THE LOVES OF CARMEN

US, 1948, 99 minutes, Colour.
Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, Victor Jory, Ron Randall, Luther Adler, Arnold Moss, Margaret Wycherly.
Directed by Charles Vidor.

The Loves of Carmen is yet another version of Prosper Merimee's popular story. Filmed as a silent film, audiences are probably more familiar with Bizet's opera. The adaptation to wartime America, Carmen Jones, was very popular in the '50s.

This version is a star vehicle for Rita Hayworth. She is teamed with Glenn Ford, with whom she made some impact in Gilda. They were also to star in Affair in Trinidad and over a decade later in the thriller, The Money Trap. The film is colourful - but is really just a Hollywood variation on the exotic romance theme (familiar at Universal Studios in the films of Yvonne de Carlo). Direction is by Charles Vidor who directed Gilda and such films as A Song to Remember.

1. The impact of this film? Hollywood entertainment?

2. The popularity of the story of Carmen? Audience familiarity? The various versions?

3. A '40s star vehicle for Rita Hayworth? Colour, atmosphere of Spain in the 19th. century? The musical score?

4. The Hollywood style of the film? The cast? How convincing as Spaniards?

5. Rita Hayworth as Carmen: presence, beauty, wildness, the gypsy, the tobacco factory, her relationship with the Colonel, the outlaws, luring Jose? Dancing, vivacity? Arrest, escape? The deaths? Jose as an outlaw, his experience of degradation and her reaction? Garcia and her husband? Garcia and her husband? The outlaw life, her boredom? The visit to the city, the encounter with Lucas? The fascination with the bullfighter? Her wilful behaviour, antagonism towards Jose? The dangers in the city? Her betrayal? The irony of her death with Jose?

6. Glenn Ford as Jose: the proper military man, the army, a gentleman, the encounter with Carmen and her fascination? His gallantry, infatuation? The Colonel? Caught up in Carmen's world, the violence. the death? His leaving the city, outlaw. the cruelty of his exploits? Despising Carmen and his way of life? His relationship with the outlaws, with Garcia? Brutality? His final jealousy? Stalking Carmen, the betrayal, his death?

7. The military men, Jose's friend and his infatuation for Carmen? The Colonel and his hold? The girls, the tobacco factory? Affairs? The consequences? Violence?

8. The gypsies, bandits, their way of life, the violence. the gangs? Leadership and rivalries?

9. Lucas as the arrogant bullfighter, infatuation with Carmen, the affair? In the arena? her death?

10. Popular Hollywood style treatment of passion, obsession, violence?