Rumba

If you didn't know George Raft (also known as the man who turned down Casablanca) got his start as a ballroom dancer, you've got to rent one of his early movies, in which he shows off his dancing skills. I picked Rumba because I thought any movie full of rumba dances couldn't be bad.

Well, the laugh's on me. This movie is really stinky. George Raft may be very handsome, and it's fun to see him flapping his legs during a few specialty numbers with the beautiful Margo, but if you're actually looking for a good movie, this isn't it. Carole Lombard costars as a society girl who accidentally annoys George by winning a lottery ticket he got swindled out of. Later when she sees him dancing at a nightclub, she likes the way he moves and asks for private lessons. That's about it. You can watch it if you want to, but have another movie handy for a double feature.

I never thought of Lombard as particularly sexy. Madcap and off the wall, yes, but not really a sex symbol, per se. And yet in the little celebrated Rumba she definitely radiates sensual appeal and it helps that her more irritating mannerisms are somewhat, although not entirely, restrained here. There IS a chemistry with George Raft, you can see that. Lombard's dancing is quite credible and given the character's doubts then it's a skilfull interpretation. A surprise in some ways. One gets the impression that if things had been loosened up a little then it would have set the screen alight. But it's just a bit watered down. Could have been great but it's passable enough.

Joe is a dancer in Cuba with a chip on his shoulder. Diana is fascinated by this diamond in the rough. However, pride on both sides seems to thwart the union and Diana in despair returns to New York City and her less than exciting fiancé. Joe follows.

The main problem with this film is George Raft. His stone faced and monotone delivery mean that there is absolutely no chance for any chemistry to develop between himself and Lombard. And it is supposedly this magic between the two that propels them in and out of each others lives and causes both to risk their lives in the end to be together. The film is also weighed down by more that one overly long dance sequence. George Raft himself is an adequate dancer, but comes off as little more than a "dandy". He has non of the fire or charisma of say a Desi Arnaz, who truly comes alive with the spirit of Latin dance and rhythms.

Diana's father is here played by Samuel Hinds who also played the father in the Andy Hardy series. Monroe Owsley, who also co-stared with Lombard in the movie "Brief Moment", plays Diana's wealthy fiancé. His part here is considerably smaller, and amounts for the most part to "window dressing".

Carole Lombard does a good job here. If she had had a better leading man this film might even have been enjoyable. The production values and quality of the acting in general were actually pretty good. Supposedly George Raft was quite the ladies man in real life, and even enjoyed a clandestine affair with Lombard, but in this film he is a dud.

"Rumba" is George Raft's best Latino film and that's not saying much. He at least gets to play a New Yorker, albeit a New Yorker of Cuban descent hanging out in Havana because gangsters in the States are out to get him. That idea is actually more exciting than the events that play out.

Carole Lombard gets some strong closeups and looks lovely. She plays a bored socialite a little too well, never seeming to rise above ennui even when she's dancing. She gets some nice little bits of dialogue but mostly could have phoned this one in.

Because of his sensual Latin looks, Paramount seemed insistent on making Raft do the sensual Latin dances. Sure, he could dance the rumba OK, but it is nothing like the hot style of dancing that made him famous as the "fastest dancer in New York" back in the '20s. Only in the first dance number in "Rumba" do we get a very brief glimpse of this.

Overall, this is hardly an important film for anyone - but look fast: Ann Sheridan is among the mass of dancers.

I usually liked Carole Lombard but she seems a little fish-out-of-water in this rather confused romantic drama. She ("Diana") is visiting Cuba when she espies dancer "Joe" (George Raft). He's hardly a charmer but there are a few sparks before she tires of his attitude and heads back to New York. With his tail between his legs a little, he follows her there and the rest of this unremarkable drama follows the ups and downs of their temperamental romance, her relationship with fiancé "Hobart" (a competent Monroe Owsley) whilst engaging in two or three really quite extended dance sequences - especially towards the conclusion. There's not a jot of chemistry on display here from anyone and even the latin dance routines comes across more as damp squibs drawn out to fill screen time than the fiery and passionate affairs that are supposed to get temperatures rising and hearts fluttering. Indeed, sadly, the only things that may flutter here will be eyelids as you struggle to stay interested in this disappointing film. Lombard does show up, she puts effort in and that sometimes works - it's just her lacklustre co-star who just doesn't fit the bill so well.