If you're looking for sparks between Ava Gardner and Robert Mitchum because of their backstage affair during My Forbidden Past, you're going to have a tough time finding them. I couldn't help feeling Ava got too involved in her character and blew their liaison out of proportion.
In the film, they have a little romance, but when she's driven out of town due to a scandal in her past, she sends a message for Bob to come with her. Ava's conniving cousin, Melvyn Douglas, intercepts the message and never delivers it, so she thinks Bob doesn't love her anymore. Years later, when she returns to town, Bob is married to Janis Carter. Ava can't accept his choice, and she becomes determined to rekindle their affair, no matter how much damage she does in the process. This isn't a movie to watch if you want to see her play the nice girl. And it's not a movie to watch if you want to see Robert Mitchum with passion.
The star of the show is Melvyn Douglas. He managed to have a decades-long career, transitioning from leading man to old man from the 1930s to the 1970s. During this time period, he was exploring the role of villain, and as you can see, he's extremely good at it. If you liked him in this, check out The Great Sinner.
In the film, they have a little romance, but when she's driven out of town due to a scandal in her past, she sends a message for Bob to come with her. Ava's conniving cousin, Melvyn Douglas, intercepts the message and never delivers it, so she thinks Bob doesn't love her anymore. Years later, when she returns to town, Bob is married to Janis Carter. Ava can't accept his choice, and she becomes determined to rekindle their affair, no matter how much damage she does in the process. This isn't a movie to watch if you want to see her play the nice girl. And it's not a movie to watch if you want to see Robert Mitchum with passion.
The star of the show is Melvyn Douglas. He managed to have a decades-long career, transitioning from leading man to old man from the 1930s to the 1970s. During this time period, he was exploring the role of villain, and as you can see, he's extremely good at it. If you liked him in this, check out The Great Sinner.