Laisse-moi t'aimer

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.

Story of a Italian Prince who falls for an Arizona singer while she is performing in Italy. 12 years pass and the actress (Lana Turner) is now a major Hollywood star, and the Prince (Ezio Pinza) is now exiled, at which point they resume the romance.

Lana Turner never looked more beautiful. Ezio Pinza was right off his success from "South Pacific." Turner and Pinza don't make a good couple, and it is somewhat evidenced by the scenes together. Pinza has ample opportunity in this film to show his Operatic talents, in many cases Lana Turner stands around as beautiful window dressing.

Marjorie Main appears in a somewhat rare non Hillbilly role, and pulls it off quite well. Barry Sullivan appears as Lana Turners Hollywood paramour, but that plot line is not followed through with very well.

This movie is in the public domain, and as such can frequently be found on TV, DVD and Video. Despite that fact, it still carries the MGM name well. Beautiful costumes, sets, musical scores and beautiful Technicolor.

This is a typical 13 in a dozen romantic musical movie from the MGM studio's. It's not any better or worse than most other productions, which means that the genre fans will most likely enjoy this movie.

This is your typical enjoyable lighthearted romantic musical comedy from the MGM studio's, which means that the movie is mostly good looking, has some good musical moments but is predictable and formulaic to watch. Does it really matter all? There only are a handful of MGM musicals that have gained the classic status. About 80% of their musical productions are nothing more than simple lighthearted movies that are pleasant to watch but at the same time also extremely forgettable. These sort of movies are good to kill some time with, of course especially if you're a fan of the genre.

Granted that the love-story is not the most believable or compelling one. I don't know but having a 60 year old playboy prince falling for a 30 years younger blond beauty by todays standards feels more dirty than romantic. Guess in the '40's/'50's this was Hollywoods idea of a romantic story and every young girl dreamed of marrying an older, rich, playboy prince. Who knows. Yet the story still works out alright enough, which is thanks to the actors Lana Turner and Ezio Pinza, who also have some good chemistry together.

Further more the movie is filled with all of the formulaic genre ingredients and most things also don't really come as a surprise. The movie is not as musical filled as perhaps other MGM productions, which might disappoint certain people.

The movie is pretty good looking, with some nice sets, costumes and setting, although it's all obvious fake at times. It helps to give the movie a pretty good light feeling and atmosphere, which helps to make this movie a pleasant one to watch.

The movie features some good other actors such as Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Debbie Reynolds in an early role. Yet most of the other characters are underused in the story, which provide the movie with some missed opportunities. The movie overall as a whole has perhaps a tad bit more misses than hits in it, which does make the movie an uneven one to watch at times.

More of the same all but I'm not complaining about it and so most certainly wouldn't the genre fans. The movie deserves a better reputation, for sure.

6/10

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Mr. Imperium represented two efforts by MGM to make Ezio Pinza a film star on the strength of the great critical acclaim that he got from his Broadway starring role in South Pacific. Maybe if he had made the film version of South Pacific back then things might have worked out differently for him. But it was still running on Broadway albeit without Pinza at the time and by the time the film was made another studio made it and Ezio Pinza was very unavailable.

The film concerns a crown prince and a nightclub performer before World War II who meet at an Italian resort. Lana Turner with vocals dubbed by Trudy Erwin is the performer and Pinza the crown prince who goes incognito with the name of Mr. Imperium. They meet and fall in love, but when his father is on death's door, duty in the person of Prime Minister Cedric Hardwicke intervenes.

World War II and revolution have made Pinza an ex-King and the years were kinder to Turner who became a film star. They meet again at a private resort run by Marjorie Main and her daughter Debbie Reynolds and things do rekindle much to the distress of Turner's patient and long suffering director Barry Sullivan. Will things finally go right for them this time?

Mr. Imperium is not a bad film, but it was hardly the vehicle to launch a film career with. Harold Arlen and Dorothy Fields wrote some original songs for the film, but nothing of the caliber of the Rodgers&Hammestein score Pinza was singing on Broadway.

According to Edward Epstein's book about Lana Turner things were most formal on the set of Mr. Imperium after Turner rebuffed Pinza's advances. And he apparently put on quite the campaign to woo her, but Lana wasn't having any. This all probably had the effect of a most pedestrian performance by her.

Pinza did so much better on stage with South Pacific and later Fanny, too bad he didn't do that film either.

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.