Never Fear (1950)

A young dancer (Sally Forrest) with a promising career ahead of her is struck down in her prime with polio. Her fiance (Keefe Brasselle) sticks by her but she descends into a pit of self pity. Directed by Ida Lupino (herself a polio victim as a child), the film is one of those inspirational efforts that plays out like a Hallmark TV movie. Of course, there weren't TV movies in 1950 and I understand that its important subject matter was quite provocative for the time. But it's hard to watch a film with its central protagonist wallowing in self pity and while the lovely Sally Forrest is pert, she's not a strong enough actress to pull us into her psychological state. It's my least favorite of the Ida Lupino films I've seen (as a director). The grim subject matter didn't resonate with filmgoers in 1950 either. With Hugh O'Brian, Eve Miller, Lawrence Dobkin and Herb Butterfield.