''Abandoned'' is a 1949 American

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in Ca ...

film noir directed by Joseph M. Newman and starring

Dennis O'Keefe Dennis O'Keefe (born Edward Vanes Flanagan, Jr., March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor and writer. Early years Born in Fort Madison, Iowa, O'Keefe was the son of Edward Flanagan and Charlotte Flanagan, Irish vaudevill ...

Gale Storm Josephine Owaissa Cottle (April 5, 1922 – June 27, 2009), known professionally as Gale Storm, was an American actress and singer. After a film career from 1940 to 1952, she starred in two popular television programs of the 1950s, '' My Litt ...

and

Jeff Chandler Jeff Chandler (born Ira Grossel; yi, יראַ גראָססעל; December 15, 1918 – June 17, 1961) was an American actor, film producer, and singer, best remembered for playing Cochise in '' Broken Arrow'' (1950), for which he was no ...

. It is also known as ''Abandoned Women'' and ''Not Wanted''.

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

as Mark Sitko *

as Paula Considine *

as Chief MacRae *

Meg Randall Meg Randall (born Genevieve Roberts;''The Milwaukee Journal'', September 18, 1949, Jesse Daniels, Hollywood, "It Paid Her to Do Nothing", Milwaukee, WI, p. 5. August 1, 1926 – July 20, 2018) was an American film actress. She was active in moti ...

as Dottie Jensen *

Raymond Burr Raymond William Stacy Burr (May 21, 1917September 12, 1993) was a Canadian actor known for his lengthy Hollywood film career and his title roles in television dramas ''Perry Mason'' and '' Ironside''. Burr's early acting career included roles ...

as Kerric *

Marjorie Rambeau Marjorie Burnet Rambeau (July 15, 1889 – July 6, 1970) was an American film and stage actress. She began her stage career at age 12, and appeared in several silent films before debuting in her first sound film, '' Her Man'' (1930). She was t ...

as Mrs. Donner *

Jeanette Nolan Jeanette Nolan (December 30, 1911 – June 5, 1998) was an American actress. Nominated for four Emmy Awards, she had roles in the television series '' The Virginian'' (1962–1971) and ''Dirty Sally'' (1974), and in films such as ''Macbeth'' ...

as Major Ross *

Mike Mazurki Mike Mazurki (December 25, 1907 – December 9, 1990) was a Ukrainian-American actor and professional wrestler who appeared in more than 142 films. His 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) presence and face had him typecast as often brainless athletes ...

as Hoppe *

Will Kuluva Will Kuluva (May 2, 1917 – November 6, 1990) was an American actor. He appeared in the films '' Abandoned'', ''Viva Zapata!'', '' Operation Manhunt'', '' The Shrike'', ''Crime in the Streets'', ''Odds Against Tomorrow'', ''Go Naked in the World ...

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 Robert Howard Young (September 15, 1917 – September 10, 1951) professionally known as Clifton Young, was an American film actor. Early years Young was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Young. His father started him in vaudeville when ...

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. Director Joseph M. Newman and Bresler had previously worked together in the shorts department at MGM. Ann Blyth was originally announced for the female lead. It was shot on the Universal backlot and on location in Los Angeles. Jeff Chandler made the film before '' Broken Arrow''. However, after being cast in that film, he was given star billing for ''Abandoned''.

Reception

Critical response

A.W., writing for ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'' called the film a "briskly-paced thriller" but said the movie "proceeds along conventional melodramatic lines". 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.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.

References

External links

* * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Abandoned 1949 1949 films 1940s crime thriller films American crime thriller films American black-and-white films 1940s English-language films Film noir Universal Pictures films Films directed by Joseph M. Newman 1940s American films