Abandoned (1949 film)

Abandoned is a 1949 American crime film noir starring Dennis O'Keefe, Gale Storm and Jeff Chandler.

Directed by Joseph M. Newman, 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

 * Dennis O'Keefe as Mark Sitko
 * Gale Storm as Paula Considine
 * Jeff Chandler as Chief MacRae
 * Meg Randall as Dottie Jensen
 * Raymond Burr as Kerric
 * Marjorie Rambeau as Mrs. Donner
 * Jeanette Nolan as Major Ross
 * Mike Mazurki as Hoppe
 * Will Kuluva 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 as Eddie
 * Ruth Sanderson as Mrs. Spence

Production
The film uses a semi-documentary style of presentation that was 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
A.H. Weiler's New York Times review was mixed: "But despite the advertisements, the newcomer is far from being 'the year's most sensational picture.' Sensational is hardly the word, since it is, in the main, a briskly paced thriller that merely indicates an insidious evil and then proceeds along conventional melodramatic lines to the climactic smashing of a baby adoption ring. As such it is a routine cops-and-mobsters number…..Gale Storm is natural and engaging as the harried young lady who manages to rescue her niece, if not her sister. However, Dennis O'Keefe, as the brash, fearless and charming newspaper man and her romantic partner seems closer to fiction than fact. Jeff Chandler turns in a competent characterization as the D.A., as do…Rambeau, Kuluva, Burr, and…Randall."

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.

Had been shown on the Turner Classic Movies show 'Noir Alley' with Eddie Muller.