Laisse-moi t'aimer

When the film begins, Fredda Barlo (Lana Turner) is on tour, singing up a storm across Europe. Prince Alexis (Ezio Pinza) is captivated by her and stalks her until she falls for him (not a very healthy cliche, I know). However, soon after they begin their affair, the King dies and Prince Alexis is swept off to assume the throne.

Years pass. Fredda is now a big film star and she and Alexis lost contact due to WWII. Now, out of the blue, he has returned and wants Fredda for his snookie-wookie. Can this meeting at a desert resort rekindle their love or is 'Mr. Imperium' (the alias the King is now using) wasting his time?

Ezio Pinza was new to acting, having spent the years before this film as a successful opera and Broadway singer. As his first film, he has a lovely voice going for him but he also is rather old to be wooing a significantly younger woman. He also could have used captions, as occasionally I couldn't understand what he was saying...as his accent was quite thick. MGM thought his debut was a bomb and they shelved the film for a year...not a good sign at all. But is it, in spite of this, any good? Yes...and no. I think the film works reasonably well DESPITE him. Pinza might have been a lovely leading man back in the 30s...but by 1951, he simply looked old...which, he was for his film debut in his mid-50s. As for Miss Turner, she's pretty much her usual self in this one, though it's sad MGM didn't cast someone who could sing in this role. Overall, a mildly entertaining film and not the bomb I expected...though this is hardly a glowing endorsement.

By the way, if you do see the picture, look for a young Debbie Reynold about midway through the story.

Lana's a singer who ultimately falls for a prince, a real prince.

The best way to review a movie of someone's favorite actor, is to ask what if someone else played that part? Well, if anyone else had been in this movie other than Lana, I probably wouldn't have watched it. While it may not win any awards, it's not terribly bad either; in fact, it's the kind of film you'd remember fondly. I could see someone watching this late at night or on vacation and enjoying its simplicity. It's very charming and also stars a young Debbie Reynolds and Marjorie Main ("Ma Kettle")and Ezio Pinza does have a great voice. But, having said all that, I get the feeling watching it that this project must have come to Lana at a career low. Watching such a big guy as Ezio Pinza in certain scenes (you'd have to see it to know what I mean) was just too much, becoming either unintentionally funny or just plain silly. It might would have been more effective, had they picked a younger male lead with more appeal. But upon seeing this again recently, I couldn't get over how much I liked its unpretentiousness and somewhat carefree attitude, despite the serious ending with the letter the son wrote that Ezio read over the phone. It all worked to make a straightforward film, not trying to be anything but what it is.

If I had to pick the four of Lana's films that I think are the weakest, they would be "Bittersweet Love", "The Prodigal", "Love Has Many Faces", and maybe this one. But this is much better than the others. Finally, though, I would have to say that a movie's ending makes you either satisfied or dissatisfied with it. Usually short movies wrap things up with a pat or forced resolution and too quickly. This ending flowed and allowed you to feel your way out...

In other words, only Lana fans would watch this, and only they will be rewarded in small ways. While no Lana classic, this is very enjoyable and deserves to get more attention for being another example of good clean family entertainment like they used to make.

More of a near miss than a flop, MR. IMPERIUM stars Ezio Pinza as Alex, heir apparent to and later king of a small European nation, who falls in love with a willing American actress and entertainer, Fredda Barlo (Lana Turner), but due to machinations by the sly prime minister of Alex as king, nicely played by Cedric Hardwicke, the lovers are separated for 12 years before being reunited in Palm Springs where their love is rekindled. Director Don Hartman, who also scripts, is not able to fully utilize his talent for snappy dialogue because of Pinza's tentative English usage, and the requisite rewriting, coupled with less than total rapport in evidence between the two stars, results in a somewhat raggedy tone to the screenplay, exacerbated by the studio's unkind cutting of many scenes, leading to a confusing ending. The overpowering Pinza dominates his scenes with Turner, but both performers score with good work, while Marjorie Main is impressive with her patter effects as written, with Debbie Reynolds placed on track by Louis B. Mayer for SINGIN' IN THE RAIN as a result of her sprightly performance here; only Barry Sullivan is heavily victimized by the flagrant cutting. Prettily filmed largely in Pebble Beach, California, and other Monterey County environs, the film is endowed with Pinza's iron strong operatic basso in Solamente Una Vez, as well as with original songs by Harold Arlen and Dorothy Fields, with Douglas Shearer splendidly handling the sound recording, and notice must be made of the fine set decorations by Edwin Willis, and the effective costume designs by Walter Plunkett.

If there's one thing MR. IMPERIUM has going for it, it's the delight of hearing EZIO PINZA's strong bass do justice to a few pleasant songs, most of which he sings while serenading LANA TURNER, who's principal job in this one is to stand around and look beautiful while Pinza's voice takes over the soundtrack with gusto.

Other than that, it's a fanciful story that's been used hundreds of times before--a commoner (Lana) falls in love with a prince (Pinza) and their on again/off again romance ends with a bittersweet decision on his part to return to his kingdom when it needs him. That's about it for a storyline--and along the way MGM gave the stars a supporting cast that includes BARRY SULLIVAN, SIR CEDRIC HARDWICKE, MARJORIE MAIN and DEBBIE REYNOLDS, all of whom have very little to do.

It's been given a glittering MGM look with Technicolor visuals straight out of a storybook and the usual lavish care given to sets and costumes. Turner looks lovely and gives a warm and capable performance, but the lip synching in the opening number is a bit obvious. (Fran Warren supplies her singing voice).

The script is flimsy, and doesn't get the same amount of attention as the art direction and costumes, so it's easy to forget this trifle as soon as it's over. It does provide pleasant but artificial entertainment while it lasts.

Worst flaw: There's very little chemistry between Turner and Pinza who was in his late fifties when this was filmed and never did click in his screen career.

On assignment in scenic Italy, beautiful lip-synching Lana Turner (as Fredda Barlo) meets older singer and prince Ezio Pinza (as Mr. Imperium). The two fall in love, while enjoying the pretty Italian countryside. Unhappily, Mr. Pinza is called away to his Kingly father's death bed, leaving Lana in the lurch. Twelve years later, Ms. Turner is a Los Angeles actress, about to make a motion picture about falling in love with a King. Turner is being romanced by co-star Barry Sullivan, who wants to marry her - then, King Pinza re-enters her life...

"Mr. Imperium" provides a tired storyline for sex symbol Turner and debuting bass vocalist Pinza, who appeared for several decades with the New York Metropolitan Opera. Pinza likely earned his MGM feature film career after appearing in the hugely successful stage production of "South Pacific" (1949). The cast album, and Pinza's golden "Some Enchanted Evening" single, sold millions. Supporting casters Marjorie Main, Cedric Hardwicke, and Debbie Reynolds give the film a even greater sense of wasted resources.

*** Mr. Imperium (1951) Don Hartman ~ Lana Turner, Ezio Pinza, Barry Sullivan