blanche-2 Dana Andrews and Maureen O'Hara star in "Affairs of Adelaide," also known as "Forbidden Street," a 1949 film directed by Jean Negulesco. Andrews has a dual role, sort of - he plays a drunken artist/teacher, Henry Lambert, who teaches a young woman, Adelaide (O'Hara) and her cousin. O'Hara falls for Lambert, and when her family announces that they are moving to the country, she declares her love for Lambert, and the two marry. They move to Lambert's digs in Brittania Mews, a slum-like part of the city. It's not a happy marriage. One day, they have a fight while Lambert is soused, and Adelaide pushes him out of the way. As he's intoxicated, he loses his balance and falls down the stairs of their apartment.Adelaide hopes to return to her family, but an old lady (Sybil Thorndike) who saw the event convinces the police that it was an accident and then blackmails Adelaide, refusing to let her leave the Mews. About two years later, Adelaide meets a man, Gilbert Lauderdale (Andrews) who looks exactly like her late husband.I say that Andrews has sort of a double role because his voice as Henry Lambert was dubbed by someone with a lower voice and a British accent. When he shows up as Lauderdale, he makes an attempt at a British accent but doesn't hold onto it.This is an interesting film, almost like two different films. Once Lauderdale shows up, the film becomes less dark and heads in a romantic direction.Fascinating set, satisfying story, enjoyable.

moonspinner55 Not-bad studio-set drama, also known as "The Forbidden Street", involves miscast Maureen O'Hara (her rolling Irish burr more pronounced than ever) as a wealthy young British woman in Victorian England who marries a penniless art-instructor and moves with him into the slums of London; after an accidental death, O'Hara is blackmailed by the local busybody, but finds redemption in congenial--though already married--Dana Andrews. Neither O'Hara nor Andrews gives a particularly strong performance, but the supporting players are good and the screenplay (by talented Ring Lardner Jr., from a book by Margery Sharp) nicely avoids soap opera and predictability by continually changing its tone and direction. O'Hara's character goes through just as many changes, turning from wide-eyed girl to fed-up housewife to salty broad to society bride! The set designs are impeccable, and the film is well-mounted and paced with a jovial step. *** from ****

beverly pirkle This was one of my favorite Maureen O'Hara movies (after "The Quiet Man", of course) which I haven't been able to see for many years. I continue to check the DVD status, but continue to be disappointed. Previous comments have told the story-line, so I won't attempt it except to say that it covers the entire gamut of emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, despair, resignation to circumstances, hope--back to happiness.I hope the "Powers that be" read these comments and release this movie in at least video version if DVD isn't possible. With all the garbage I see being put out on DVD, it amazes me that the better older black and white movies are so overlooked. There are several for which I keep looking and hoping to see available.

John_B_Beck Dana Andrews first character in the movie was as 'Henry Lambert' not 'Herbert Lambert' and he didn't fall out a window - he fell down the stairs. I watched this movie today on Fox and I liked it - I didn't think that I would at first. This movie was also titled: "Affairs of Adelaide" and "The Forbidden Street". The story was a from a book by Margery Sharp entitled: "Britannia Mews". She also wrote the books from which the animated features "The Rescuers" (1977) and "The Rescuers Down Under" (1990) were drawn. I would buy this movie (The Forbidden Street/Britannia Mews/Affairs of Adelaide) if it were to come out on DVD. This is the first time I have commented on a movie in such a way.