Customer Reviews

Affair in Trinidad [VHS]

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an excellent "Who-dun-it" starring Glenn Ford, Rita Hayworth, and Alexander Scourby. Rita's husband dies of an apparent suicide...BUT...was it really a suicide and not a murder. Glenn Ford is the dead man's brother who comes to Trinidad to investigate and catch the killer. Suspects are the widow herself and a rich man she has a relationship with. Others in the cast add mystery and there are a couple of musical numbers by Hayworth. Sort of Film Noir and a very good mystery. Worth watching.

I have seen Ford and Hayworth in movies (seperately) since World War II. The story is quite good, as are the script and the direction. The suspense and plot twists are interesting, and Rita Hayworth was very good in a fairly difficult role. I expected only a steamy romance vehicle, having seen repeatedly publicity so indicating for Gilda and for this picture. I was very pleased at the picture,including theTrinidadian blacks being so favorably and well protrayed for the time, and such roles being very well acted. And there is some chemistry there ! Maybe 3 1/2 stars out of 5 (I don't give many 5s).

Affair In Trinidad (1952) was made to re-team Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford who created such a sensation in Gilda in 1946. On it's own, Affair In Trinidad, is a very enjoyable Film Noir mystery thriller with a couple of steamy song and dance routines executed beautifully, as only Rita Hayworth can do. However, in a side by side comparison to Gilda, it is a disappointment, but still worth watching, none-the-less. For those of you who have never seen Gilda, do yourself a favor, and watch it. Gilda is one of the truly great films of the 1940s. You will not be disappointed in this Film Noir mystery thriller, with great performances, some snappy dialog and a few twists and turns that will hold your attention to the very end.

After her divorce from Prince Aly Khan, Rita Hayworth returned to America and Columbia immediately put her into this film, reuniting her with her favorite costar, Glenn Ford. Writer and producer of "Gilda" , Virginia Van Upp, was also on board, as was Stephen Geray who had portrayed Uncle Pio in the earlier film.

It is a noir along the lines of the aformentioned movie, with Rita portraying Trinidad cafe dancer Chris Emery, whose husband, Neal, is the owner of the joint. The authorities show up one evening after her dance routine to inform her that her spouse has apparently committed suicide. Although shocked, she later cooperates with police when they conclude that he actually was murdered and they ask her to help with the investigation. They suspect the wealthy playboy Max Fabian (Alexander Scourby), of the crime, and since he is infatuated with Chris, she can get close to him. Neal's older brother, Steve (Ford) arrives, unaware of his brother's death, but once he learns of it, he is determined to find out the truth. He is suspicious of Chris, but he is also attracted to her - something he tries to conceal. As Chris cannot reveal what she is up to, Steve begins to suspect that she knows more about Neal's death than she will admit. He is infuriated further by Fabian, who makes it no secret that he desires her. This leads to a showdown at the villain's mansion, with a strew of menacing, secondary characters to supply a sub-plot of spies and world control a la Gilda.

Although not quite on par with the earlier Hayworth/Ford teaming, this is an entertaining picture that should please the viewer in the way of suspense, intrigue, and of course, the electricity generated between the two stars. And the songs (Rita's vocals were dubbed by Jo Ann Greer), "Trinidad Lady", and "I've Been Kissed Before", steamy dance routines (created by Valerie Bettis, who appears as the wife of one of the spies), and the gowns by Jean Louis are definately a highlight.

Definately a must for Rita and Glenn fans.

Update - the film was released on region 1 DVD in 2008. Good to have it, although I thought it could have gotten more extras - but this is Columbia, so one shouldn't expect that to happen too often.

I saw AFFAIR IN TRINIDAD,it was worth every penny I paid for it-I guess what made me a fan of hers, was her"Trinidad lady" number-which was extremely hot,and by her doing the dance barefooted,it added an air of playfulness to the number:she kept making sure the audience saw her feet..and to be honest-they were very pretty.

The team of Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford of GILDA (1946) are back again in this classic movie which offers fans the chance to see these Legends on the silver screen once again! I personally enjoyed this movie and the chemistry between Hayworth and Ford.

The thriller plot with a beautiful woman under-cover and unable to respond to maligning suspicions seems to me to owe much to Hitchcock's sublime "Notorious." (The original murder mystery of the plot is never solved. Hitchcock would not have left that hanging.)



The noirish cinematography is excellent, though the editing cannot compare with that in "Notorious" (or "Gilda"). I find Glenn Ford's sanctimonious hard to take (here as elsewhere).

Primarily, however, this was a vehicle for the return of screenn goddess Rita Hayworth in 1952, after the collapse of her marriage to Ali Khan ended her early retirement. There is a sadness underlying many of Rita Hayworth's sultry performances (as in "Gilda").

She could most certainly dance! No one at the time credited her with being able to act, but she could do that, too. She was so mesmerizingly beautiful that she just had to be vapid, everyone seems to have thought. 34 years old when she made this film, she looked absolutely ravishing.

The film's costume design won an Academy Award, but in the (deservedly) best-remembered scene, she danced barefoot.

Rita Hayworth's movie comeback after a four-year absence, AFFAIR IN TRINIDAD (1952) saw the red-headed siren treading in territory that she'd previously covered in "Gilda"...an elaborate, nonsensical plot...exotic locations...steamy musical numbers...not to mention the same leading man.

