review for Adam's Woman on AllMovie

A little-seen movie that tends to make a big impression on viewers, Adam's Woman is worth searching out. True, fans of historical films may be a bit disappointed, as the liberal polices espoused by John Mills' character don't quite ring true for the period; but the actual details in the physical production, the authenticism of the basic situation and the imagining of Australia in its rough, criminal days more than makes up for the occasional lapses. More importantly, Adam has a dramatic truth to it, and Richard Fiedler's screenplay is expert at creating characters that totally engage the viewer and plot points that are inevitable without seeming predictable. Philip Leacock's direction could perhaps be slightly more individualistic, but it more than gets the job done and is quite effective at highlighting the narrative in a most efficient manner. And Adam boasts some powerhouse performance, mostly from actors "lower tier" actors (in terms of popularity, at least). Yes, Beau Bridges is well known, but only John Mills truly qualifies as a "star." Mills, of course, is grand, which is what one expects of him, so the surprise is Bridges and the lesser-known Jane Merrow and James Booth. Bridges is superb, giving arguably his best performance, and capturing plenty of nuances that others would have missed. Booth is a beautiful villain, an energizing presence that mesmerizes in several key scenes, and Merrow is a find as the "woman" of the title. Adam has a short lull or two, and the violence of the story may deter some, but overall it's a gem.