Abandoned (1949 film)

1949 film by Joseph M. Newman

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 (uncredited)
Color process| Black and white

Production
company

Universal International[1]

Distributed by| Universal Pictures

Release date

* October 6, 1949 (1949-10-06) (Detroit)

Running time

| 79 minutes
Country| United States
Language| English

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

Directed by Joseph M. Newman, it is also known as Abandoned Women and Not Wanted.[4]

## Plot

[edit]

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

[edit]

* 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

[edit]

The film uses a semi-documentary style of presentation that was 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

[edit]

A. H. Weiler's New York Times review was mixed: "But despite the advertisements, the newcomer is far from being 'the year's most sensational picture.' Sensational is hardly the word, since it is, in the main, a briskly paced thriller that merely indicates an insidious evil and then proceeds along conventional melodramatic lines to the climactic smashing of a baby adoption ring. As such it is a routine cops-and-mobsters number…..Gale Storm is natural and engaging as the harried young lady who manages to rescue her niece, if not her sister. However, Dennis O'Keefe, as the brash, fearless and charming newspaper man and her romantic partner seems closer to fiction than fact. Jeff Chandler turns in a competent characterization as the D.A., as do…Rambeau, Kuluva, Burr, and…Randall."[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]

Had been shown on the Turner Classic Movies show 'Noir Alley' with Eddie Muller.

## See also

[edit]

* List of American films of 1949

## References

[edit]

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. Overlook Duckworth. p. 23\. ISBN 978-0715638804.
4. ^ Hopper, Hedda (May 6, 1951). "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". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. c8.
5. ^ THOMAS F. BRADY (December 16, 1948). "DUVIVIER TO FILM 'THE FIRST LEGION': Emmett Lavery's 1934 Play Will Go Before Cameras in France Next Year". New York Times. p. 41.
6. ^ Schallert, Edwin (April 22, 1949). "Metro May Have Uncle Tom in Grooming Stage; Williams Bid for Italy". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
7. ^ THOMAS F. BRADY (April 11, 1949). "ANN BLYTH TO PLAY LEAD IN U-I MOVIE: She Will Be in 'Abandoned,' Film on Baby Adoption Gang -- Brooks Doing Melodrama". New York Times. p. 29.
8. ^ Schallert, Edwin (May 9, 1949). "Subway Terminal Storm Center of Movie Plot; Zinnemann Deal on Fire". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.
9. ^ SCHEUER, PHILIP K. (October 29, 1950). "Jeff Chandler Finally Gets to 'Act His Age': Rising Young (31) Screens Player Considers Himself 'a Lucky Kid'". Los Angeles Times. p. D3.
10. ^ A. W. (October 27, 1949). "At the Criterion". New York Times. p. 35.
11. ^ Hopper, Hedda (May 6, 1951). "Jeff Chandler Man of Many Faces: He Can Play Any Kind of Character Role, and is a Glamor Guy, Too". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. c8.

## External links

[edit]

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

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Joseph M. Newman

* Northwest Rangers (1942)
* Diary of a Sergeant (1945, short)
* Jungle Patrol (1948)
* The Great Dan Patch (1949)
* Abandoned (1949)
* 711 Ocean Drive (1950)
* The Guy Who Came Back (1951)
* Love Nest (1951)
* I'll Get You for This (1951)
* Pony Soldier (1952)
* Red Skies of Montana (1952)
* The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1952)
* Dangerous Crossing (1953)
* The Human Jungle (1954)
* This Island Earth (1955)
* Kiss of Fire (1955)
* Flight to Hong Kong (1956)
* Death in Small Doses (1957)
* Fort Massacre (1958)
* The Gunfight at Dodge City (1959)
* The Big Circus (1959)
* Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959)
* A Thunder of Drums (1960)
* Twenty Plus Two (1960)
* The Lawbreakers (1961)
* The Big Bankroll (1961)
* The George Raft Story (1962)

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