Caravan (1934)

Member of royal family is forced to marry a vagabond.

Director:

Erik Charell

Writers:

Melchior Lengyel, Robert Liebmann (novel),

Stars:

Charles Boyer, Loretta Young, Jean Parker

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Charles Boyer	...	Latzi
Loretta Young	...	Countess Wilma
Jean Parker	...	Timka
Phillips Holmes	...	Lt. von Tokay
Louise Fazenda	...	Governess Bessie Opitz
Eugene Pallette	...	Gypsy Chief
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Baron von Tokay
Charley Grapewin	...	Notary
Noah Beery	...	Innkeeper
Dudley Digges	...	Estate Administrator
Billy Bevan	...	Police Sergeant
Lionel Belmore	...	Station Master
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Carle	...	Majordomo
Adrienne D'Ambricourt	...	Minor Role

Storyline

The young Countess Wilma is forced to wed by midnight or lose her inheritance. Wilma impulsively chooses gypsy vagabond Latzi, offering him a huge sum of money if he'll consent. Swallowing his pride, Latzi agrees to the marriage, but soon Wilma falls in love with the young Lieutenant Von Tokay who is himself in love with Latzi's gypsy sweetheart Timka.

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Plot Keywords:

gypsy | lieutenant | countess | police sergeant | sergeant | 

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Taglines:

Their music made love - their love was like music

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Genres:

Musical

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 December 1934 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Caravana

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Alternate-language version of Caravane (1934)

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Soundtracks

"Happy, I Am Happy"
Lyrics by Gus Kahn
Music by Werner R. Heymann (as Werner Richard Heymann)
Copyright 1934 Movietone Music Corporation

User Reviews

Odd fusion of the US and German musical.

The swallowing of the William Fox product, by the Twentieth Century Fox company which followed it, made this one vanish for the better part of (gulp) a century but dodgy DVD has brought it back - a major clue in the mystery of Erich Charrell, director of the greatest Operetta film CONGRESS DANCES and author of that amiable repertory standard "White Horse Inn," who made only these two films.

For the first part it looks like an over produced return to CONGRESS, even using a couple of the Viennese waltz numbers from that score and swimming in unnecessary costume extras. The predictable plot unites gypsy fiddler Boyer with city-raised heiress Young, who refuses an arranged marriage with C. Aubrey Smith's nephew. However once we get the scene where the army marches in to subdue the gypsy revolution and, on the order "Hands up!", Boyer's lot (who include a tame bear)raise musical instruments, as the girls pour out and pair with the troops, we can see the elements of the best films of Willi Forst or Ludwig Berger creep in. This starts with a minute plus single take. The arrival of the dissolute nephew, Philip Holmes uncharacteristically dashing, creates a genuine dramatic tension in the work as it becomes possible for Loretta to pair with either one.

The night, where Holmes finds "spirited" Jean Parker in the deserted gypsy camp, has the mood of ZOO IN BUDAPEST. This success could have had many fathers. However it disappeared from movie goer awareness and most physical distribution and never acquired the status of GREAT WALTZ.

The film could have been trimmed to advantage and it doesn't have the bite of Feyder's not dissimilar DAYBREAK but it certainly repays attention and leaves the viewer deploring the absence of more Charrell movies.