Never Love a Stranger

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.

• 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

Robbins' novel was published in 1948.^[2][3] It became a best seller.^[4]

The book was one of several books banned in Philadelphia as indecent in 1948.^[5] The ban was overturned the following year.^[6]

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".^[7] At the time, Barrymore was under a year's suspension from Actors Equity, but this seemed to apply only to stage work.^[8]

The film was made through Caryn Productions, Robbins' own production company.^[9] Richard Day became co-producer and Allied Artists agreed to distribute the release. Filming started at Gold Medal Studios^[10] in the Bronx on September 9, 1957.^[11]

Robert Stevens agreed to direct and Steve McQueen was given an early role.^[12][13]