THE DIAMOND QUEEN

US, 1953, 80 minutes, Colour.
Fernando Lamas, Arlene Dahl, Gilbert Roland, Shelton Leonard, Michael Ansara.
Directed by John Brahm.

The Diamond Queen is one of many such films of the early 1950s. They were small colourful adventures, very American in stars and tone – but designed to lure audiences away from their television sets.

This one is not particularly good. Fernando Lamas is the son of a jeweller with responsibility to find a diamond for the crown of Louis XIV and his coronation in 1659. Gilbert Roland is a French baron. Together they go to India to find a diamond – and there meet the Diamond Queen, the glamorous Arlene Dahl, who is betrothed to the mogul.

The predictable adventures happen. The falling in love also. The film is pleasant in its colour photography, atmosphere of India – which looks remarkably like the landscapes of California.

Fernando Lamas and Arlene Dahl appeared in Sangara together and married.

The film was directed by John Brahm, German-born director who directed a number of B-budget and supporting films and, at this time, directed The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima.

1.The popularity of this kind of action adventure in the 1950s? Now?

2.Californian location photography for India? The atmosphere? France, India? Costumes and décor? Musical score?

3.The French setting, Louis XIV, the coronation, the jeweller and his heart attack, the diamond? His son and the baron, the father going to jail? The son and his proposal to go to India? The baron agreeing? The map and their voyage?

4.The film’s version of India, exotic, costumes, the buildings? The dances? The Diamond Queen, seeing her first, the waterfall? Their falling in love with her? Her court, her being saved? Her indebtedness to the French? Trying to get a diamond for them?

5.The mogul, the betrothal to the queen? The political marriage? The journey to see the mogul?

6.The mogul, his general? Their wanting the grenades? Jean-Baptiste? and his secret? The trade for the diamond?

7.The adventures of Jean-Baptiste? and Paul, the plans, the relationship with the queen? Their diplomacy? Their shrewdness? The confrontation with the mogul, the general? The grenade, the fight, the cliff fall?

8.The happy ending, the getting the diamond, the story of the Hope Diamond? Sailing back to France?