Salome, Where She Dancedis a 1945 AmericanTechnicolorWesterndrama film,directed byCharles Lamontand starring:Yvonne De Carlo,Rod CameronandWalter Slezak.The film follows the adventures of a dancer in 19th-century Europe and the United States. It is loosely based on the story ofLola Montez.Choreography was byLester Horton.
| Salome, Where She Danced | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Charles Lamont |
| Written by | Laurence Stallings |
| Based on | short story by Michael J. Phillips |
| Produced by | Alexander Golitzen(associate producer) Walter Wanger(producer) |
| Starring | Yvonne De Carlo |
| Cinematography | W. Howard Greene Hal Mohr |
| Edited by | Russell F. Schoengarth |
| Music by | Edward Ward |
Production company | Walter Wanger Productions |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,159,225[1] |
| Box office | $2,598,964[1] |
Plot
editThe film opens inVirginiain 1865, shortly afterGeneral Lee's surrender atAppomattox Court House.Awar correspondent,Jim Steed, exchanges comments with Count von Bohlen, an arrogantPrussian armyofficer serving as amilitary attachéduring theAmerican Civil War.A year later, Steed is inViennashortly before the outbreak of theAustro-Prussian Warof 1866. There, he encounters a famous dancer, Anna Marie, whom he persuades to spy for him on von Bohlen, now a member of the Prussian general staff, who has become infatuated with her. The secret plans, though, which they manage to pass on to the Austrians, are unable to prevent the decisive Prussian victory.
Escaping Vienna just ahead of the conquering Prussian army, they journey to the United States, where they plan to organize a career for her in show business. Stopping in a small western town to stage a show, they choose the exoticSalomefor her debut, but it is robbed at gunpoint by local desperados. After the money is recovered from the bandits, the town elders decide by popular acclaim to rename the settlement "Salome, Where She Danced". The bandit leader, Cleve Blunt, an ex-Confederatesoldier, develops a romantic interest in Anna Marie and accompanies her on the journey westward.
After moving on to San Francisco, they persuade a wealthyRussian colonelto back her career. Just as she is set to make a success, the arrival of Count von Bohlen seeking revenge leads to a final confrontation.
Cast
edit- Yvonne De Carloas Anna Marie
- Rod Cameronas Jim Steed
- David Bruceas Cleve Blunt
- Walter Slezakas Col. Ivan Dimitrioff
- Albert Dekkeras Count Erik von Bohlen
- Marjorie Rambeauas Madam Europe
- J. Edward Brombergas Prof. Max
- Abner Bibermanas Dr. Ling
- John Litelas General Robert E. Lee
- Kurt KatchasCount Von Bismarck
- Richard Alexanderas Shotgun (uncredited)
- Larry Steersas Party Guest (uncredited)
Production
editThe project had originally been connected toJohn Fordin 1941, but it was acquired by producerWalter Wanger.He envisaged it as "anArabian nightsstory in aWestern setting".
The film was loosely based on a short story inspired by the Arizona legend about a town, "Drinkmens Wells", which came to be known as "Salome, Where She Danced".The story was about a Mexican dance-hall performer called" Salome ", who danced to hold the attention of a group of outlaws and give the law-abiding members of the town enough time to assemble and arm in protection of their homes. The script expanded the story to incorporate characters such as Robert E. Lee and Bismarck.[2]
Casting
editYvonne De Carlo had been under contract toParamount Picturesand had been short-listed for important roles inThe Story of Dr WassellandRainbow Islandwithout actually being given them. She was cast in September 1944.[3]Wanger later said he discovered her by looking at a camera test of another actor in which de Carlo also appeared.[4]Another source says 21 Royal Canadian Air Force bombardier students who loved her as a pinup star campaigned to get her the role.[5]De Carlo later said this was done at her behest; she took several pictures of herself in a revealing costume and got two childhood friends from Vancouver, Reginald Reid and Kenneth Ross McKenzie, who had become pilots, to arrange their friends to lobby on her behalf.[6]
The crew at Universal was set to shoot a wardrobe test for Ava Gardner on a sound stage at Universal. Gardner did not show, and art director Alexander Golitzen ran to producer Walter Wanger's office, asking: "Walter, what the hell is happening?" Wanger replied: "MGM just called, they wouldn't let her go." Yvonne De Carlo was in waiting room with her agent and Golitzen said: "Why don't we test her." Golitzen grabbed De Carlo and raced her to the wardrobe department, and that was it. Golitzen also received an associate production credit for the film.[7]
Shooting
editFilming took 64 days at a budget of almost $1.2 million.[2]
Reception
editOn its release, the film received one of the worst critical receptions of any of Wanger's films.[8]Nonetheless, the film made a profit of $149,387 and launched Yvonne de Carlo as a star.[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcBernstein, Matthew (2000).Walter Wanger: Hollywood Independent.University of Minnesota Press. p. 442.ISBN978-0-8166-3548-1.Retrieved2014-09-02.
- ^abFRED STANLEY (Dec 17, 1944). "THE HOLLYWOOD DIGEST: DANCING WITH 'SALOME'".New York Times.p. X3.
- ^Schallert, Edwin (Sep 19, 1944). "Guild Player Deemed Fit Valentino Double: David Bruce Wins Acting Opportunity in Wanger's Film Drama, 'Salome'".Los Angeles Times.p. A8.
- ^FRED STANLEY (Sep 24, 1944). "HOLLYWOOD MEMORANDA: NOTED IN HOLLYWOOD".New York Times.p. X1.
- ^"From PINUP to STAR!".Chicago Daily Tribune.Nov 12, 1944. p. D5.
- ^THOMAS M. PRYOR (Mar 25, 1945). "THE UNVEILING OF YVONNE (SALOME) DE CARLO: Herewith Some Early Film Entries in the Easter Week Sweepstakes".New York Times.p. X3.
- ^[Sic, passim] "An Oral History with Alexander Golitzen" by Barbara Hall, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Beverly Hills, California 1992. (Page 71-73)
- ^Bernstein 2000,p. 190.
External links
edit- Salome, Where She Dancedat IMDB
- Review of filmatVariety
- Salome, Where She Dancedis available for free viewing and download at theInternet Archive