Latin Lovers (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
'Latin Lovers' (directed by Mervyn LeRoy) is colorful MGM escapist entertainment that, despite a plethora of strengths ... doesn't have a very good script. N.Y. heiress Nora Taylor (Lana Turner) follows her filthy rich beau, Paul Chevron (John Lund), to Brazil on business; hoping that surprising Paul will ignite their lukewarm romance. Instead, Nora is completely swept off her feet by ranch owner, Roberto Santos (Ricardo Montalban), who manages to kiss her in a stable before they've even been formally introduced -- you have to see the scene to believe it. In almost no time, Nora & Roberto decide to marry after a lightning-fast, whirlwind courtship. But then Nora starts to fret that he may be more interested in her $37,000,000 than in her.
Honestly, aside from some plot interludes involving someone trying to teach Nora to speak Portuguese, or Nora's asst. (Jean Hagen, brilliant in Singin' in the Rain) organizing her $$ millions, or meeting Roberto's grandfather (Louis Calhern) ... there is not much else to the plot other than the flaccid, unbelievable romance. It is a simplistic story which offers little more than eye candy {Turner, Montalban}, some singing & dancing {Turner, Montalban & young Rita Moreno}, & romantic silliness. Thing is: it is made with the typical MGM sheen & polish; providing a mildly enjoyable diversion.
31 yr. old Lana Turner is as gorgeous as ever, though, she does stretch any acting chops here, whatsoever. She is basically called upon to spout schmaltzy dialogue, look glamorous, and pace back-&-forth in impeccably designed rooms with a cigarette in her hand ... wondering if Roberto really truly loves HER & not her millions. 32 yr. old Ricardo Montalban must endure the same schmaltzy dialogue, but has charm & charisma to burn. Turner's volatile ex Fernando Lamas was dropped from the film & muscle-bound Montalban was hired, much to Turner's delight; she found him a fitting co-star & a true professional. John Lund is fine, but his character is odd; a romantic lead who doesn't 'seem' to mind Nora's dalliance with Roberto. They're all ably supported by Louis Calhern's delightful rogue of a grandfather, & Jean Hagen as Nora's tried-&-true secretary, who has her eye on Lund's Paul Chevron.
'Latin Lovers' has some truly striking production design; I'm reminded of Nora's richly colorful hotel room. Overall, these Hollywood crafts people made faux-Brazil really look like actual Brazil. Costume designer Helen Rose dressed Lana Turner mostly blacks, whites, grays & light blues; all of her outfits were stunning, while also providing an interesting contrast to the vivid primary colors of the backdrops of "Brazil". There is also a lot of fun music in the film. I mentioned Roberto singing earlier, & he has a great scene dancing with both Rita Moreno & then Lana, herself.
Now, there IS humor in the film, as well -- it just doesn't always work. When does it work? Any time Nora's shrink's wife is onscreen. Dorothy Neumann's constant wisecracks about being a shrink's wife - while he's on the phone with Nora - are truly hysterical. I liked Joseph Ruttenberg's lush color cinematography. I could go on & on with strengths. But the script is just SO bad, haha. The plot is quantifiably absurd. The dialogues are woeful. The characters, themselves, are pretty insufferable. Reasons for AND against the various romances are juvenile & poorly thought-out; not to mention misogynistic. And the whole movie just feels like a throwaway from MGM to kinda-sorta enjoy in a brainless way. That is enough for some audiences.
Honestly, aside from some plot interludes involving someone trying to teach Nora to speak Portuguese, or Nora's asst. (Jean Hagen, brilliant in Singin' in the Rain) organizing her $$ millions, or meeting Roberto's grandfather (Louis Calhern) ... there is not much else to the plot other than the flaccid, unbelievable romance. It is a simplistic story which offers little more than eye candy {Turner, Montalban}, some singing & dancing {Turner, Montalban & young Rita Moreno}, & romantic silliness. Thing is: it is made with the typical MGM sheen & polish; providing a mildly enjoyable diversion.
31 yr. old Lana Turner is as gorgeous as ever, though, she does stretch any acting chops here, whatsoever. She is basically called upon to spout schmaltzy dialogue, look glamorous, and pace back-&-forth in impeccably designed rooms with a cigarette in her hand ... wondering if Roberto really truly loves HER & not her millions. 32 yr. old Ricardo Montalban must endure the same schmaltzy dialogue, but has charm & charisma to burn. Turner's volatile ex Fernando Lamas was dropped from the film & muscle-bound Montalban was hired, much to Turner's delight; she found him a fitting co-star & a true professional. John Lund is fine, but his character is odd; a romantic lead who doesn't 'seem' to mind Nora's dalliance with Roberto. They're all ably supported by Louis Calhern's delightful rogue of a grandfather, & Jean Hagen as Nora's tried-&-true secretary, who has her eye on Lund's Paul Chevron.
'Latin Lovers' has some truly striking production design; I'm reminded of Nora's richly colorful hotel room. Overall, these Hollywood crafts people made faux-Brazil really look like actual Brazil. Costume designer Helen Rose dressed Lana Turner mostly blacks, whites, grays & light blues; all of her outfits were stunning, while also providing an interesting contrast to the vivid primary colors of the backdrops of "Brazil". There is also a lot of fun music in the film. I mentioned Roberto singing earlier, & he has a great scene dancing with both Rita Moreno & then Lana, herself.
Now, there IS humor in the film, as well -- it just doesn't always work. When does it work? Any time Nora's shrink's wife is onscreen. Dorothy Neumann's constant wisecracks about being a shrink's wife - while he's on the phone with Nora - are truly hysterical. I liked Joseph Ruttenberg's lush color cinematography. I could go on & on with strengths. But the script is just SO bad, haha. The plot is quantifiably absurd. The dialogues are woeful. The characters, themselves, are pretty insufferable. Reasons for AND against the various romances are juvenile & poorly thought-out; not to mention misogynistic. And the whole movie just feels like a throwaway from MGM to kinda-sorta enjoy in a brainless way. That is enough for some audiences.