Latin Lovers (1953)

best movie i've ever seen.

Admirable film.

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Ricardo Montalban stepped in as last minute substitute for Fernando Lamas for this film Latin Lovers. Originally meant as a follow up for the Fernando Lamas/Lana Turner version of The Merry Widow, the breakup between Lamas and Turner was not amicable. Lana just did not want to emote for the big screen with Lamas any more.One thing Lamas did leave behind was possibly his singing voice. Ricardo had a couple of numbers to sing and he did not sing. If you've seen The Merry Widow or Rose Marie you know that Fernando Lamas did have a strong singing voice. What comes out of Montalban's mouth sounds an awful lot like Fernando Lamas.Lana is a wealthy woman who worries all the time that men are interested in her for her money only. To be rich and have worries like that. She's going out with John Lund who's a bit richer, but he is such a titanic bore.Things do pick up when on a trip to Brazil she meets Montalban who also has a few shekels though the family fortune is really in the hands of his grandfather Louis Calhern. What follows are the usual romantic games people play and is the outcome ever in doubt? Also note in the cast are Jean Hagen as Turner's girl Friday and Archer MacDonald as the nerdy American embassy employee who is giving Turner lessons in Portugese. Sadly MacDonald would be dead in two years and by his own hand.Latin Lovers is a pleasant if not taxing piece of romantic fluff.

Lana Turner has 37 million dollars. John Lund has 48 million. She feels he's about to pop the question and thought she wanted to marry him -- until now, that is. He has to go to Brazil to look at some ponies he's interested in buying and to play a little polo. During a night on the town, she is intrigued when she is asked to dance by a Brazilian (who just happens to be in town), and he tells her not to go to Brazil. "It would be dangerous for you. There's something about the air in Brazil. Men in Brazil see what they want and just take it." She hops on a plane, going after Lund, who she thinks will just take her (up in his arms.) But this air only puts John Lund to sleep. Enter Ricardo Montalban. While he is showing his horses to John Lund, she takes an instant liking to Ricardo….and he notices her. The looks he gives her are too much and she acts more passionate here than I've ever seen her. But will he be bothered by her money? Jean Hagen is good in a supporting role as her secretary, and John Lund is good as a stuffed shirt. Louis Calhern is great as Ricardo's grandfather, providing a touch of class. (A side note that many may not know: Not only was Louis Calhern also in Lana's "A Life of Her Own" and "The Prodigal" but, in "The Bad and the Beautiful," he provides the voice of her father's on the record that Kirk Douglas smashes.) This was supposed to be a reunion movie with Fernando Lamas. (They made "The Merry Widow" prior to this.) But since they were no longer together as a couple, she wanted someone else to play opposite her. This was a break for Ricardo, who looks like he is having the time of his life. (Even though that wasn't him really singing.) Rita Moreno dances the samba with him, teaching Lana how to do it right. But, Rita gets jealous of her real quick, when she discovers he likes Lana. With their attraction to each other and the way they move together, it almost seems like we shouldn't be watching.But, if you've never seen Lana and Ricardo, looking their best and complementing each other, then you're missing something. Granted the movie may get silly, like with her Portguese teacher who'll practically live or die for her. But who cares? "Latin Lovers" may be colorful fluff, but it's one of the best and most provocative colorful fluffs you're likely to see. Just sit back and enjoy!

Shallow time-filler, directed by the estimable Mervyn LeRoy (who must have been a bit embarrassed), this picture-postcard travelogue-cum-romance should have put Ricardo Montalban on the map as a huge matinée idol. Montalban never quite broke the ethnic barrier to become a Valentino-type player in Hollywood, and filmdom certainly missed a prime opportunity. Montalban swaggers and struts and exudes mucho charisma as a horse rancher in Brazil who falls for vacationing heiress Lana Turner. Semi-musical piece of Hollywood factory gloss entertains in its fashion, but you'll be ashamed of yourself in the morning. Turner is so aloof that even Ricardo fails to melt her icy exterior, but the South American flavor is amusingly captured and the picture looks good enough to eat. ** from ****

This gorgeously-directed film presented Lana Turner as Nora Taylor, a lady who has everything in the world—including $37 million which she inherited from her father… Her one big problem: not even her psychoanalyst can tell her whether men love her for herself or her money… She isn't even sure of Paul Chevron (John Lund), her stuffy fiancé, who is worth $48 million in his own right… His reaction to her ardor is unenthusiastic, so when he goes off to Brazil with his polo team, she follows him in the hope that the change in climate will warm him up… Unfortunately for Nora, the land of romance does nothing for Paul, who is just as businesslike as ever…But she does meet Roberto Santos(Ricardo Montalban), a young and handsome plantation owner, who sweeps her off her feet… At first, Nora is afraid that he'll refuse to marry her when he learns about her fortune, but she's even more upset when he expresses great delight in the discovery…What follows is a game of wits, and the picture can be likened to a multicolored parfait… It's entertaining of its kind and not nearly as slight as it would have been in less capable hands… "Latin Lovers" was more a romantic comedy with music than one of MGM's traditional super-musicals of the period… It did feature five original Nicholas Brodsky—Leo Robin tunes, two of which were "sung" by Ricardo Montalban…Other music included the rippling strains of several red-hot sambas, staged by Frank Veloz…The film was still another great showcase for Turner the clotheshorse… Helen Rose, who was Oscar-nominated for her work in both "The Merry Widow" and "The Bad and the Beautiful" came up with an unusual idea in designing the star's wardrobe… All of Lana's more than twenty costumes were created in black and white—or a combination of both—and pitted against the rich1y Technicolored backgrounds, it resulted in a striking and unusual effect