Abandoned (1949 film)

Abandoned
Abandoned
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Joseph M. Newman; (as Joe Newman)
Written by	Irwin Gielgud; William Bowers; (additional dialogue)
Produced by	Jerry Bresler
Starring	Dennis O'Keefe; Gale Storm; Jeff Chandler
Cinematography	William H. Daniels
Edited by	Edward Curtiss
Music by	Walter Scharf
Color process	Black and white
Production; company	Universal International
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	October 6, 1949 (Detroit);
Running time	79 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Abandoned is a 1949 American crime film noir directed by Joseph M. Newman and starring Dennis O'Keefe, Gale Storm and Jeff Chandler.^[2]^[3]

It is also known as Abandoned Women and Not Wanted.^[4]

Plot

After her sister goes missing in Los Angeles, a woman tries to find information about the disappearance at city hall. The police are not helpful, but she does get support from a local crime reporter. As the two investigate the disappearance together, they are led to a shady detective and a black-market baby ring.

Cast

Dennis O'Keefe as Mark Sitko
Gale Storm as Paula Considine
Jeff Chandler as Chief MacRae
Meg Randall as Dottie Jensen
Raymond Burr as Kerric
Marjorie Rambeau as Mrs. Donner
Jeanette Nolan as Major Ross
Mike Mazurki as Hoppe
Will Kuluva as "Little Guy" Decola
David Clarke as Harry
William Frambes as Scoop (as William Page)
Sid Tomack as Mr. Humes
Perc Launders as Dowd
Steve Darrell as Brenn
Clifton Young as Eddie
Ruth Sanderson as Mrs. Spence

Production

The film was one of a series of semi-documentary movies that were popular at the time. It was based on an original story by Irwin Gielgud commissioned by producer Jerry Bresler.^[5] Director Joseph M. Newman and Bresler had previously worked together in the shorts department at MGM.^[6] Ann Blyth was originally announced for the female lead.^[7]

It was shot on the Universal backlot and on location in Los Angeles.^[8]

Jeff Chandler made the film before Broken Arrow. However, after being cast in that film, he was given star billing for Abandoned.^[9]

Reception

Critical response

A.W., writing for The New York Times called the film a "briskly-paced thriller" but said the movie "proceeds along conventional melodramatic lines".^[10]

This was Chandler's first film for Universal under a long term contract, and the positive response to his performance began his graduation into leading roles.^[11]

References

^ Abandoned at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
^ Abandoned at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films.
^ Silver, Alain (2010). Film Noir: The Encyclopedia. p. 23. ISBN 978-0715638804.
^ "JEFF CHANDLER MAN OF MANY FACES: He Can Play Any Kind of Character Role, and Is a Glamor Guy, Too Hedda Hopper Writes of Jeff Chandler" Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune May 6, 1951: c8.
^ "DUVIVIER TO FILM 'THE FIRST LEGION': Emmett Lavery's 1934 Play Will Go Before Cameras in France Next Year" by THOMAS F. BRADY Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times December 16, 1948: 41
^ "Metro May Have Uncle Tom in Grooming Stage; Williams Bid for Italy" Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times April 22, 1949: A7.
^ "ANN BLYTH TO PLAY LEAD IN U-I MOVIE: She Will Be in 'Abandoned,' Film on Baby Adoption Gang -- Brooks Doing Melodrama" by THOMAS F. BRADY Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times April 11, 1949: 29.
^ "Subway Terminal Storm Center of Movie Plot; Zinnemann Deal on Fire" Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times May 9, 1949: B7
^ "Jeff Chandler Finally Gets to 'Act His Age': Rising Young (31) Screens Player Considers Himself 'a Lucky Kid'" SCHEUER, PHLIP K. Los Angeles Times October 29, 1950: D3.
^ Film review New York Times, October 27, 1949.
^ Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune, "Jeff Chandler Man of Many Faces: He Can Play Any Kind of Character Role, and is a Glamor Guy, Too." May 6, 1951: c8. Hedda Hopper Writes of Jeff Chandler.

External links

Abandoned at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
Abandoned at IMDb
Abandoned at AllMovie
Abandoned at the TCM Movie Database
Abandoned at Rotten Tomatoes
Abandoned film clip on YouTube

[1] Abandoned at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films

[2] Abandoned at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films.

[3] Silver, Alain (2010). Film Noir: The Encyclopedia. p. 23. ISBN 978-0715638804.

[4] "JEFF CHANDLER MAN OF MANY FACES: He Can Play Any Kind of Character Role, and Is a Glamor Guy, Too Hedda Hopper Writes of Jeff Chandler" Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune May 6, 1951: c8.

[5] "DUVIVIER TO FILM 'THE FIRST LEGION': Emmett Lavery's 1934 Play Will Go Before Cameras in France Next Year" by THOMAS F. BRADY Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times December 16, 1948: 41

[6] "Metro May Have Uncle Tom in Grooming Stage; Williams Bid for Italy" Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times April 22, 1949: A7.

[7] "ANN BLYTH TO PLAY LEAD IN U-I MOVIE: She Will Be in 'Abandoned,' Film on Baby Adoption Gang -- Brooks Doing Melodrama" by THOMAS F. BRADY Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times April 11, 1949: 29.

[8] "Subway Terminal Storm Center of Movie Plot; Zinnemann Deal on Fire" Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times May 9, 1949: B7

[9] "Jeff Chandler Finally Gets to 'Act His Age': Rising Young (31) Screens Player Considers Himself 'a Lucky Kid'" SCHEUER, PHLIP K. Los Angeles Times October 29, 1950: D3.

[10] Film review New York Times, October 27, 1949.

[11] Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune, "Jeff Chandler Man of Many Faces: He Can Play Any Kind of Character Role, and is a Glamor Guy, Too." May 6, 1951: c8. Hedda Hopper Writes of Jeff Chandler.

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