Born to Be Bad (1950)

Nicholas Ray directed some interesting features back in the day, but few as interesting and engrossing as Born To Be Bad. I'm surprised with the beginning of the McCarthy Era and the omnipotent Code in place this one got out.For one thing the bad girl doesn't come out so bad in the end. Joan Fontaine plays the scheming bad girl although like Eve Harrington she doesn't appear so bad at first. A guest to the wedding of friend Joan Leslie and the rich Zachary Scott she winds up stealing Scott away. Fontaine is quite clever how she does it. Scott has a rich man's paranoia of being loved and wanted only for his money. She plays him like a piccolo where Leslie is concerned.Still she's a girl who wants it all and bad boy Robert Ryan is her cup of tea. He sees her exactly for what she is but she does get his hormones racing.Born To Be Bad is a most adult drama in a G rated era. In fact during that era when the government was on a search and destroy mission against gays in the military and government service Mel Ferrer as portrait painter confidante to all except Ryan in the film was about as daringly gay as you could get without an outright label. Ferrer has some priceless scenes and some great lines, especially the finale which he shares with Fontaine.This one is a keeper. Do not miss Born To Be Bad if broadcast.

Not a Typical Movie from the Big Studios, RKO Delivers, once again an Atypical Attraction of the Human condition in very Flawed People. It would be a Stretch to call this Film-Noir but some may do so. Let us call it that only in the most Liberal Confines. Even Scholars have been Uneasy about a Definitive Definition that has been Extremely Elusive.The Story is Sudsy to say the least and has been a Literary Lexicon forever. Movies, on the other hand, use to Tread Softly on this kind of Sultry, Seductive, and Immoral Behavior. After the War things did begin to Change, but Slowly and not without Careful Consideration. The word "Sex" in an Amorous sense, as in We have a "Sexual" Attraction in common, is used here, for example. That just wasn't said and You would be Hard Pressed to find it used that way during this Era, and from Unmarried People no less.The Film has quite a few Witty Quips and it is Better Verbally than Visually. As so, it can be Entertaining in a Romance Novel kind of way and probably Enjoyed more by Women.

Joan Fontaine, as Christabel, comes into the scene as a meek, timid woman. Instead, she winds up marrying the fiancé of Joan Leslie. At the beginning, this reminded me of Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) in "All About Eve," also 1950. Of course, Harrington knew what she wanted and would do anything to get it; on the other hand, Fontaine just doesn't know what she wants. That's where the picture goes awry. The part with the sick aunt, you knew that Christabel would use this as an excuse to stay away from husband Zachary Scott. Of course, the aunt's departure was obviously coming.For two slick, nasty guys on the screen, both Scott and Robert Ryan are comparatively mellow here as the men around Fontaine's orbit.A perfect vehicle for Fontaine as a selfish woman. Joan Leslie is rather bland here as the secretary who loses Scott to her.

I also think this is an excellent melodrama, although Joan Fontaine was completely unbelievable as the scheming Christabel. She was too fawning and too old to play such simpering innocence. How every man fell at her feet - there is a line in the film where, Donna, I think, comments on the men being over there "all kneeling" at Christabel's portrait. "All Kneeling" was the title of Anne Parrish's book that this film was based on. Joan Leslie is a different story. I have always felt Leslie was an under-rated actress, who, unfortunately, only came into her own at the end of her film career. In this film she, of course, plays the "good girl' (typpecasting she could never escape) but she has so much class and sophistication - she runs rings around Fontaine.Christabel (Joan Fontaine) arrives early (and she knows it) in spite of her innocent protestations. She is expected at Donna's (Joan Leslie) the next day but comes in the middle of preparations for a big party. She then proceeds to charm the men at the party - especially Nick (Robert Ryan), a brooding writer, who sees in Christabel a cold ruthlessness that he can't resist. She really wants Curtis Carey (Zachery Scott - again proving his versatility), Donna's extremely wealthy fiancée. Christabel thinks he will give her the life she feels she deserves and Donna is a mere stepping stone.Curtis wants to pick out an engagement present for Donna and Christabel, with a few "innocent" barbs about the expense of the present, manages to sow seeds of dissent between Curtis and Donna. Donna breaks her engagement and goes to London for a break. Uncle John (Harold Vermilyea) is the only who can see through Christabel and wants her to go back to her aunt. She wangles one more night and by the end of it is engaged to Curtis. She leaves behind an embittered Nick.After her marriage Aunt Clara comes to stay and she and Curtis become great friends. Christabel breaks up their friendship and sends Aunt Clara packing!!! Christabel throws herself into a social whirl of committees and balls, then Aunt Clara becomes ill. She uses Aunt Clara's illness as an excuse to snatch a few hours with Nick before he goes away. Things go horribly wrong (for Christabel) when Clara dies and Curtis realises that Christabel has neglected her and lied to him. He also realises who he should have married all along.Recommended.