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6.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Forbidden remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old black-and-white dramas where everyone hides their real feelings behind fancy hats, sure. If you hate slow-burn sacrifice and movies that rely on people making bad life choices to keep the plot moving, skip it.
Barbara Stanwyck is the only reason this thing holds water. She plays Lulu with this quiet, sharp-eyed intelligence that makes you wonder why she’s settling for the guy in the first place. You can tell she’s the smartest person in every room she walks into, even when she’s acting like a total fool for love.
The plot starts on a cruise ship. It’s the kind of setting that screams 1930s melodrama. You know exactly where it's going the second she locks eyes with Adolphe Menjou. He’s the district attorney, and he’s married to someone else. Of course he is.
There’s a moment in the middle where the film almost loses me. The pacing drags a bit, like it’s waiting for the audience to catch up to the obvious. But then Stanwyck has this look—just a flicker of her eyes—and you’re back in it.
It’s not as snappy as Road to Rio, but it has a different kind of pull. It’s heavy. It feels like someone trying to write a letter they know they’ll never send.
The ending isn't exactly a party, but it feels earned in a weird, dusty way. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s honest about how much life can derail your plans. Sometimes you just have to watch a librarian deal with the consequences of her own heart. 📽️