SALOME, WHERE SHE DANCED

US, 1945, 90 minutes, Colour.
Yvonne de Carlo, Rod Cameron, Walter Slezak, Albert Dekker, Marjorie Rambeau.
Directed by Charles Lamont.

Salome Where She Danced is an ultra-exotic romantic spectacle of the mid-1940s, the first starring role for Yvonne de Carlo.

The screenplay is based loosely on the career of Lola Montez who had been the mistress of the king of Prussia and had toured, especially in Australia and the United States in vaudeville.

This is a frontier town story, with a background of the civil war and the west, San Francisco in its heyday. There is, allegedly, a town in Arizona called Salome, Where She Danced which is based on the fact that Lola Montez danced the role of Salome in that town.

The film is not in any way parallel to the biblical story – rather, Yvonne de Carlo performs the role of Salome on stage.

The film was directed by Charles Lamont who directed the original Ma and Pa Kettle, directed a number of Ma and Pa Kettle films as well as some in the series of Abbott and Costello Meet …

1. The enjoyment value of this film? How serious, comic? The light touch?

2. The film-making of the forties, the atmosphere of World War II and the dialogue of the play and its reference to Germans, American patriotism? The American heritage? The blending of the European background and the Civil War and the West? How well did this come off?

3. Use of colour, style, music? The varying locations?

4. The film as an Yvonne do Carlo vehicle? Her personality, style? Association with Salome?

5. The background of the Civil War, the defeat of the South, the correspondents, General Lee and his words about the end of the war? The European observers and what they learnt about techniques and strategy? Cleve Blunt and his refusal to lay down arms? Jim Steed and his worldly and somewhat cynical attitude towards the war? The Civil War background to give plausibility to the future events?

6. The transition to Germany, Germany in the 19th century and its elegance and wealth, Bismarck and his ambitions, his reliance on the Count and his background in America? Anna Maria and her dancing? Bismarck's plot for her marriage? The impact of her dancing? Her involvement in politics with the Austrian Prince and the German Count?

7. How plausible was the espionage background? Jim Steed and his war correspondents, his work an a journalist, his charm with the ladies especially in the foyer of the theatre, his charming Anna Maria and persuading her to spy? Her love for the Austrian Prince, her leading on of the Count and giving the information? The importance of the battle sequence, the death of the Austrian Prince? The information given by Steed to the Preys? The Count's reaction and hostility as he encountered the wounded Steed?

8. The escape to the West - the humour of their escape, the confrontation of the Count and the decision to go to America? The stagecoach ride, the Western town, Madame Europe and her background, the Professor adapting himself to the West, the build?up to the dance to make money?

9. The humour of the men assembled for the dance? Madame Europe and her singing and dancing? Anna Maria and her success? The sudden intervention of Cleve and the robbery? The kidnapping of Anna Maria? How plausible was her reforming of Cleve and his giving back the money?

10. The atmosphere of San Francisco in the 19th century? Frontier, wealth? Anna Maria as the toast of the city, Cleve and Jim both an her suitors? The serious presentation of their love, the comic presentation? Anna Maria's love for Jim? The attraction towards Cleve and the continual desire to reform him?

11. The use of Demetriov for the building of the theatre? The act-up in the cafe with the bird and plumage, Rembrandt? Demetriov and his continued support? His letting Anna Maria go for a happy ending?

12. Dr Ling and his importance, the comedy of the Chinese with the Scots accent? His advice to Demetriov, to Steed, to Cleve? Anna Maria's relying on him?

13. The importance of the set-ups to tent Cleve's sincerity? The ironic touch about the Chinese ship?

14. The importance of the arrival of the Count, Cleve confronting him and the duel to death?

15. The build-up to the chase and the involvement of everybody? The precarious hanging over the cliff etc.? Resolved by the happy ending?

16. The comic book adventures and the enjoyment of these? Morale for the end of World War II?