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IMDbPro

Never Love a Stranger

  • 19581958
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
388
YOUR RATING
14 x 22 movie poster
CrimeDramaRomance
Following the life of an orphan and the events that change his life and lead him into a life of crime.Following the life of an orphan and the events that change his life and lead him into a life of crime.Following the life of an orphan and the events that change his life and lead him into a life of crime.
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
388
YOUR RATING
    • Robert Stevens
    • Richard Day(screenplay)
    • Harold Robbins(novel)
  • Stars
    • John Drew Barrymore
    • Lita Milan
    • Robert Bray
    • Robert Stevens
    • Richard Day(screenplay)
    • Harold Robbins(novel)
  • Stars
    • John Drew Barrymore
    • Lita Milan
    • Robert Bray
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos26

    Never Love a Stranger (1958)
    Never Love a Stranger (1958)
    Steve McQueen in Never Love a Stranger (1958)
    John Drew Barrymore and Robert Bray in Never Love a Stranger (1958)
    Steve McQueen in Never Love a Stranger (1958)
    John Drew Barrymore and Robert Bray in Never Love a Stranger (1958)
    Steve McQueen, John Drew Barrymore, and R.G. Armstrong in Never Love a Stranger (1958)
    John Drew Barrymore and R.G. Armstrong in Never Love a Stranger (1958)
    John Drew Barrymore in Never Love a Stranger (1958)
    John Drew Barrymore in Never Love a Stranger (1958)
    John Drew Barrymore in Never Love a Stranger (1958)
    John Drew Barrymore in Never Love a Stranger (1958)

    Top cast

    Edit
    John Drew Barrymore
    John Drew Barrymore
    • Francis 'Frankie' Kane
    Lita Milan
    Lita Milan
    • Julie Cabell
    Robert Bray
    Robert Bray
    • 'Silk' Fennelli
    Steve McQueen
    Steve McQueen
    • Martin Cabell
    Salem Ludwig
    • Moishe Moscowitz
    R.G. Armstrong
    R.G. Armstrong
    • Flix
    Douglas Rodgers
    • Brother Bernard
    Felice Orlandi
    Felice Orlandi
    • Bert
    Augusta Merighi
    • Mrs. Cozzolina
    Vincent Barbi
      Abe Simon
      • 'Fats' Crown
      Vitina Marcus
      Vitina Marcus
      • Frances Kane
      • (as Dolores Vitina)
      Gino Ardito
      • Willy
      • (uncredited)
      Richard Bright
      Richard Bright
      • Street Gang Tough Lookout
      • (uncredited)
      Walter Burke
      Walter Burke
      • Jimmy Keough
      • (uncredited)
      Dort Clark
      Dort Clark
      • Madigan
      • (uncredited)
      Joe Costa
      • Joe
      • (uncredited)
      John Dalz
      • Father Quinn
      • (uncredited)
        • Robert Stevens
        • Richard Day(screenplay)
        • Harold Robbins(novel) (screenplay)
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

      Edit

      Did you know

      Edit
      • Trivia
        First credited feature film role of Steve McQueen, who was credited fourth, portraying a character named Martin Cabell.
      • Goofs
        In the opening scene of the movie (the scene is titled on-screen as "New York 1912"), Frances Kane is shown walking down a city street toward the midwife's home. In the far background to the left is the rear of a parked car from the 1950s.
      • Connections
        Referenced in Steve McQueen: The King of Cool (1998)
      • Soundtracks
        Never Love a Stranger
        Music by Raymond Scott

        Lyrics by Lawrence Elow

        Vocals by Dorothy Collins

      User reviews15

      Review
      Review
      Featured review
      6/10
      Steve McQueen's first.
      I found "Never Love a Stranger" on YouTube and decided to watch it as it is the first credited movie appearance by Steve McQueen. He doesn't star in the film, but he is an important character in the story.

      When the movie begins, a woman dies in a rooming house...leaving a brand new baby behind. With no other options, the boy is sent to be raised in a Catholic orphanage. While he's there, Frankie (John Drew Barrymore) makes friends with a Jewish teen, Marty (McQueen), and his family. He also makes friends with the local mob boss...a guy who likes what he sees in Frankie.

      Some time later, the folks at the orphanage discover that Frankie's dead mother was Jewish...and they make arrangements to send him to a Jewish orphanage. Frankie doesn't want to go and disappears for seven years.

      In the interim, Marty goes to law school and obtains a job with the District Attorney's office. When Frankie returns, he goes back into business with the mob boss...and soon is able to wrangle his way to the top of the mob empire! As a result, Marty is given a new job by the DA....to get Frankie and make sure he goes to prison! This is made all the tougher as they were friends AND Marty's sister, Julie, is in love with Frankie. What's next? See the film.

      While this is generally a very good film, I think all the narration could have been removed and the film could have been a bit better. It's just too schmaltzy and unnecessary. Apart from that, it was an entertaining crime film....not noir, as it lacked the camerawork, glib dialog and violence you'd expect in noir.
      helpful•1
      2
      • planktonrules
      • Jul 26, 2022

      Details

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      • Release date
        • June 22, 1958 (United States)
        • United States
        • English
      • Also known as
      • Production company
        • Caryn
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

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      • 1 hour 31 minutes
        • Black and White
        • Mono

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