Latin Lovers (1953 film)

Latin Lovers
Latin Lovers
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Mervyn LeRoy
Written by	Isobel Lennart
Produced by	Joe Pasternak
Starring	Lana Turner ; Ricardo Montalbán ; John Lund; Louis Calhern
Cinematography	Joseph Ruttenberg
Edited by	John McSweeney Jr.
Music by	Nicholas Brodszky
Color process	Technicolor
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	August 25, 1953;
Running time	104 min
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1,769,000
Box office	$2,089,000

Latin Lovers is a Technicolor 1953 romantic musical comedy film made by MGM. It was directed by Mervyn LeRoy, and written by Isobel Lennart. The music score is by Nicholas Brodszky, and the cinematographer was Joseph Ruttenberg.

Plot summary

Nora Taylor has a fortune worth $37 million, but fears men only want her for her money. The current man in her life is Paul Chevron, who is even wealthier than she is.

Paul delays further discussion of marriage until he returns from a trip to Brazil to play polo. After hearing that men who go to Brazil often fall for the beautiful women there, Nora decides to fly there and surprise Paul, taking along trusty secretary Anne.

It is she who meets a new romantic interest, dashing Roberto Santos, who sweeps her off her feet. Once again, though, Nora is concerned about whether it's her or her riches that attracts him, so she announces her intention to give away all her money. Roberto disagrees about that because he thinks money can make life easier, so Nora leaves him.

Having remained calm during Nora's distraction with a new man, Paul returns to the U.S. and proposes marriage to her. Nora realizes she is not in love with him and says so. Anne surprisingly declares her own love for Paul, saying when it comes to the heart, money shouldn't matter. Nora comes to her senses and returns to Roberto, saying she still intends to give all her money away, but to him.

Cast

Lana Turner as Nora Taylor
Ricardo Montalbán as Roberto Santos (credited as Ricardo Montalban)
John Lund as Paul Chevron
Louis Calhern as Grandfather Eduardo Santos
Jean Hagen as Anne Kellwood
Eduard Franz as Dr. Lionel Y. Newman
Beulah Bondi as Woman analyst
Joaquin Garay as Zeca
Archer MacDonald as Howard G. Hubbell
Dorothy Neumann as Mrs. Newman
Robert Burton as Mr. Cumberly
Rita Moreno as Christina
Gordon Richards as George, Paul's Butler
Bess Flowers as Engagement Party Guest
Pat Flaherty as Jim Webson - Polo Player

Notes

Fernando Lamas was originally cast in the role that Ricardo Montalbán played. Lamas and Lana Turner were lovers and when they broke up, she insisted he be replaced.^[2]