Tony Curtis in "Forbidden" (1953) - feat. Victor Sen Yung

Eddie Darrow (Tony Curtis) works for American gangster Barney Pendleton, who sends him to Macao to find a woman, Christine Lawrence, and bring her back to the United States. Aware of a previous romantic attraction between the two, Pendleton tells his thug Chalmer to follow Eddie on the trip, just in case.

At a nightclub and casino, Eddie saves the owner, Justin Keit, from some Chinese men attacking him. A grateful Justin invites him home and introduces Eddie to his fiancée, Christine. Eddie is bitter because Christine had run off to marry a criminal named Manard, who is now dead. A jealous Justin overhears Christine explain to Eddie that she only wed Manard because he threatened to harm Eddie. She also says Pendleton wants her back because she has hidden documents that could land him behind bars.

In order to keep an eye on Eddie, Justin offers him a job at the casino. There he befriends an Asian piano player named Allan. A local gambler named Hon-Fai is robbed and killed, and Eddie suspects Justin could be behind this. Christine makes it clear she does not love Justin, and she and Eddie passionately kiss. Chalmer shows himself, suspecting that Eddie has decided to take Christine for himself and flee. Eddie denies this, claiming that he fully intends to follow Pendleton's orders and bring Christine back to the States. Christine overhears this and angrily decides to marry Justin.

As a gang war breaks out, Chalmer is killed and Justin does indeed turn out to be a ruthless criminal. Allan, the pianist, reveals himself to be an undercover agent of the law. He is able to get Eddie and Christine on board a boat leaving for San Francisco, and when Justin tries to pursue them, he ends up on a boat that explodes.

A 1953 American Black & White film noir crime film (aka "Drifting") directed by Rudolph Maté, produced by Ted Richmond, screenplay by William Sackheim and Gil Doud, story by William Sackheim, cinematography by William H. Daniels, starring Tony Curtis, Joanne Dru, Lyle Bettger, Marvin Miller, Victor Sen Yung, Peter Mamakos, Mai Tai Sing, Howard Chuman, and Weaver Levy. Screen debut appearance of Lee Moi Chu. Released by Universal Pictures.

Mamie Van Doren appears as a Singer (uncredited).

Joanne Dru (1922-1996), born Joan Letitia LaCock in Logan, West Virginia, was an American film and television actress, known for such films as "Red River" (1948), "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" (1949), and "All the King's Men" (1949). She was the elder sister of Peter Marshall, the original host of the game show "Hollywood Squares". Dru moved to New York City in 1940 at the age of eighteen. After finding employment as a model, she was chosen by Al Jolson to appear in the cast of his Broadway show "Hold On to Your Hats". When she moved to Hollywood, she found work in the theater. Dru was spotted by a talent scout and made her first film appearance in "Abie's Irish Rose" (1946). Dru was a staunch Republican, supporting Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election and appeared at a 1968 GOP cocktail party fundraiser for Richard Nixon. For her contribution to the television industry, Dru was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Lyle Stathem Bettger (1915- 2003), born in Philadelphia, was an American character actor who had roles in Hollywood films and television from the 1950s onward, often portraying villains. One such role was the wrathfully jealous elephant handler Klaus from the Oscar-winning film "The Greatest Show on Earth" (1952). The son of Frank Bettger, an infielder for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1910 (as Frank Betcher), successful insurance salesman and best-selling self-help author. He graduated from the Haverford School in Haverford, Pennsylvania and from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Bettger's theatrical debut was in "Brother Rat" at the Biltmore Theatre in New York City in 1936. When Paramount sent a talent scout to see him, Bettger was signed to a three-year contract.

Rudolph Maté (1898-1964), born Rudolf Mayer in Kraków (then in the Grand Duchy of Kraków, Austro-Hungarian Empire, currently in Poland), was a Polish-Hungarian cinematographer who worked in Hungary, Austria, Germany, and France. He collaborated with notable directors including Fritz Lang, René Clair, and Carl Theodor Dreyer, attracting notable recognition for "The Passion of Joan of Arc" (1928) and "Vampyr" (1932). Maté was nominated for an Academy Award five times for cinematography. By 1947, Maté became a film director, with notable titles such as "D.O.A." (1950).

Soundtrack music:
"You Belong to Me" - Written by Pee Wee King, Redd Stewart and Chilton Price, Performed by Mamie Van Doren (dubbed by Virginia Rees).

It breaks no new ground in the noir cycle, but it is stylish, well paced with snappy dialogue and intriguing plot. Full of suspenseful twists and turns, it all ends quite spectacularly in a shipboard fire in the hold. Fun and well done. Recommended for film noir enthusiasts.

Видео Tony Curtis in "Forbidden" (1953) - feat. Victor Sen Yung канала Donald P. Borchers