In the opening scene of the movie (the scene is titled on-screen as "New York 1912"), Frances Kane is shown walking down a city street toward the midwife's home.
In the far background to the left is the rear of a parked car from the 1950s.
In the second scene of the film, as Frances Kane is dying, the Catholic priest administering last rites is wearing eyeglasses whose frame dates from the 1950s -- even though this part of the story is set in the New York City of 1912.
When John Drew Barrymore was making films in the 50s he opted for a more modern style than his father John Barrymore ever tried. The elder Barrymore's classical style of acting was quite passé and would never have been accepted.
Co.produced from his first novel by Harold Robbins, plainly patterned after 'The Public Enemy' and 'Angels with Dirty Faces' and ambitious enough to hire top cameraman Lee Garmes and commission a romantic musical score from Raymond Scott (with a moralising commentary of the sort later parodied by Russ Meyer).
Never Love a Stranger (1958)You might be most impressed by the early appearance of Steve McQueen, who shows a spark and intensity that makes him rise above the rest of the cast, who are really rather good in all. It says something about star power, which isn't all smoke and mirrors.
It's a Harold Robbins story and production, and it's a very interesting story. A mother gives birth to an orphan and dies, the orphan is taken to a catholic orphanage and brought up a catholic.
For once I am in agreement with the majority of posters. The plot may be accurately described as a cliché's cliché since it is that old chestnut about two childhood friends who take different paths until they wind up diametrically opposite one another.
Frankie Kane(John Drew Barrymore)is kicked out of a Catholic orphanage after it is found out that his mother was Jewish. Having some trouble out on his own in the neighborhood, he is befriended by Martin Cabell(Steve McQueen), who teaches him to fight.
1912: Frankie Kane is born, his mom dies, the put him a catholic orphanage. 1928: Frankie is shining shoes for crime boss Silk plus he befriends Steve McQueen (a "Jew-boy") and Julie.
This film is painfully inept and should be avoided by all except lovers of camp. It's the oft-told story of the boyhood friends--where one goes straight and the other becomes a crook.
I thought this was a great movie. The different paths that it takes you down and places it takes you too.
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