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Forbidden Hours
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Wikipedia article
'Forbidden Hours' is a 1928 American silent romantic drama film directed by Harry Beaumont as a vehicle for Mexican-born star Ramon Novarro. It was the second of four films to pair Novarro with leading lady Rene Adore.
Plot
Set in the fictitious European kingdom of Balanca, Prince Michael IV is being coerced, by his advisers, to marry a young woman of royal blood. However, he has fallen for a peasant.
Cast
*Ramon Novarro as His Majesty, Michael IV
*Rene Adore as Marie de Floriet
*Dorothy Cumming as Queen Alexia
*Edward Connelly as Prime Minister
*Roy D'Arcy as Duke Nicky
*Mitzi Cummings as Princess Ena
*Alberta Vaughn as Nina
*Maurice de Canonge as Bit Part (uncredited)
Production
The film was shot in Los Angeles with a budget of $293,000. Working titles included 'The Sun King', 'His Night' and 'The Loves of Louis'.Soares, Andr. 'Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramn Novarro' (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002) p. 372 The script originally contained reworked plot elements from 'Man in the Iron Mask' but these elements were eventually discarded and the film took on a more Prussian design scheme reminiscent of the earlier Novarro success, 'The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg'. Plot elements were allegedly adapted from the reign of Louis XIV of France.Novarro Stars in Play. 'Sarasota Herald-Tribune' August 5. 1928 p 7. Web. April 13. 2014'Hagerstown Morning Herald'. July 12. 1928 p 5. Web. May 30. 2014 The 'Palm Beach Post' suggested that Marie of Romania had inspired the character of the Queen Mother, played by Dorothy Cumming."Forbidden Hours," Starring Ramon Novarro, at the Stanley Next Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Palm Beach Post July 15. 1928 p 4. Web. November 3. 2015
News sources reported that Jacqueline Gadsden, Marcelle Corday and a Shirley O'Hara were also in the cast.Forbidden Hours Is Florida Feature. 'St. Petersburg Times' August 5. 1928 p 12. Web. April 2. 2014'Montreal Gazette' July 28. 1928 p 10. Web. April 13. 2014'Hagerstown Morning Herald'. July 12. 1928 p 5. Web. May 30. 2014 O'Hara is listed in this sources as playing a key role. Sven Hugo Borg may have also appeared in the film.Baltimore 'African American' September 8. 1928. p 8. Web. October 18. 2014 In an expansion of the common silent-filmmaking convention of having live musicians on set, a vocalist worked on set to provide atmosphere for the actors; singer Lillian Rosine is credited as having "introduced the idea" and may have performed this task on the 'Forbidden Hours' set.Vocal Music Inspired These Love Scenes. 'The Palm Beach Post'. Vol. 20 No. 164 (22 July 1928) s3p4. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
As originally scripted, Prince Michael eventually marries his betrothed in order to keep peace between his nation and hers. The concluding scene showed him passing a convent where Marie now resides as a nun. This ending, which deliberately recalled 'Student Prince', was changed to a happier one, but press materials were still issued by the studio detailing the original ending, causing some confusion in the press.Austin, Anne. Change Ending For New Film. 'St. Petersburg Evening Independent' August 6. 1928 p 6. Web. April 2. 2014
Reception
'Forbidden Hours' premiered at the Capitol Theater in New York on July 22, 1928.Soares, Andr. 'Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramn Novarro' (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002) p. 372 The film was greeted with mixed critical responses. The 'Film Daily' described it as a "rehash of 'Student Prince' and 'Merry Widow' themes."Soares, Andr. 'Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramn Novarro' (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002) p. 133 The 'Palm Beach Post', however, was one source who praised the film's scenario, design and performances."Forbidden Hours," Starring Ramon Novarro, at the Stanley Next Saturday, Sunday, Monday. 'Palm Beach Post' July 15. 1928 p 4. Web. April 2. 2014 Reviewer Anne Austin suggested in her report on the film's altered ending that Rene Adore seemed too old for the role of Marie.'St. Petersburg Evening Independent'. August 4. 1928 p 6. Web. October 18. 2014
As a prestige picture, 'Forbidden Hours' was widely distributed and advertised. At the California Theatre in San Jose, California, it was accompanied by 'Hi-Yeller Idea', a live prologue staged by Fanchon and Marco."Hi Yeller Idea" Is Stage Act. 'San Jose Evening News'. July 31. 1928 p. 9. Web. November 3. 2015
'Forbidden Hours' eventually made a profit of $109,000,Soares, Andr. 'Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramn Novarro' (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002) p. 372 but was considered a commercial disappointment by the studio. Long thought to be lost, it was discovered to have survived in 2000,[http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/F/ForbiddenHours1928.html 'Forbidden Hours' at SilentEra] and had its first theatrical screening in seventy-three years at the Bijou Theater in Lincoln City, Oregon in 2002.Enders, John. Silent Films Drawing New Audiences. 'Bangor Daily News'. January 21. 2002 p. C8. Web. April 2. 2014
References
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