The Loves of Carmen (1948)

Director:

Charles Vidor

Writers:

Prosper Mérimée (novel)
Helen Deutsch (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 August 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

A beautiful but amoral gypsy girl entices a young dragoon to betray his honor and get cashiered from the service, and for her sake he soon turns to a life of crime.

Plot Keywords:

Gypsy | Bandit | Dragoon | Murder | Black Cat

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Rita Hayworth	...	Carmen
Glenn Ford	...	Don José
Ron Randell	...	Andrés
Victor Jory	...	García
Luther Adler	...	Dancaire
Arnold Moss	...	Colonel
Joseph Buloff	...	Remendado
Margaret Wycherly	...	Old Crone
Bernard Nedell	...	Pablo
John Baragrey	...	Lucas

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

The Beckworth Corporation

Trivia:

Rita Hayworth's brother, Vernon Cansino, played one of the Dragoon soldiers that helps Don Jose escort her to prison.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Don Jose helps Carmen down from the wall, several oranges fall near her feet. The next shot shows him grabbing the oranges scattered a little way from her feet.

Quotes:

Don José Lizarabengoa: [Accuses Carmen of having an affair] It's Lucas the matador now, is that it?
Carmen García: What difference does it make?
Don José Lizarabengoa: Answer me!
Carmen García: Yes! Yes! Now are you satisfied? And why not? I like to laugh once in a while. And what've I had with you? Nothing but tears and preaching and long faces. I can't live penned up in a cage. I won't! I'm sick of it. Can't you understand? I'm sick of you! Now get away and leave me alone!
Don José Lizarabengoa: [He clutches her] Carmen, don't leave me. Don't leave me, I love you so much.
[He kisses her repeatedly]
Don José Lizarabengoa: See how much I love you. You're all I have left in the world, little Carmen. I gave it all up for you. But I don't mind.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Not Easily Broken (2009)

Soundtrack:

The Love of a Gypsy

Rita Hayworth IS perfect for the role,but.....

As stated elsewhere,this is a non-musical version of "Carmen", based not on the opera, but on Prosper Merimee's original story which inspired it. The movie doesn't use Bizet's music, not even as background, but the plot is essentially the same as in the opera, and the Merimee story. Without giving away the ending for those who don't know it, I will say the Production Code enforced at the time imposed an even harsher "eye for an eye" ending than in any previous or future version. The acting is sincere, if not great. Rita Hayworth is an excellent choice for Carmen; unfortunately,the producers were trying for a follow-up to the smash hit "Gilda",so they again paired her with Glenn Ford, hilariously miscast as Don Jose, her soldier-lover. (It doesn't work this time.)The sets are very obviously studio bound,and no one will ever be fooled into thinking this was really shot in Spain. The dialogue verges on typical "B" picture dialogue;in fact, if you didn't know this was "Carmen", you WOULD think it was just a trashy-but-fun-to-watch melodrama in gorgeous Technicolor.