{{short description|1928 film by Harry Beaumont}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox film | name = Forbidden Hours | image = Forbidden Hours lobby card.jpg | caption = Lobby card | director = Harry Beaumont | producer = | writer = Andrew Percival Younger | story = Andrew Percival Younger<br>John Colton (titles) | starring = Ramon Novarro<br>Renée Adorée<br>Dorothy Cumming<br>Roy D'Arcy | cinematography = Merritt B. Gerstad | editing = | distributor = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | released = {{Film date|1928|6|15}} | runtime = 6 reels / 4987 or 5011 ft.<ref>[http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/F/ForbiddenHours1928.html Progressive Silent Film List: ''Forbidden Hours''] at silentera.com</ref> | country = United States | language = Silent (English intertitles) | budget = $293,000 | gross = }} '''''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 Renée Adorée.
==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 *Renée Adorée 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 in a 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''.<ref>Soares, André. ''Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramón Novarro'' (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002) p. 372 {{ISBN|0-312-28231-1}}</ref> 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.<ref>Novarro Stars in Play. ''Sarasota Herald-Tribune'' August 5. 1928 p 7. Web. April 13. 2014</ref><ref>''Hagerstown Morning Herald''. July 12. 1928 p 5. Web. May 30. 2014</ref> The ''Palm Beach Post'' suggested that Marie of Romania had inspired the character of the Queen Mother, played by Dorothy Cumming.<ref>"Forbidden Hours," Starring Ramon Novarro, at the Stanley Next Saturday, Sunday, Monday. Palm Beach Post July 15. 1928 p 4. Web. November 3. 2015</ref>
News sources reported that Jacqueline Gadsden, Marcelle Corday and a Shirley O'Hara were also in the cast.<ref>Forbidden Hours Is Florida Feature. ''St. Petersburg Times'' August 5. 1928 p 12. Web. April 2. 2014</ref><ref>''Montreal Gazette'' July 28. 1928 p 10. Web. April 13. 2014</ref><ref>''Hagerstown Morning Herald''. July 12. 1928 p 5. Web. May 30. 2014 O'Hara is listed in this sources as playing a key role.</ref> Sven Hugo Borg may have also appeared in the film.<ref>Baltimore ''African American'' September 8. 1928. p 8. Web. October 18. 2014</ref> 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.<ref>Vocal Music Inspired These Love Scenes. ''The Palm Beach Post''. Vol. 20 No. 164 (22 July 1928) s3p4. Retrieved 5 June 2022.</ref>
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.<ref>Austin, Anne. Change Ending For New Film. ''St. Petersburg Evening Independent'' August 6. 1928 p 6. Web. April 2. 2014</ref>
==Reception== ''Forbidden Hours'' premiered at the Capitol Theater in New York on July 22, 1928.<ref>Soares, André. ''Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramón Novarro'' (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002) p. 372 {{ISBN|0-312-28231-1}}</ref> The film was greeted with mixed critical responses. The ''Film Daily'' described it as a "rehash of ''Student Prince'' and ''Merry Widow'' themes."<ref>Soares, André. ''Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramón Novarro'' (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002) p. 133 {{ISBN|0-312-28231-1}}</ref> The ''Palm Beach Post'', however, was one source who praised the film's scenario, design and performances.<ref>"Forbidden Hours," Starring Ramon Novarro, at the Stanley Next Saturday, Sunday, Monday. ''Palm Beach Post'' July 15. 1928 p 4. Web. April 2. 2014</ref> Reviewer Anne Austin suggested in her report on the film's altered ending that Renée Adorée seemed too old for the role of Marie.<ref>''St. Petersburg Evening Independent''. August 4. 1928 p 6. Web. October 18. 2014</ref>
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.<ref>"Hi Yeller Idea" Is Stage Act. ''San Jose Evening News''. July 31. 1928 p. 9. Web. November 3. 2015</ref>
''Forbidden Hours'' eventually made a profit of $109,000,<ref>Soares, André. ''Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramón Novarro'' (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002) p. 372 {{ISBN|0-312-28231-1}}</ref> but was considered a commercial disappointment by the studio. Long thought to be lost, it was discovered to have survived in 2000,<ref>[http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/F/ForbiddenHours1928.html ''Forbidden Hours'' at SilentEra]</ref> and had its first theatrical screening in seventy-three years at the Bijou Theater in Lincoln City, Oregon in 2002.<ref>Enders, John. Silent Films Drawing New Audiences. ''Bangor Daily News''. January 21. 2002 p. C8. Web. April 2. 2014</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|0018904}}
{{Harry Beaumont}}
Category:1928 films Category:1928 romantic drama films Category:1928 American films Category:1928 English-language films Category:1920s rediscovered films Category:American black-and-white films Category:American silent feature films Category:American silent romantic drama films Category:English-language romantic drama films Category:Films directed by Harry Beaumont Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Category:Rediscovered American films Category:Surviving American silent films Category:Films set in Europe Category:Films about princes