RUMBA (Paramount, 1935), directed by Marion Gering, reunites George Raft and Carole Lombard, following their initial teaming of BOLERO (1934). Hoping to recapture the success of BOLERO, the studio came up with RUMBA, not a sequel but more of a rehash or follow-up story featuring its initial players in different character roles. Unlike BOLERO, RUMBA is seldom revived nor discussed. After a few revivals on public television in the 1980s, RUMBA has disappeared completely. As much as many might label RUMBA inferior to BOLERO, the film in itself gets by through its usual story, with the dancing being the highlight of the shortcomings of the plot, even though Raft and Lombard were no match the current dancing craze phase of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
The story opens in Cuba where Joe Martin (George Raft), an egotistic dancer accompanied by his dancing partner, Goldie Allen (Iris Adrian), finds that his lottery ticket bearing the number of 17171 has won $5,000. As he goes to collect his winnings, it so happens that Diana Harrison (Carole Lombard), an American socialite vacationing in Cuba with her fiance, Hobart "Harvey" Fletcher (Monroe Owsley), also has won the lottery bearing the exact same number. It so happens that Joe's ticket is a forgery sold to him by a corrupt peddler. While Diane is in the right, Joe holds a grudge against her. As Diane and company come to the Rolling Tar Club, they spot the dance act of Joe and Goldie. Feeling Joe needs the money more than she, Diana approaches Joe in his dressing room with her thoughts, but finds Joe's pride won't let him accept money, especially from a woman. After being dismissed from the club, Joe accepts Diana's wager that he couldn't form a dance act and club for himself. After meeting Carmelita (Margo) in a gift shop, Joe invites her to accompany him at a fiesta where he witnesses a new dance craze called the Rumba, with intentions of using it as his new dance act with Carmelita as his new dancing partner. Known for having a mind of an elephant, for that elephants never forget, Joe and his friend and newspaper reporter, Flash (Lynne Overman) join forces in forming El Elephante Club where Joe dances under a new name of Jose Martinez. Once again Joe meets up with Diana and party as patrons, with Diana wanting Joe to become her rumba dancing teacher. While slowly becoming attracted to each other, Carmelita breaks them up. Returning to New York, Diana's father tells her about Joe's involvement with the underworld with mobsters out to rub him out if he should return to New York. At the risk of his own life, Joe comes to New York anyway to perform his dance act, publicized as "The Dance of Death."
Other in the cast include Virginia Hammond (Mrs. Harrison); Paul Porcasi, Soledad Jimenez, Jameson Thomas and Akim Tamiroff. While Gail Patrick appears Patsy Fletcher, Diana's society friend, they would reunite as rival sisters in the comedy classic opposite William Powell in MY MAN GODFREY (Universal, 1936). As much as there were a couple of songs vocalized, done entirely in Spanish, only "The Rhythm of the Rumba" featuring its interpretation to the history of the Rumba dance from past to present, is a ten minute expansion to the five minute dance finale to 1934s BOLERO, and moderately staged.
Surprisingly short for 71 minutes, RUMBA did not earn a third Raft-Lombard collaboration to Spanish dance titles as TANGO or CARIOCA for example. Raft would dance again in his future films, but is better known and admired most for his tough guy image in playing gangster or detective types. As much as Lombard excelled best in comedy, she displayed her talent for heavy dramatics as well, namely RKO Radio's IN NAME ONLY (1939) and VIGIL IN THE NIGHT (1940).
To date, the availability of RUMBA can be found on DVD through Vintage Film Buff, accompanied by BOLERO, Raft's favorite movie role. Both worthy companion pieces of the two movies featuring the short-lived dance team of Raft and Lombard. (**1/2).
