Born to Be Bad (1950)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Nicholas Ray

Writers:

George Oppenheimer (additional dialogue)
Anne Parrish (novel)

Release Date:

27 August 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Film-Noir | Drama

Tagline:

A WOMAN OF BEAUTY...who wielded ruthless power over men!

Plot:

Christabel fools everyone with her sweet exterior including her cousin Donna and Donna's wealthy fiancée Curtis...

Plot Keywords:

Obsession | Beautiful Woman | Jealousy | Painter | Score Influenced By Popular Music Styles

Cast

Joan Fontaine	...	Christabel Caine Carey
Robert Ryan	...	Nick Bradley
Zachary Scott	...	Curtis Carey
Joan Leslie	...	Donna Foster
Mel Ferrer	...	Gabriel 'Gobby' Broome
Harold Vermilyea	...	John Caine
Virginia Farmer	...	Aunt Clara Caine
Kathleen Howard	...	Mrs. Bolton
Dick Ryan	...	Arthur - Curtis's Butler
Bess Flowers	...	Mrs. Worthington
Joy Hallward	...	Mrs. Porter
Hazel Boyne	...	Committee Woman
Irving Bacon	...	Jewelry Salesman
Gordon Oliver	...	Harrison - the Lawyer (scenes deleted)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jack Chefe	...	Man (scenes deleted)
Jan Hedges	...	Lawyer's Secretary (scenes deleted)
Al Murphy	...	Man (scenes deleted)

Also Known As:

All Kneeling (USA) (working title)
Bed of Roses (USA) (working title)
Christabel Caine (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

94 min | 90 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #13949) | USA:TV-PG (TV rating)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

The film had two endings. Director Nicholas Ray raised the issue of a director's right to final cut, and at this time the collective contract with directors did not stipulate this right.

Quotes:

Nick Bradley: [to Christabel] I love you so much I wish I liked you.

Joan Fontaine is the classic lovely manipulator

If you've enjoyed Joan Fontaine's endearing performances in REBECCA or SUSPICION, check out this movie for an entirely different turn of character.

Joan plays Christabel, a woman with nice curves who's got all the angles, too. She's a classic manipulator, and the fun of the movie is watching her try to keep up her false appearances as she runs recklessly through the lives around her -- society friends, sick relatives, a thin-mustached rich playboy, and the rugged novelist guy who sees through her and loves her still.

The performance is one of shifting eyes, deceptive wheels turning inside the lovely Christabel's head, trying to recall which lie she told to whom. Fontaine retains a sense of mystery about her, because you keep wondering to what end is all this manipulation, anyway -- does Christabel even know? A consummate liar, she also remains a bit sympathetic through it all: you get the sense of someone who has played so many contradictory roles that she's kind of a lost soul.

As for the story itself, it's pretty good; and the supporting characters are merely okay. But really, they're just pins set up for Christabel to upset. Sit back and watch her go.

So, if you're like me and wanted to reach out and protect Joan in her Hitchcock movies, try BORN TO BE BAD. She's just as lovely (those doe-eyes will make you want to believe her) -- only hold onto your heart, and your wallet.