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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 (uncredited)
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 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

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 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

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.

References

^ Abandoned at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
^ Abandoned at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films.
^ Silver, Alain (2010). Film Noir: The Encyclopedia. Overlook Duckworth. p. 23. ISBN 978-0715638804.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ Schallert, Edwin (April 22, 1949). "Metro May Have Uncle Tom in Grooming Stage; Williams Bid for Italy". Los Angeles Times. p. A7.
^ 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.
^ Schallert, Edwin (May 9, 1949). "Subway Terminal Storm Center of Movie Plot; Zinnemann Deal on Fire". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.
^ 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.
^ A. W. (October 27, 1949). "At the Criterion". New York Times. p. 35.
^ 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.