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La Habanera

  • 19371937
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
570
YOUR RATING
La Habanera (1937)
Drama
Trapped in Puerto Rico, a beautiful young Swede is torn between her passionate, but mildly abusive Caribbean oligarch husband and her longing for her European homeland.Trapped in Puerto Rico, a beautiful young Swede is torn between her passionate, but mildly abusive Caribbean oligarch husband and her longing for her European homeland.Trapped in Puerto Rico, a beautiful young Swede is torn between her passionate, but mildly abusive Caribbean oligarch husband and her longing for her European homeland.
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
570
YOUR RATING
    • Douglas Sirk
    • Gerhard Menzel
  • Stars
    • Zarah Leander
    • Ferdinand Marian
    • Karl Martell
    • Douglas Sirk
    • Gerhard Menzel
  • Stars
    • Zarah Leander
    • Ferdinand Marian
    • Karl Martell
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 15User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos48

    Zarah Leander and Karl Martell in La Habanera (1937)
    Zarah Leander in La Habanera (1937)
    La Habanera (1937)
    Zarah Leander in La Habanera (1937)
    La Habanera (1937)
    La Habanera (1937)
    La Habanera (1937)
    La Habanera (1937)
    La Habanera (1937)
    La Habanera (1937)
    La Habanera (1937)
    La Habanera (1937)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Zarah Leander
    Zarah Leander
    • Astree Sternhjelm
    Ferdinand Marian
    Ferdinand Marian
    • Don Pedro de Avila
    Karl Martell
    Karl Martell
    • Dr. Sven Nagel
    Julia Serda
    • Tante Ana Sternhjelm
    Boris Alekin
    • Dr. Luis Gomez
    Paul Bildt
    Paul Bildt
    • Dr. Pardway
    Edwin Jürgensen
    • Shumann
    Carl Kuhlmann
    • Prefect
    Michael Schulz-Dornburg
    • Little Juan de Avila
    Rosita Alcaraz
    • Spanish dancer
    Lisa Helwig
    • Rosita - Don Pedro's old servant
    Géza Földessy
    • Chauffeur
    • (as Geza von Foeldessy)
    Franz Arzdorf
    • Doctor #1 in Puerto Rico
    Roma Bahn
    • Ebba
    Günther Ballier
    • Steward
    Bob Bauer
    • Ship Officer
    Louis Brody
    • Passerby
    Werner Finck
    Werner Finck
    • Mr. Söderblom
      • Douglas Sirk
      • Gerhard Menzel
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Finnish censorship visa # 201303.
    • Goofs
      There are two scenes in the film where currency is shown. The notes are visibly the wrong size to be US currency. As further visual confirmation that this cannot be US currency, the notes vary in size by denomination. The film is set in Puerto Rico, which is a US territory and has used US dollars as currency exclusively since 1913.
    • Quotes

      Astree Sternhjelm: You know, I turned back at the last moment ten years ago as the steamer was casting off. The island seemed to me like a paradise back then. Later, it came to seem like hell.

      Dr. Sven Nagel: And now?

      Astree Sternhjelm: Now? I have no regrets.

      Dr. Sven Nagel: Regret is always foolish.

      Astree Sternhjelm: La Habanera...

    • Connections
      Edited into Bellaria - So lange wir leben! (2002)
    • Soundtracks
      El Viento me una ha Cantado
      Music by Lothar Brühne

      Sung by Zarah Leander

    User reviews15

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Good acting with an OK storyline.
    The acting was good, and convincing enough . Ferdinand Marian as the jealous husband plays his part well, and does seem a little crazy. Zarah Leander as one of the leading actresses in Germany did well too, though I reckon most of her roles are similar in that she needs to act cool, and sing with her characteristic deep voice. Leander can be seen as a substitute for Marlene Dietrich who left for America, and Leander's role here reminds me of Dietrich's role in Blonde Venus. There are some similarities to both narratives as well as both women's role as a mother. Karl Martell and Boris Alekin were pretty much the only ones who seemed to brighten up the film with their charismatic persona.

    The story was interesting enough for the most part, though it is interesting to analyse the film in terms of Nazi propaganda. The Puerto Ricans are depicted as uncivilized, rough and corrupt, while the Swedish (ultimately the Germans) are seen in clean environments and depicted as rich, gentlemanly and having better technology. Plus, the son is the ideal image of an Aryan. Coincidence? I think not! (Leander's character is established as Swedish so as to divert any accusations that this film is Nazi propaganda. I really didn't think about this at all, but that is what my professor says, and it makes sense)

    Though the ending does cause some confusion. Asteree says she has no regrets, but throughout the film she complains miserably about how she wasted her life there. Making the message at the end a little ambiguous.

    Read more movie reviews at: championangels.wordpress.com
    helpful•2
    3
    • nicolechan916
    • Nov 11, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 30, 1937 (Slovenia)
      • Germany
      • German
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
    • Production company
      • Universum Film (UFA)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 38 minutes
      • Black and White

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