Sangaree

Just saw this at the World 3-D Film Expo and it was a turkey through and through.

Clearly this was only made for the lonely housewife set to ogle at a half-naked Fernando with painted-on pants. If he'd had a bigger basket I probably would've given it a higher score...:)

The transitions between real-world and sound stage footage was clunky at best. I can't imagine even a naive 1950's moviegoer believing any of this was shot in the real Savannah, Georgia.

Were it not for gimmick of 3-D this one would have been relegated to the dustbin of Hollywood long ago.

The film Sangaree (1953) is one of those romantic-drama films in which everything happens: romance, deaths, murders, betrayals, fights, etc... The screenplay is based on a book that has the same title as the film, published in 1948 (first edition), and written by the American writer and physician Frank G. Slaughter. The performance of many actors in the film is quite exaggerated and unconvincing of the roles they play and, in addition, the story is very soap opera like and melodramatic, even bordering on the pathetic in some parts and, sometimes, even being annoying, but not so much considering I watched the movie all the way through.

This was Paramount's first 3-D film of the 1950's, which reportedly had begun production as a flat film, but then re-started in 3-D in the race to get a stereoscopic project into the theatres as soon as possible. Fernando Lamas also appeared in a second 3-Dimension film, JIVARO, in 1954.

Fernando Lamas stars as a doctor of Spanish descent in post-Revolutionary War Georgia who 'inherits' the estate Sangaree from a general on his deathbed; the doctor's mission is to open a free clinic for children and slaves, but he runs afoul of the general's scheming daughter (Arlene Dahl) who is prepared to challenge her father's will. Frank G. Slaughter adapted his own novel from 1948, but his script makes for an unbearably talky costumer--and one with tatty color via Paramount. Director Edward Ludwig throws in a brawl and a plague but the picture still comes up a snooze. Lamas and Dahl were married the following year (there must have been something in that wine). *1/2 from ****

One commenter said Sangaree was noted for nothing more than its 3-D effects. Another said it was a dull turkey. I disagree. What I discovered when viewing it on TV years ago, was a charming period-piece set in a most charming venue: Savannah! The charm was no doubt bolstered by my having just moved to Savannah when I first saw the film. But the filming is magnificent, in my humble opinion. A little artistic in its backgrounds, perhaps, but nonetheless charming, and at least one charming film about Savannah needs to endure, so looks likt this one is it. The color, sets, scenery, and costuming are magnificent, and the photography and editing are cleaqr and consistent.

To instantly pooh-pooh this classic film on dubious technical claims, is unfair. Everyone who likes romance, history, Americana, and beautiful filming should see this movie. The emotional tone is often laid back and relaxing, but that was the way of life in the sunny old South.

And what fine casting! Moreover, Arlene Dahl is - in my opinion - the only non-Southern actress who could really do a Southern accent... ( and she was from Minnesota, no less!)

The mere word "Sangaree" will forever carry me back to the charm and grace of fine old Savannah.

Sangaree ranks right up there with my favorite nostalgic films.