Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beware this Amazon listing error!, October 11, 2004
I finally tracked this movie down last week after trying to buy it twice on Amazon. For such a rare film, it seemed odd that there were so many copies for sale. It turns out there is a listing error on this site. It seems that whenever a seller tries to list the Ronald Reagan film CAVALRY CHARGE, it comes out listed under TAMANGO. If you order one of these $13 items, you will get CAVALRY CHARGE in the mail. If you are ordering TAMANGO, either look for a more expensively listed item or one where the seller mentions the film itself in the description.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dorothy Dandridge saves the movie..., March 30, 2001
Tamango is the story of a slave ship, during the early 1800's, on a voyage to Cuba. Curd Jürgens plays the captain of the slave ship ~ Dorothy Dandridge plays Aiche, a mulatto/mixed slave who is also the Captain's lover. When a new slave, Tamango (played by an unknown actor, Alex Cressan) comes aboard, he plans (with the help of the other slaves) to take over the ship so they can return back to Africa to become free again. While they manage to take over part of the ship, they don't do as well as they planned; but they have taken Aiche hostage. Aiche must choose to help her fellow slaves, or the Captain (who happens to own her, although he doesn't mistreat her and gives her special treatment). Dorothy looks beautiful as usual (she grew her hair long for the role) and her acting talent shines all through out the film. However, I am dissapointed at how cheap the movie was made. A lot of the actors voices have been dubbed (their mouths don't match what they are saying) and the sound and picture quality is not very good. Also, the ending kind of leaves you wanting more. "Tamango" never became very popular because sadly in 1959, it was banned in the United States because of the depiction of interracial romance.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dandridge and Two Worlds, September 22, 2004
A story of a revolt on a slave ship was actually around prior to the more recent Amistad but unfortunately, few seemed to have much interest in it judging from the limited distribution of this film when it first appeared in the conservative atmosphere of the 50's. It was actually banned in France. The objection of course, was the interracial relationship between slave ship captain Curt Jurgens and his slave mistress Aiche (Dorothy Dandridge). When a revolt occurs, Dandridge as a marginalized person tries to stay uninvolved, even though she has some attraction to the revolt leader Tamango. She is not really liked by the African captives as she has "given" herself to the white captain and is, of course, viewed as a slave by the white crew members. Curt Jurgens, as a slave ship captain is obviously not the nicest person in the world but seems to have some genuine affection for Aiche and treats her comparatively well. Aiche has suppressed bitter resentment about her slave origins and treatment by former masters and still has hopes for a possible future better life with Jurgens, even after she finds out he has plans to wed a white woman and live in Holland. However, when confronted he claims he will stay with Aiche and even make her a free woman. When the revolt begins she is forced to make a decision where her loyalties lie and tragedy occurs.
There are a few problems with this film beyond low budgeting. The African captives, Jurgens and crew, all mysteriously speak the same language to each other. 1820 muskets are never seen being re-loaded but continue to fire anyway. But technical issues aside, it is still a film with some impact. Jurgens swaggers well as the captain and Dandridge is appealing as Aiche. A pity that the public was not ready for it when it was released and that it is currently not well known. Not to be missed by any Dandridge fan or those wanting to examine the horrors of slavery.
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