Forbidden

Forbidden (1932)

Runtime: 85 minutes

Directed by: Frank Capra

Starring: Barbara Stanwyck, Adolphe Menjou, Ralph Bellamy, Dorothy Peterson, Thomas Jefferson… yes, that was this actor’s name

From: Columbia

Less controversial than hating the new movie from Bong Joon Ho (or even really liking Conclave; yes, I got static for both on another site) should be my viewing of a Pre-Code movie from Barbara Stanwyck. Each Wednesday evening in March through Thursday afternoon, Turner Classic Movies is playing Stanwyck films. As I’ve only seen a few yet enjoyed all of them, due in no small part to Babs’ contributions. This will be one of at least a few that will be DVR’ed through the month.

Frank Capra, Director and a soapy melodrama plot both intrigued. Stanwyck portrayed a dowdy librarian who is allegedly not a beautiful woman because she dresses dowdy and (gasp) wears glasses. She is suffering from spring fever so suddenly, YOLO occurs and Lulu Smith goes on a cruise to Havana. It is scandalous that (egads) Lulu does everything solo. Suddenly, Adolphe Menjou enters her life. As it’s a lawyer character portrayed by Adolphe Menjou, can you trust him?

Stanwyck goes through an ordeal throughout the decades-yes, decades. The drama includes a baby born out of wedlock, a woman who’s an invalid, a debutante, and a gun being fired. Of course, it is Lulu that endures much misery through the years. It is easy to root for the likable Lulu, even if the viewer wishes that she wouldn’t be in this scenario solely due to her unwavering love for a real lout.

There are better Stanwyck movies out there, whether during the era of the Hays Code-like the noir classic Double Indemnity-or such bold Pre-Code delights like Baby Face and The Miracle Woman. Yet, I was still entertained by the melodrama and the cast was uniformly fine, although yes Babs and Menjou were the highlights. Ralph Bellamy (in one of his first roles) did not play the sidekick role he became famous for; in fact, his character wasn’t quite as nice as you’d first suspect.
One final note: as this was a Columbia film, I was amused to see a few bit players that would later appear in Three Stooges shorts.