Never Love a Stranger

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Never Love a Stranger | image = Neverloveastrangerposter.jpg

| caption = Film poster | director = Robert Stevens | writer = {{ubl|Richard Day|Harold Robbins}} | producer = {{ubl|Richard Day|Peter Gettinger|Harold Robbins}} | starring = {{ubl|John Drew Barrymore|Steve McQueen|Robert Bray}} | narrator = | cinematography = Lee Garmes | editing = Sidney M. Katz | music = Raymond Scott | distributor = Allied Artists Pictures | released = {{Film date|1958|06|22}} | runtime = 91 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = $750,000<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/variety212-1958-09/page/n232/mode/1up?q=%22brought+in+at%22|magazine=Variety|title=Harold Robbins 'Dissects' Industry|page=14|date=17 September 1958}}</ref> }} '''''Never Love a Stranger''''' is a 1958 crime and gangster film based on Harold Robbins' 1948 debut novel of the same name, starring John Drew Barrymore and Robert Bray, and featuring Steve McQueen in an early role.

==Plot== Frankie Kane is brought up in a Catholic orphanage. He befriends a Jewish law student named Martin Cabell and becomes romantically involved with Cabell's maid, Julie. Kane later learns that he is also Jewish, and when told he will be removed from the orphanage and moved to a Jewish home, he runs away and turns to a life of crime. Later, after joining a major crime syndicate, he reconnects with Julie, finally deciding to join Martin, now a district attorney, in shutting down the syndicate.

==Main cast== * John Drew Barrymore as Frankie Kane * Lita Milan as Julie, maid to the Cabell Family * Steve McQueen as Martin Cabell * Robert Bray as "Silk" Fennelli * Salem Ludwig as Moishe Moscowitz * R. G. Armstrong as Flix * Douglas Rodgers as Brother Bernard * Felice Orlandi as Bert * Augusta Merighi as Mrs. Cozzolina * Abe Simon as "Fats" Crown * Vitina Marcus as Frances Kane

==Original novel== Robbins' novel was published in 1948.<ref>Robbins Paints Realistic Picture of N.Y.: NEVER LOVE A STRANGER. By Harold Robbins. Knopf. 443 pp. $3.50. The Washington Post 29 Feb 1948: B7.</ref><ref>Books of the Times By ORVILLE PRESCOTT. New York Times 1 Mar 1948: 21.</ref> It became a best seller.<ref>The Best Sellers. New York Times 16 May 1948: BR8.</ref>

The book was one of several books banned in Philadelphia as indecent in 1948.<ref>Halts Philadelphia Book 'Raids' New York Times 25 May 1948: 25.</ref> The ban was overturned the following year.<ref>9 NOVELS CLEARED, HELD NOT OBSCENE: Philadelphia Court Says They Picture Life and Home Must Prepare Way for Living By WILLIAM G. WEART. Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES. New York Times 19 Mar 1949: 13.</ref>

==Production== In August 1957, it was announced that Barrymore would star and Robbins would write and produce. The ''Los Angeles Times'' called the part "the usual Barrymore role".<ref>'Dead Sea Scrolls' Spur Notable Film; Jeffrey Hunter Newsman Star. Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 8 Aug 1957: A9.</ref> At the time, Barrymore was under a year's suspension from Actors Equity, but this seemed to apply only to stage work.<ref>BIG PLANS DRAWN FOR 'SKYSCRAPER': Feuer, Martin, Hammerstein and Rodgers May Team-- Barrymore Son Sought Actor Ponders Role Director Bows Out. By SAM ZOLOTOW. New York Times 17 Sep 1957: 38.</ref>

The film was made through Caryn Productions, Robbins' own production company.<ref>VIEW FROM A LOCAL VANTAGE POINT. By A. H. WEILER. New York Times 8 June 1958: X5.</ref> Richard Day became co-producer and Allied Artists agreed to distribute the release. Filming started at Gold Medal Studios<ref name="Bronxboro/1957-Fall">{{cite news |title=Motion Picture Industry Returns To The Bronx |url=https://dcmny.org/do/fcdbea90-0fa3-4c43-9743-2bd9e2d7f58b |access-date=16 July 2024 |work=Bronxboro |publisher=dcmny.org |date=1957 |quote=Vol. XXXIV, Fall}}</ref> in the Bronx on September 9, 1957.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1957/08/08/archives/dead-sea-scrolls-a-basis-for-movie-sutherland-to-produce-film-frorm.html DEAD SEA SCROLLS A BASIS FOR MOVIE: Sutherland to Produce Film From Book by Burrows-- Don McGuire Signs Pact McGuire Signs Contract Of Local Origin.] By THOMAS M. PRYOR. Special to The New York Times. New York Times 8 Aug 1957: 15.</ref>

Robert Stevens agreed to direct and Steve McQueen was given an early role.<ref>FILM DISTRIBUTION REVIVING A STUDIO: Shift From Production at Republic Renews Activity --Brando to Be Director Dual Capacity for Brando Of Local Origin. By THOMAS M. PRYOR. Special to The New York Times. New York Times 10 Sep 1957: 39.</ref><ref>Of Local Origin. New York Times 3 Oct 1957: 33.</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb title|id=0051987|title=Never Love a Stranger}}  {{Robert Stevens}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Never Love A Stranger}} Category:1958 films Category:Film noir Category:American gangster films Category:Allied Artists films Category:Films directed by Robert Stevens Category:1958 crime drama films Category:American crime drama films Category:Films based on American novels Category:1958 English-language films Category:1958 American films Category:English-language crime drama films Category:American black-and-white films