twhiteson Otto Preminger's 1952 film noir, "Angel Face," is credited as being British actress Jean Simmons' American film debut. "Angel Face" had Simmons starring alongside Robert Mitchum in a story about sexual obsessions, murder, and insanity. However, RKO had already teamed-up Mitchum and Simmons for this silly film which was actually shot before "Angel Face," but not released until two years later. Upon seeing both of them as part of TCM's marathon birthday tribute to Ms. Simmons, it's very understandable why this film was put on the back-burner to allow "Angel Face" to be her American debut. "She Couldn't Say No" was just too lightweight (and terrible) a vehicle to be her introduction to American audiencesThe plot: "Corby Lane" (Simmons) is a 21 yr old oil heiress who has just returned home to the United States after spending years in English finishing schools. (Apparently, the producers felt that they had to explain Ms. Simmons' English accent.) With her inheritance in hand, she decides her first order of business is to pay back a debt of gratitude to the inhabitants of a tiny, rural Arkansas town who did her a kindness when she was a small child. So, she sets-out in a fancy new vehicle and designer wardrobe to Progress, Ark. where she intends to play secret Santa for all its long-term residents.Of course, her good intentions lead to all sort of unintended consequences with her learning some harsh lessons about cause-and-effect. A lot of lessons are taught to her by the ultra-smooth town doctor, "Robert Sellers" (Mitchum), who quickly both exasperates her and charms her seamed stockings off.The residents of Progress, Ark. are Hollywood archetypes of rural "hayseeds" played by a who's who of then Hollywood character actors who specialized in playing folksy, country bumpkins such as Edgar Buchanan and Arthur Hunnicutt. They sit on the porch of the general store, drink moonshine, and barter in pigs and chickens.Mitchum looks decidedly uncomfortable playing a down-home, country doctor who extols small town values while repeatedly lecturing Miss Lane about her "idiotic" attempts to help the local yokels. (Today, most of Mitchum's dialogue would be decried as "man-splaining.") Dr. Sellers comes across as smug and condescending. Yet, he has no problem attracting seemingly every good looking young women in the vicinity including Miss Lane.This was supposed to be a frothy romantic comedy. The comedy was to be provided by Ms. Simmons playing a fish-out-of-water and by showing the "humorous" consequences of her misguided attempts to be generous, but instead they only garner maybe a few tepid chuckles. Meanwhile, her scenes with Mitchum were supposed to generate the romance, but instead Dr. Sellers' constant lecturing her as to her "idiocy" makes one wonder why she didn't just tell him off.The ONLY reason to watch this utterly forgettable film is Jean Simmons. Essentially, it's a little over 90 minutes of her looking absolutely adorable which she does extremely well. Anytime she's not in a scene, the film just dies and unfortunately there are too many scenes without her. (I think she looks unbelievably cute with short hair, but clearly the producers of "Angel Face" did not which is why she wore an ill-fitting wig for that film.)In sum: Jean Simmons' beauty can overcome a lot of faults, but it cannot overcome this film's throwaway, feather-light plot and Mitchum's miscasting. I gave it an extra star because Ms. Simmons was just so incredibly cute.

Prismark10 I do enjoy watching vintage films that feature actors such as Kirk Douglas and Robert Mitchum is non gangster roles, but it does seem to a bit stretched to believe Mitchum as a small time country doctor.Jean Simmons is a wealthy socialite who travels to the small town of Progress in Arkansas to do good deeds for the citizens who helped her out when she was an infant. She does this by sending money in envelopes to the townsfolk, a bit ill thought out as this brings in people from out of state who also think they will come into riches from an anonymous benefactor. Simmons should had listened to her lawyers who told her to build a library.Along the way she crosses swords, wits and falls in love with Mitchum's country doctor. I think the film does not really work as a romantic comedy, Mitchum is fine as the easy going kind hearted doctor, But Simmons comes across as too snooty and superior and the film is not that funny.

edwagreen Jean Simmons is as serious minded as can be in this comedy. Wanting to thank a town for saving her life by paying for an operation, Simmons returns years later and literally gives money away.She comes back to the small town in Arkansas that saved her. There she meets the town doctor, a terribly miscast Robert Mitchum. Nothing much is doing in this rural town, but that is basically true for the entire picture.The town has some notable people such as Edgar Buchanan and Arthur Hunnicutt, who had won a supporting Oscar nomination 2 years before this film for "The Big Sky."The film shows that when money is misdirected, problems may result.Trouble with the film is its writing and that the characters depicted are boring.

dbdumonteil This movie could easily pass for "angel face" in reverse ,using the same actors,in the genre of comedy;one can only wonder what Frank Capra would have done with such a subject : a woman whose life was saved when she was a child and who wants to thank everybody (at the end everybody sings "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer "says the news);without a great director the movie lacks tempo,madness ,all that made "it's a wonderful life" " Mr Smith goes to Washington" or "meet John Doe" masterpieces ."She couldn't say no " is a pleasant little comedy ,with two actors whose chemistry is obvious ,a nice village where you can have an ice cream whenever you want,the fishing parties ,Mitchum tells it so:when Simmons asks him why he did not leave for the broader horizons of a big city ,he did not need to answer .He has found his Shangri La ,his Brigadoon and the ending is revealing:all those people coming from every part of the country and only for the money is a danger for a peaceful community which does not seem to know greed,hunger or violence.