Born to Be Bad

"Women hated her...but men DESIRED her!"

Aug 31 1950 Approved 1h 34m
Drama, Film-Noir

Christabel Caine has the face of angel and the heart of a swamp rat. She'll step on anyone to get what she wants, including her own family. A master of manipulation, she covertly breaks off the engagement of her trusting cousin, Donna, to her fabulously wealthy beau, Curtis Carey. Once married to Curtis herself, Christabel continues her affair with novelist Nick Bradley, who knows she's evil, but loves her anyway.

Plot

The loyal assistant to publisher John Caine, Donna Foster has agreed to put up John's niece, Christabel Caine, in her apartment as Christabel attends business school in San Francisco. This favor is not only due to that loyalty, but that Donna will soon be leaving anyway as she and her wealthy philanthropist boyfriend Curtis Carey will imminently be married, thus grooming Christabel, who ultimately will be working at the publishing house, to assume Donna's position both at the apartment and at the office. In living with Donna, innocent Christabel befriends not only Donna and Curtis, but Donna's rather bohemian friends, most specifically struggling artist Gabriel Broome - Gobby to his friends - always with a quip at the ready, and aspiring writer Nick Bradley, who lives next door and whose book John is contemplating publishing. There is an immediate sexual attraction between Christabel and Nick. However, underneath Christabel's innocent façade lies a conniver who has a larger goal of wealth, meaning setting her sights on Curtis, who she doesn't much like beyond his money. To achieve her goal of marrying Curtis, Christabel has to sow some seeds of doubt in Donna and Curtis' minds about their otherwise loving and loyal relationship. The other issue for Christabel is Nick in her want of having her cake and eating it too.

Written by

Edith Sommer, Charles Schnee, Robert Soderberg

Directed by

Nicholas Ray

Production Countries

United States of America

Production Companies

RKO Radio Pictures

Languages

English

Awards

N/A

Scores
# of Votes
3,088
Average Rating
6.6 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA