My Forbidden Past



My Forbidden Past is a 1951 American historical film noir directed by Robert Stevenson and starring Robert Mitchum and Ava Gardner. Adapted by Leopold Atlas from Polan Banks' novel Carriage Entrance.

Plot
The events take place in the 1890s in New Orleans. Dr. Mark Lucas (Robert Mitchum) wrongly believes Barbara Beaurevel (Ava Gardner) refused him and betrayed him after their previously planned elopement. Thus Mark returns from South America accompanied by Corinne (Janis Carter), a woman he married for her beauty but not for love, due to this still lingering grudge against Barbara. She feels disappointed on meeting Corinne, yet she's determined to win him back. Barbara, already having inherited a large sum from her socially of ill repute grandmother, bribes her cousin Paul (Melvyn Douglas) into seducing Corinne and thereby breaking up the marriage. Unluckily this cold-blooded plan ends up in Corinne's death by accident and Mark finds himself under strong suspicion of murder. In the end, Barbara, realizing her insidious act at the trial, empathetically confesses everything, thereby once again becoming a woman worthy of love but also losing the local gentry's consideration.

Cast

 * Robert Mitchum as Dr. Mark Lucas
 * Ava Gardner as Barbara Beaurevel
 * Melvyn Douglas as Paul Beaurevel
 * Lucile Watson as Aunt Eula Beaurevel
 * Janis Carter as Corinne Lucas
 * Gordon Oliver as Clay Duchesne
 * Basil Ruysdael as Dean Cazzley
 * Clarence Muse as Pompey
 * Walter Kingsford as Coroner
 * Will Wright as Luther Toplady

Production
The film was to star Ann Sheridan. Under her contract she had co star approval. RKO claimed she refused all the names offered her and thus terminated the contract, replacing her with Ava Gardner. Sheridan sued RKO for $350,000. The case went to trial and in February 1951 the jury awarded her $55,162, being the minimum amount Sheridan would have earned during filming from April to August 1949 plus $5,162 for costs. It was shown that Sheridan would have approved Mitchum as a co star.

Reception
The film recorded a loss of $700,000.

Theatrical run
According to Stanley Kubrick, his first film, the documentary Day of the Fight, played alongside, My Forbidden Past.