Robert Stevenson directed My Forbidden Past, a disappointing film noir, adapted by Leopold Atlas from Polan Banks’ novel “Carriage Entrance.”
Grade: C+ (*1/2* out of *****)
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Theatrical release poster
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The movie does not benefit from the presence of its two bonefide stars, Robert Mitchum and Ava Gardner, who suprisingly don’t generate an erotic tension in their scenes together
Set in the 1890s in New Orleans, the tale centers on Dr. Mark Lucas (Mitchum), who wrongly believes that Barbara Beaurevel (Gardner) betrayed him after their planned elopement.
Mark returns from South America accompanied by Corinne (Janis Carter), a woman he married for her beauty, due to this still lingering grudge against Barbara. Determined to win him back, Barbara, already having inherited a large sum from her grandmother, bribes her cousin Paul (Melvyn Douglas) into seducing Corinne and breaking up the marriage.
This cold-blooded plan ends up in Corinne’s death by accident, and Mark held under strong suspicion of murder.
In the end, Barbara, realizing her insidious act, empathetically confesses, thus once again becoming a woman worthy of love.
Garnder looks beautiful, but she is not mean enough as expected of a noir dame, and her eventual transfirmation is not compelling.
Despite the presence of A-star cast, the moive was indifferently directed by Robert Stevenson, resuling in a critical and commercial flop for all concerned.
This was a weak entry in Stevenson’s long and varied career, which spanned decades, having begun work in the 1930s. It is the same Stevenon who would direct later in his career such Dsney smash hits as Son of Flubber and Mary Poppins, whic would turn Julie Andrews into international star, and for which he himself would score a Best Directior Oscar nomination.
The film became notorious dor its offscreen politics. It was to star Ann Sheridan, who, under her contract, had co star approval. RKO claimed she refused all the names offered her and thus terminated the contract, replacing her with Ava Gardner. Sheridan sued RKO for $350,000, and when the case went to trial, the jury awarded her $55,162 (the minimum amount Sheridan would have earned for the shoot). Later, it was shown that Sheridan would have approved Mitchum as a co star.
Cast
Robert Mitchum as Dr. Mark Lucas
Ava Gardner as Barbara Beaurevel
Melvyn Douglas as Paul Beaurevel
Lucile Watson as Aunt Eula Beaurevel
Janis Carter as Corinne Lucas
Gordon Oliver as Clay Duchesne
Basil Ruysdael as Dean Cazzley
Clarence Muse as Pompey
Walter Kingsford as Coroner
Jack Briggs as Cousin Philippe
Will Wright as Luther Toplady
Credits:
Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures
Release date: April 21, 1951
Running time: 70 minutes
