year-old deaf, dumb, and blind Irish girl named Esther Costello (Heather Sears). Esther's disabilities are the result of a childhood trauma and are psychosomatic rather than physical. As Costello makes progress with Braille and sign language, she is seen as an example of triumph over adversity. Carlo gets wind of Margaret's new life and re-enters the scene. He views Esther as a source of cheap financial gain and arranges a series of exploitative tours for her under a mercenary manager Frank Wenzel (Ron Randell). One day when Margaret is absent from the Landi apartment, Carlo seduces and rapes the now 16-year-old Esther. The shock restores the girl's sight and hearing. When Margaret learns of her husband's business duplicities and the rape, she consigns Esther to the care of a priest and a young reporter who loves her (Lee Patterson). Margaret then kills Carlo and herself.

Cast

Joan Crawford as Margaret Landi

Rossano Brazzi as Carlo Landi

Heather Sears as Esther Costello

Lee Patterson as Harry Grant

Ron Randell as Frank Wenzel

Fay Compton as Mother Superior

John Loder as Paul Marchant

Denis O'Dea as Father Devlin

Sidney James as Ryan

Bessie Love as Matron in Art Gallery

Robert Ayres as Mr. Wilson

Maureen Delaney as Jennie Costello

Harry Hutchinson as Irish publican

Tony Quinn as Irish pub customer

Janina Faye as Esther Costello, as a child

Victor Rietti as Signor Gatti

Wilfred Bramble as man in pub (uncredited)

Reception

The film was the 11th most popular movie at the British box office in 1957.

The New York Times noted, "Miss Crawford, Mr. Brazzi, and Mr. Patterson and all the minor players are professional throughout." William K. Zinsser in the New York Herald Tribune wrote, "It wouldn't be a Joan Crawford picture without plenty of anguish...And her fans will have their usual good time...this plot enables Miss Crawford to run a full-course dinner of dramatic moods, from loneliness to mother love, from pride in the girl to passion with her husband, and finally to smouldering rage...Somehow she pulls it off. This may not be your kind of movie but it is many women's kind of movie and our Joan is queen of the art form."

DVD

The Story of Esther Costello was released on DVD by Turner Classics (under license from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) on 25 November 2014, as part of the "Joan Crawford in the 1950s" collection.