Why did critics praise Mitchell Leisen's direction of To Each His Own?

Critics praised Mitchell Leisen’s direction of the 1946 film To Each His Own for his deft and sensitive handling of the material. They noted that his approach successfully elevated a narrative that, in the hands of another director, could have easily descended into maudlin melodrama.1

The film, which features a story about a mother who encounters her son decades after giving him up for adoption, was further bolstered by the performance of Olivia de Havilland, who won an Academy Award for best actress for her role. Leisen, often regarded as a "woman's director" due to his affinity for and focus on strong female leads, was widely recognized for his ability to keep such stories front and center.12