padraigodurcain

This rarest of Veronica Lake movies doesn't amount to much cinematically, but at least it exists - albeit in a French language only version. Its over lit and cheaply shot in gruesome colour, though Lake does look, well, rather well for this period (her alcoholism is well documented in her memoir). She has a few long, overwritten scenes, and is quite expressive facially, though she is dubbed in French. The 'plot' barely registers - zoom shots of teens in winter sweaters in the snow, or dancing in pinewood cabins. Completists may want to see it, though, and the only Lake starrers I have yet to see "Hold that Blonde" or "Isn't it romantic?".

Out of circulation for many years, this was the third and final of three films produced by Joe Pasternak for MGM under the auspices of Dore Schary intended to rescue the faltering career of the studios 40's glamour queen, Lana Turner. Intended as a facsimile of the type of European sex flicks glutting the stateside market and showcasing budding starlets like Loren and Mangano, and with Richard Brooks at the directorial helm for 'realistic' import and Technicolor shots of teaming Naples street scenes and interiors filmed in Londons Elstree Studios, the film ultimately failed in its attempt to engage critics, or, more importantly, the mass audience. It hardly looks any better today, though the musical score is pretty, and brunette Turners is playful and game as a Neapolitan trollop, while Carlos Thomson is wooden and ill fated Pier Angeli is simpering. This was an uncertain period in Turners sprawling, fifty year Star Career, and Schary was a notorious mishandler of MGM's contract stable. It's unusual to see Lana in this milieu and she's rather out of her element, though she gave interviews at the time which suggested she was enthusiastic about the change of pace, and considered the assignment "one of the rare opportunities where I get a chance to really act!" There is a nice extended opening credit sequence with tramp Turner trawling the busy slums, indeed one of Lana's classic 'walk' scenes in movies, but the action quickly becomes talky and set bound, confined to dingy apartments and cluttered nightclubs, occasionally springing to life when it returns to the brilliant outdoors and a dazzling beach scene. Not as bad though, as one might expect, and a lost treat for Turner compleatists.

in some ways a better film than the Garbo versions - less "hollywood", more ornate and gloomier in jaded Old School Russia- though a trifle passionless, thanks to the casting. At this point in her life and career a certain light had fled Vivien Leighs eyes, it was more than the loss of her stunning beauty and youth, and though we know the reasons now, audiences did not then know, and the film was not a hit. Sets and production design are superb, a little let down if your watching an inferior print on TV. Ralph Richardson tries but isn't up to the challenge, and kieron moore was more at home playing lusty louts from the lower class. Sally Ann Howes, however, is best of all playing kitty. An esteemable beauty and singer. Still a stunning woman. you might remember her as Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.