La dernière rumba

"Rumba" is George Raft's best Latino film and that's not saying much. He at least gets to play a New Yorker, albeit a New Yorker of Cuban descent hanging out in Havana because gangsters in the States are out to get him. That idea is actually more exciting than the events that play out.

Carole Lombard gets some strong closeups and looks lovely. She plays a bored socialite a little too well, never seeming to rise above ennui even when she's dancing. She gets some nice little bits of dialogue but mostly could have phoned this one in.

Because of his sensual Latin looks, Paramount seemed insistent on making Raft do the sensual Latin dances. Sure, he could dance the rumba OK, but it is nothing like the hot style of dancing that made him famous as the "fastest dancer in New York" back in the '20s. Only in the first dance number in "Rumba" do we get a very brief glimpse of this.

Overall, this is hardly an important film for anyone - but look fast: Ann Sheridan is among the mass of dancers.

George Raft may have cut quite a swath through the women of Hollywood, but I'm afraid that, for me, his image will never recover the look of him in a girl's blouse. Yes, it's modeled on flamenco costumes, but with little ruffles covering him from neck to waist, George looks as if he has put his head through a little girl's petticoat.

The rest of Rumba is similarly anaphrodisiac. Carole Lombard, playing a bored socialite, looks half asleep, even in moments of fear and passion, and the dances, supposed to be Latin American sensual-sensational, are very mild stuff. In the final number, the chorus girls and boys seem to be getting it on far more than the two principals, who do a standard Astaire-Rogers dance, and needless to say it is mediocre.

The one, unexpected plus here is the Mexican actress Margo. Lovely, sensual, and sensitive, she is so much more womanly that Carole Lombard that only enforced patriotism would keep George fixated on the icy Carole.

Joe is a dancer in Cuba with a chip on his shoulder. Diana is fascinated by this diamond in the rough. However, pride on both sides seems to thwart the union and Diana in despair returns to New York City and her less than exciting fiancé. Joe follows.

The main problem with this film is George Raft. His stone faced and monotone delivery mean that there is absolutely no chance for any chemistry to develop between himself and Lombard. And it is supposedly this magic between the two that propels them in and out of each others lives and causes both to risk their lives in the end to be together. The film is also weighed down by more that one overly long dance sequence. George Raft himself is an adequate dancer, but comes off as little more than a "dandy". He has non of the fire or charisma of say a Desi Arnaz, who truly comes alive with the spirit of Latin dance and rhythms.

Diana's father is here played by Samuel Hinds who also played the father in the Andy Hardy series. Monroe Owsley, who also co-stared with Lombard in the movie "Brief Moment", plays Diana's wealthy fiancé. His part here is considerably smaller, and amounts for the most part to "window dressing".

Carole Lombard does a good job here. If she had had a better leading man this film might even have been enjoyable. The production values and quality of the acting in general were actually pretty good. Supposedly George Raft was quite the ladies man in real life, and even enjoyed a clandestine affair with Lombard, but in this film he is a dud.

George Raft is a dancer at a Havana night club. He meets super-rich Carole Lombard, and they start an affair. However they are both proud, touchy individuals, and she goes back home to marry Monroe Owsley. Or does she?

Produced to follow up the success of BOLERO, this musical drama uses the dance numbers as pauses rather than accede to the burgeoning style that the Astaire-Rogers unit was producing at RKO, as portraying the performers' emotions. Director of Photography Ted Tetzlaff shoots things in Dutch angles and Velez and Yolanda stand in for the two whenever possible. Miss Lombard's dancing in the earlier film had been rather elementary, so in this one, they delay it until the end, and have Raft and her twirling about each other in medium close-up.

Director Marion Gering took a break from Sylvia Sidney weepers to add this one to his resume. That's probably why Gail Patrick is so good in her role as Owsley's sister and Miss Lombard's best friend. Samuel Hinds also appears briefly as Miss Lombard's half-witted father, and does the job well, if that's a thing.

"Rumba" is a movie worth seeing only if you love seeing the Rumba and other ballroom style dances or if you are curious and never saw George Raft dance. Otherwise, I think it's a tedious affair...a film that is at best a time passer.

The story begins in Cuba. Joe (Raft) is a professional dancer who is just too good not to be seen on Broadway. A bored, insipid society girl, Diana (Carole Lombard) happens to see him while she's slumming. They initially hit it off, get into a fight and Diana disappears. In the meantime, Joe gets a new dance partner and begins to make a name for himself...but he refuses to return to the States because he's worried some gangsters might have put a hit out on him. Eventually, Diana returns, they fall in love, get in a spat and she storms away once again. It's goes on from there...but who really cares? I was just hoping some gangster would shoot him to not only add some excitement to the film but end it as well!

The relationship between Joe and Diana is tedious and annoying. This combined with LOTS of dancing just make this film a chore to watch and enjoy. Find any other film with Raft or Lombard....you'll be much happier.