When her husband is murdered, Chris Emery (Rita Hayworth), Trinidad's sultry singing sensation, is asked by the authorities to secretly spy on the chief suspect, influential businessman Max Fabian (Alexander Scourby). Complicating matters is the arrival of Emery's brother Steve (Glenn Ford), who is attracted to his lovely sister-in-law, and yet repulsed by her intimate relationship with the man clearly responsible for Emery's death.

Comparisons between AFFAIR IN TRINIDAD and the earlier "Gilda" aside ("Gilda" is an undisputed film noir classic) ...TRINIDAD carries it's own unique charms. In many ways, I actually prefer this movie to "Gilda"! It is a very solid noir melodrama, with a softer, more introverted Rita Hayworth. Co-starring with Glenn Ford for the fourth time, she's absolutely radiant in this film. Design-wise the film is a real treat, and Hayworth dazzles in Jean Louis fashions. Director Vincent Sherman (a favourite amongst the Joan Crawford and Bette Davis camps) securely handles the story. Valerie Bettis chews the scenery in a fun supporting role, and "Imitation of Life"'s Juanita Moore is Hayworth's mystical housekeeper.

Not a masterpiece by any means. Just a solid, enjoyable film. Recommended.

Affair in Trinidad was part of the film noir movement of the forties & fifties. It's not the greatest example of that genre but it's still very good. It stars the lovely Rita Hayworth & was her first film in four years. It also stars Glenn Ford who, in just a few more years, would become a box office bonanza. It's directed by the capable Vincent Sherman.

The film opens with an investigation into suicide. The husband (who's never seen) of Chris Emery (Hayworth) is found dead in his boat. It's ruled as a suicide but Inspector Smythe (Torrin Thatcher) doesn't really believe it. He's gotten another statement from one of the local fishermen that leads him to believe otherwise. Smythe & Anderson, the American Ambassador, go to the club where Chris works to inform her of her husband's death. Here we are treated with a performance number by Chris that's a burner. It's interesting to note that all the dance routines were choreographed by Valerie Bettis who portrays Veronica in the film.

Steve Emery (Ford) is introduced on an airplane that's flying to Trinidad. He has a letter from his brother, who he doesn't know is dead, inviting him down for a job as a pilot. Steve meets one of the co=conspirators on the plane, Bronec (Walter Kohler), who has an unusual reaction when Steve asks him does he know his brother.

Apparently, there's some international intrigue going on in Trinidad & Max Fabian (Alexander Scourby) is behind it all. He has a past of doing this sort of thing previously. Inspector Smythe believes it's Fabian behind the death of Chris's husband. He enlists her aid to get the necessary evidence so that he can arrest Fabian. A sham coroner's inquest is held where the death is ruled as a suicide. Steve doesn't believe a word of what he hears about his brother & initiates his own search for the truth. This puts him at odds with Chris & the inspector. Chris & Steve end up in a love-hate relationship that's resolved at the end of the film.

Juanita Moore (Dominique) has an excellent role as Chris's house servant. She seems to intuitively know things about Chris & Steve. It's great to see a decent role for a non-white actress that's more than a caricature this early (1952) in Hollywood's history.

Affair in Trinidad isn't the best example of film noir, maybe it should be viewed more as a spy thriller. It's a very good film & it's always a treat to watch the lovely Hayworth.

Columbia Pictures presents "AFFAIR IN TRINIDAD" (1952) ~ (98 min/B&W) ~ Starring: Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, Alexander Scourby, Valerie Bettis & Torin Thatcher

Directed by Vincent Sherman

When Steve Emery (Ford) arrives in Trinidad at the urgent request of his brother, he is stunned to find that his brother has not only been murdered, but that his brother's wife Chris (Hayworth) is succumbing to the seduction attempts of the murderer. His feelings are further exacerbated when he discovers that he, too, is becoming strongly attracted to Chris, who is a steamy cabaret singer. She, in turn, is playing off one against the other while betraying the secrets of both men to the police (Thatcher), for whom she is secretly working.

Oscar Nominated Best Costume Design, Black-and-White (Jean Louis)

Hayworth at her best!

Special footnote: ~ The song "Rum and Coca Cola" by The Andrews Sisters was originally a calypso song composed and performed by a Trinidad calypso band in the mid-1940s. At that time the American military maintained two bases in Trinidad. The song is about the soldiers from these bases and how a mother and daughter provided "pleasure" for the "Yankee dollar". Actually, if one walked around Port of Spain - Trinidad's capital city - during this period it was a common sight to see American soldiers and sailors with local women at hotels and bars ~ Hayworth practiced hard to try and do her own singing, but finally Morris Stoloff hired Jo Ann Greer to dub Rita's voice. Greer and Hayworth worked well together and she later dubbed Rita in "Miss Sadie Thompson" and "Pal Joey" ~

BIOS:
1. Vincent Sherman [Director]
Date of Birth: 16 July 1906 - Vienna, Georgia
Date of Death: 18 June 2006 - Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California

2. Rita Hayworth [aka: Margarita Carmen Cansino]
Date of Birth: 17 October 1918 - Brooklyn, New York
Date of Death: 14 May 1987 - New York City, New York

3. Glenn Ford (aka: Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford)
Date of Birth: 1 May 1916 - Sainte-Christine, Quebec, Canada
Date of Death: 30 August 2006 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County, California

4. Alexander Scourby
Date of Birth: 13 November 1913 - Brooklyn, New York
Date of Death: 22 February 1985 - Newtown, Connecticut

5. Torin Thatcher
Date of Birth: 15 January 1905 - Bombay, British India (now Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)
Date of Death: 4 March 1981 - Thousand Oaks, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 98 min on DVD ~ Columbia Pictures ~ (September 23, 2008)