My Forbidden Past

I enjoyed watching the web of intrigue unfold as a young New Orleans lady in the late 1800's attempts to use her inheritance to regain the man she loves. But there are others who are and have been plotting both for and against her, and her plans go awry. I eagerly watched to learn if the man she loved would suffer for her machinations, or if she would risk her societal position to save him. Unfortunately the ending left me cold, with too many questions left unanswered and with the feeling that Robert Mitchum was miscast in the role of the doctor she loves.

No, this isn't a masterpiece of a movie. Far from it. But I didn't find it quite as horrible as some reviewers.

This movie is based on the Polan Banks novel, "Carriage". I haven't read the book so I can't comment on whether this adaptation is accurate. It does feel like there are some missing details that often get cut in an adaptation to keep a movie's running time to a modest length. However, this movie runs quite short (at 1 hour 15 minutes) and they certainly could've included more than they did.

I wasn't as confused as other reviewers about Barbara Beaurevel's (Ava Gardner) forbidden past. It involves the fact that she is Carrie Crandall's granddaughter. Mrs. Crandall is known as a "notorious" woman in New Orleans. She married a gambler who promptly left her. She had a daughter (Barbara's mother)who she then gave another name and sent to be raised in a convent in order to protect her. The attorney, Mr. Toplady, who is sent to find Barbara (in order to pass on the inheritance that has been left her) states that Mrs. Crandall would do anything to provide for her daughter. I think it is only natural to assume this meant she became a prostitute or Madame. With this being New Orleans and the fact that she hooked up with a gambler - this is not too far-fetched. Barbara's mother then met and married affluent Mr. Beaurevel (Barbara's father). What I wonder is what ever happened to Barbara's parents? Why is she in the care of her Aunt? Again, these are items probably explained in the novel but cut from the movie.

Ava is perfectly lovely as usual. There are a couple times when her acting was quite good. I liked when Mitchum's character walks away from her on the terrace at the dance. Watch Ava's very subtle but effective facial expressions (an almost undetectable raise of an eyebrow and a few lip quivers). She could've easily overacted her hurt and anger but is wonderfully subtle and yet still powerfully conveys the emotions.

I did find it hard to believe Mitchum in his occupational role as do good medical researcher - willing to work for low pay for a good cause. Its obvious he was a street kid from New York who had to gamble his way through college. Its hard to believe he would have acquired noble aspirations and not just gone after money. Plus he is such a notorious cad is most of his roles - its hard to buy his noble speech to Ava at the end - "if you do all these things you might turn out to be quite a woman." But otherwise, I do like the chemistry between the two characters.

I think there are some interesting elements to the plot - I like the unexpected event towards the end. It adds an unexpected twist. But apart from this, the dialogue itself is quite weak. My other complaint is that the musical score is rather forgettable and could've done much more to enhance the mood and feel of New Orleans and the grand ole' South. But I still think the movie is worth a look, especially for Ava.

Robert Mitchum and Ava Gardner make for handsome leads in this drama, but both seem out of place in this costume drama set a post-Civil War New Orleans. Gardner is spurned by Mitchum, but when she suddenly comes into wealth, she decides to use her money to win back Mitchum and exact her revenge. Mitchum is one of my favorite actors, but this is not his sort of picture. Gardner too for that matter. The leads make this film worth watching, but just barely.

The film is much too short .A melodrama demands lavish details ,mainly when it deals with a "forbidden" past.Here Gardner's grandma's racy past is only skimmed over.Her relationship with Mitchum -not convincing as a professor-makes me think of a poor man' s "Jezebel" .And Mitchum's character's attitude does not make much sense when he come s back with a wife.Besides the ending I-hope-she-will -mend-her-ways is unworthy of a great melodrama :never Sirk,Stahl , Minnelli or Wyler would have ended one of their works that way.Ava Gardner is for me the most beautiful actress that has ever been but there are so many works to remember her,better than this one!

For one thing you've got quite a bit of playing against type. Robert Mitchum as a microbiologist researcher with a profound sense of decency and honor? Melvyn Douglas as a layabout lady's man who would boink his own cousin if he thought he could enrich himself? Quite different from the bland but trustworthy best friend of the leading man he often plays. Ava Gardner may not be playing against type, but she is just so beautiful here - shiny hair, perfect bone structure, just one touch of Venus!

Dr. Mark Lucas (Mitchum), a poor researcher at Tulane, and Barbara Beaurevel (Gardner), a member of one of New Orleans' oldest, finest, and poorest families, are in love, but Barbara is always meeting him in secret. The reason is not exactly clear, unless she worries for her social reputation, but then again, what is so awful about being a medical researcher? Or maybe it is because her family wants her to marry a rich suitor. Mark goes away on a research trip for two months and comes back with a wife. This cuts Barbara to the core. Mark appears to have done this on the rebound because he has no satisfactory explanation. The wife is a cold fish who apparently would dump Mark if she found a richer or more exciting option. So why these two are together is puzzling.

Barbara wants to get Mark back, and for some reason she thinks getting her grandmother's inheritance, which has just been sitting around collecting dust for years, is the way to do that. Again, why? Mark apparently cares nothing for money. Maybe the best revenge is living well? But I digress. Barbara, with no more than her startling physical similarity to her grandmother, successfully collects her 900K inheritance from the trustee. But there is a catch. Grandma was a notorious woman. Grandma married a gambler who left her and their child for parts unknown. The insinuation is that Grandma became a prostitute or madame in New Orleans in order to get by. Like that has never happened before??? Oh the horror! So Barbara must keep her heritage and the source of her new found wealth a secret. And strangely, nobody outside of the family ever asks where the money came from.

Barbara does think she has found a way to get Mark back, and strangely enough it does require cash. But then her plan unexpectedly turns to tragedy. I'll let you watch and find out how this plays out.

I'd recommend this. I'd actually rate this at 6.5 if possible. Sure the script is moth eaten and the production code prevents the spelling out of the details of the original story, "Carriage", but Ava Gardner commands your attention as a woman scorned. It seems hard to believe, but she MUST have been scorned at one time to get the facial expressions down so pat. Melvyn Douglas injects some of his trademark wit into his largely despicable character so that he is more than just a two dimensional cliché.