All but forgotten today, Crowded Paradise was one of the first in-depth studies of racial tensions in postwar New York City. Mario Alcade plays Juan Figueroa, a Puerto Rican youth who come to Manhattan for the purpose of marrying his sweetheart Felicia Diaz (Enid Rudd). Despite running up against all manner of obstacles--most of them having to do with prejudice and misunderstanding--Juan is determined to make good in the his adopted country. The film veers dangerously towards melodrama at the climax, when a bigoted, sex-obsessed landlord (well played by
Hume Cronyn) schemes to sabotage Juan and Felicia's wedding.
Nancy Kelly costars as the landlord's sight-impaired wife, one of the few sympathetic Anglo characters in the film. Crowded Paradise was photographed on location by
Boris Kaufman, who'd previously lensed the Oscar-winning "reality" drama
On the Waterfront; the script was co-authored by
Marc Connelly, of
Green Pastures fame. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide