RAW WIND IN EDEN
US, 1958, 93 minutes, Colour.
Esther Williams, Jeff Chandler, Carlos Thompson, Rosanna Podesta, Eduardo de Filippo, Rik Battaglia.
Directed by Richard Wilson.
Raw Wind in Eden is an offbeat romantic melodrama - not well-received in its time, seeming more ludicrous later. After her successful career in M.G.M. musicals, with swimming interludes, Esther Williams made a number of dramas, The Unguarded Moment, The Big Show and this film. She has a strong and attractive personality with a comic touch. She is paired with Jeff Chandler who was in many romantic films at the time.
Filmed attractively in Cinemascope and colour, the film has a European cast including Rosanna Podesta, who had been Helen of Troy, comedian Eduardo de Filippo and hero, later character actor Rik Battaglia. Latin-American? Carlos Thompson completes the international cast.
The film is one of many written by Elizabeth and Richard Wilson and directed by the latter. It seems highly improbable - the kind of wish-fulfilment fantasy of women's magazines. There are the lyrical and romantic touches, the Americans isolated in idyllic Europe and local Italian violence. All in all an odd mixture.
1. The impact of the film? Romance, melodrama? Entertainment? The negative criticisms of the film on its release?
2. The importance of colour photography, the Mediterranean, the island scenery? Musical score?
3. The women's magazine stories - romantic heroes and heroines, affluence, Americans in Europe, the idyllic scenery? Stereotypes of Italians -romantic and violent? The melodrama?
4. The authenticity of characters and situations? Important or not for this kind of film? Audience suspension of disbelief?
5. Esther Williams and her reputation, the background of her musical comedy style? Swimming sequence? Laura and her work as a model, relationship with Wally Tucker, the plane crash? Surviving on the island? The encounter with Costanza and her father? The local politics and violence? Costanza and her love for the American Moore? Laura observing this? Her falling in love with Moor? Wally trying to repair the boat so that they can leave? Gavino and his jealousy of Moore and the attack? The violent chase over the island? Laura's discovering Moore's identity - and a happy future and new life!
6. Jeff Chandler as Moore - his strong silver-haired style? The romantic American hero? Presence on the island and mystery? His not communicating? Costanza in love with him? The jealousy of Gavino? The clashes with Wally? Attraction towards Laura, falling in love? The final chase and violence? New life?
7. Wally and his relationship with Laura? The crash? Stranded? The discovery of the yacht, the repairs, hostility towards Moore? His siding with Gavino against Moore?
8. Urbano and his place on the island, comic touches? The detail of life off Sardinia? Relationship with Costanza? His welcoming of Moore? Local customs? Lifestyle?
9. Costanza and her place on the island, her father? Her wanting to marry Moore? Gavino and his appearances, jealousy? Her jealousy of Laura?
10. Gavino and the Latin lover, violence, the shooting and the chase?
11. Romantic melodrama in spectacular setting? The world of popular romances and women's magazine values?
