While the print I saw of this film no doubt reflects the 1935 being rough and grainy, the film is an important one. In 1935, the French film criticizes the French for not being as sophisticated as they were telling everyone they were. As for Baker, I have no doubt that even with the grainy film, she was one talented bombshell who was not given enough chance in the US to cross the segregation line.
Her dancing and seduction scenes in this movie are really over the top. This French film with English subtitles from KINO has a lot of good stuff, just crude production standards. France at this point did not have the budgets that Hollywood already had or this film would be better.
Baker portrays a Arab Princess who is wild and untamed. Like the Henry Higgins -Liza DoLittle story, two men try to convert her into a cultured creature. In the end, she sheds the culture in one great dance sequence and earns the applause of all present.
There are a lot of women extras in this film, and some dance sequences that are shot from above reminding me of the weekly June Taylor Dancers on the Jackie Gleason show. For an obviously limited budget, these sequences are quite good.
Interesting to note that in 1940 Moulin Rouge Baker would play a character known as Princess Tam-Tam. In a way, that might be the only tie between these films. After seeing Baker in this, I feel I should check out that 1940 Moulin Rouge. She should fit right into any good version of that story. Too bad she only has a small supporting role in that one.
Her dancing and seduction scenes in this movie are really over the top. This French film with English subtitles from KINO has a lot of good stuff, just crude production standards. France at this point did not have the budgets that Hollywood already had or this film would be better.
Baker portrays a Arab Princess who is wild and untamed. Like the Henry Higgins -Liza DoLittle story, two men try to convert her into a cultured creature. In the end, she sheds the culture in one great dance sequence and earns the applause of all present.
There are a lot of women extras in this film, and some dance sequences that are shot from above reminding me of the weekly June Taylor Dancers on the Jackie Gleason show. For an obviously limited budget, these sequences are quite good.
Interesting to note that in 1940 Moulin Rouge Baker would play a character known as Princess Tam-Tam. In a way, that might be the only tie between these films. After seeing Baker in this, I feel I should check out that 1940 Moulin Rouge. She should fit right into any good version of that story. Too bad she only has a small supporting role in that one.