Forbidden *** (1953, Tony Curtis, Joanne Dru, Lyle Bettger, Marvin Miller) – Classic Movie Review 4976

Director Rudolph Maté’s 1953 romantic film noir crime drama Forbidden provides a good change of pace for its star Tony Curtis, who wears suits for a change, as a hood called Eddie Darrow who is hired by Philadelphia mobster Barney Pendleton (Alan Dexter) to go to Macao to escort mobster’s widow Christine Lawrence (Joanne Dru) and her evidence back home to America.

Christine is Eddie’s former lover and the widow of a former associate of Barney. In Macao, Eddie saves the life of casino owner Justin Keit (Lyle Bettger), then finds that Christine is engaged to marry him.

Written by William Sackheim and Gil Doud, from Sackheim’s story, this boasts a busy, complex plot with plenty of double dealing and a decently played will they-won’t they? romance between the stars.

Even if Forbidden is still not much more than a humble Fifties-style hoodlum action thriller, the young Curtis’s appealing presence enlivens this engaging escapist adventure. Nevertheless, it is humble in a good way. This forgotten film is well worth a look.

Also in the cast are Lyle Bettger, Marvin Miller, Victor Sen Yung, Peter Mamakos, Mai Tai Sing, Howard Chuman, Weaver Levy, Alan Dexter, Al Ferguson, David Sharpe, Reginald Sheffield, Harry Lauter and Alphonse Martell.

William H Daniels shoots in gritty black and white, though it is a slight shame that it is all so studio bound, and a bit cheap looking.

It was shot in the studio at Universal Studios, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, in January and February 1953. The Macao waterfront was shot at San Diego, California.

It was released on 2 December 1953.

Forbidden is directed by Rudolph Maté, runs 85 minutes, is made and released by Universal Pictures, is written by William Sackheim and Gil Doud, based on William Sackheim’s story, is shot in black and white by William H Daniels, is produced by Ted J Richmond, and is scored by Frank Skinner.

The cast are Tony Curtis as Eddie, Joanne Dru as Christine, Lyle Bettger as Justin, Marvin Miller as Chalmer, Victor Sen Yung as Allan, Peter J Mamakos as Sam, Mai Tai Sing as Soo Lee, Howard Chuman as Hon-Fai, Weaver Levy as Tang, Alan Dexter, Al Ferguson, David Sharpe, Reginald Sheffield, Harry Lauter and Alphonse Martell.

Forbidden is available for free download at the Internet Archive,

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 4976

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