Forbidden

Forbidden

Year: 1949

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: English

Director: George King

DramaThriller

On Blackpool’s Golden Mile, former scientist Jim (Douglass Montgomery) teams up with ex‑army friend Dan (Ronald Shiner) selling a hair‑tonic patent medicine at the fair. After a clash with local toughs over stall space, Jim is drawn to Jane (Hazel Court), who runs a candy‑floss stall. They begin a romance, but Jim hides that he is already married.

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Timeline & Setting – Forbidden (1949)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Forbidden (1949). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Blackpool

Blackpool is a bustling seaside resort on England's northwest coast, famous for its amusements and fairgrounds. The film uses its promenade, candyfloss stalls, and the iconic Blackpool Tower to heighten romance and danger. The setting highlights a working-class town where dreams of show business collide with everyday survival.

🎡 Fairground culture 🏖️ Seaside town 🕰️ 20th century

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:13

Main Characters – Forbidden (1949)

Meet the key characters of Forbidden (1949), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jim Harding (Douglass Montgomery)

A trained chemist reduced to peddling potions at a fairground stall, Jim is intelligent and resourceful but emotionally trapped in a loveless marriage. He falls for Jane, keeping his wife Diana's existence a secret, which strains his loyalties. His drastic plan to kill Diana exposes a dangerous willingness to take extreme steps to escape his situation.

🧪 Chemist 💔 Unhappy marriage ❤️ Secret romance 🕵️‍♂️ Calculated

Jane Thompson (Hazel Court)

Jane is a warm-hearted, working-class candyfloss and ice cream seller who forms a genuine connection with Jim. She responds with integrity when faced with Diana's attempts to separate them, and she is determined not to be bought off. Her romance with Jim challenges social norms and reveals her strength and compassion.

💖 Romance 🏷️ Working Class 🍬 Candyfloss culture

Diana Harding (Patricia Burke)

Diana is Jim's domineering wife, ambitious and unscrupulous in her pursuit of showbusiness. She manipulates others and engages in affairs to further her career, showing a ruthless pragmatism. Her dramatic arc ends with a death that exposes the fragility of reputations and the dangers of controlling others.

💼 Ambition 💬 Manipulative 🎭 Showbiz

Dan Collins (Ronald Shiner)

Dan is Jim's former army comrade who works with him at the fairground stall, sharing the burden of producing and selling potions. He is practical and loyal, helping Jim navigate their precarious livelihood. His role provides support for Jim's schemes and personal conflicts.

🤝 Loyal companion 🧪 Potion crafts 🌆 Fairground life

Jerry Burns (Garry Marsh)

Jerry is an older, worldly lover of Diana who Diana believes can aid her theatrical ambitions. He represents a cynical, manipulative influence in Diana's schemes and adds tension to Jim's moral dilemma.

💼 Manipulative 👨‍🎤 Showbiz contact 🔗 Affairs

Inspector Baxter (Andrew Cruickshank)

Inspector Baxter is the diligent police officer investigating the disappearance and potential murder. He is perceptive and persistent, driving the investigation and pursuing the truth as Jim's alibi frays.

👮 Law enforcement 🕵️ Investigation 🧭 Pursuit

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:13

Major Themes – Forbidden (1949)

Explore the central themes of Forbidden (1949), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Affair

Jim's clandestine relationship with Jane exposes the fragility of loyalty and the emotional stakes of love outside marriage. The affair unfolds against a loveless marriage to Diana, pushing Jim toward a dangerous decision. Jane's integrity contrasts with Jim's desperation, showing how affection can complicate loyalty and lead to risky choices. The affair acts as the spark that drives the plot and moral conflict.

🕵️ Crime

Jim schemes to kill Diana by poisoning her with a lethal dose slipped into her medications. The plan backfires when Diana dies of natural causes, leaving Jim to conceal the body beneath the workshop floor. Police suspicion falls on Jim, turning private misery into public danger. The pursuit climbs to a climax near Blackpool Tower, where guilt and panic collide with justice.

⚖️ Marital Strife

Diana's domineering nature and showbusiness ambitions fuel a volatile marriage marked by manipulation and control. Jim feels trapped, trying to navigate his duty to his wife, his love for Jane, and the threat of divorce. The private quarrel spills into the town's social sphere, inviting scrutiny and moral judgment. The story uses the marriage as the engine of tragedy, showing how jealousy and ambition distort choices.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:13

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Forbidden Summary

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Forbidden Summary

Forbidden Timeline

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Forbidden Timeline

More About Forbidden

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