A Viennese ballerina is forced to flee to Arizona during the Franco-Prussian War, where she proceeds to vamp numerous men in order to get what she wants.1h 30min | Drama, Music, War | 17 April 1945 | Color
Director: Charles Lamont
Stars: Yvonne De Carlo, Rod Cameron, David Bruce, Walter Slezak, Albert Dekker
Lester Horton ... dance director
Watched on AmazonPrime, good print.
We get a fair amount of dancing, all by YD (b. '22), sometimes with ballet chorus, and she actually dances en pointe in one number. But mostly she undulates, as befitting Salome. She also sings at least once.
The plot makes me feel that these people are leaves on the wind, and the wind is called Salome. The reporter becomes an empresario of sorts. The Confederate solder turned post-war bandit (DB) is swept away, but only after she pursues him, then he travels with her and tries to go straight. The Austrian count she deceives pursues her to the new world, and gets himself killed in a duel over her. Her music master follows where she goes. Only the Russian count (WS), also captivated by her beauty and talents, is sufficiently self-possessed to send her away when she loves another. I just hope he retrieved the Rembrandt he gave her.
Also in the cast is a Chinaman (played by non-Asian Abner Biberman) with a Scottish brogue, but in then-traditional Chinese dress. He is wise, and counsels everyone well. I'm not sure if he's employed by WS, but he's present in his venue.
Previously rated 5, but it's just not that bad. It was good to see the future Mrs. Munster in her youth.
Walter Wanger Prod. & Universal, dir. Lamont; 6-
