La strada proibita

Amusingly over-plotted but not half-bad melodrama stars a miscast Maureen O'Hara as a wealthy young British woman in Victorian England who marries a penniless art-instructor and moves with him into the slums of London; after an accidental death, O'Hara is blackmailed by the local busybody, but finds redemption in congenial--though already married--Dana Andrews. Neither O'Hara nor Andrews gives a particularly strong performance (and Maureen's rolling Irish burr seems more pronounced than ever); however, the supporting players are good and the screenplay from talented Ring Lardner Jr., adapting the book "Britannia Mews" by Margery Sharp, nicely avoids soap opera and predictability by continually changing tone and direction. O'Hara's "Addie" goes through just as many changes, turning from wide-eyed girl to fed-up housewife to salty broad to society bride! The set designs are impeccable, and the film is well-mounted and paced with a jovial step by director Jean Negulesco. *** from ****