Caravan * (1934, Charles Boyer, Loretta Young, Jean Parker) – Classic Movie Review 8695

Director Erik Charrell’s 1934 Caravan is a flop piece of musical romantic whimsy with a strained script and mediocre songs, and poor Charles Boyer struggling as Latzi, a Hungarian violinist trapped between Countess Wilma (Loretta Young) and gypsy girl Timka (Jean Parker).

Despite the attractions of the vintage cast, the movie is hopelessly dated, and the intended high spirits fall as flat as a pancake.

The screenplay by Samson Raphaelson and Melchoir Lengyel is based on the novel Gypsy Melody by Robert Liebmann.

Also in the cast are Phillips Holmes, Louise Fazenda, Eugene Palette, C Aubrey Smith, Charley Grapewin, Noah Beery Sr, Dudley Digges, Billy Bevan, Lionel Belmore, Richard Carle, Spencer Charters, Hank Mann, Paul McVey, Cora Sue Collins, Frank Sully, Harry Woods and Lynn Bari.

‘The Sweetest Things in Life (Wine Song)’, ‘Happy, I Am Happy’ and ‘Ha-Cha-Cha’ are written by Gus Kahn (lyrics) and Werner R Heymann (music).

Boyer also starred in a French version Caravane (1934), made back-to-back, with Annabella, Pierre Brasseur and Conchita Montenegro.

However, Boyer and Young proved a popular partnership and they reconvened for Shanghai (1935).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8695

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