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IMDbPro

White Cargo

  • 19421942
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
721
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
37,868
13,013
Hedy Lamarr and Walter Pidgeon in White Cargo (1942)
AdventureDrama
The story takes place at a British plantation in Africa where Tondelayo entices all the Brits, especially Harry Witzel.The story takes place at a British plantation in Africa where Tondelayo entices all the Brits, especially Harry Witzel.The story takes place at a British plantation in Africa where Tondelayo entices all the Brits, especially Harry Witzel.
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
721
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
37,868
13,013
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Richard Thorpe
    • Writers
      • Ida Vera Simonton(novel "Hell's Playground")
      • Leon Gordon(play)
    • Stars
      • Hedy Lamarr
      • Walter Pidgeon
      • Frank Morgan
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Richard Thorpe
    • Writers
      • Ida Vera Simonton(novel "Hell's Playground")
      • Leon Gordon(play)
    • Stars
      • Hedy Lamarr
      • Walter Pidgeon
      • Frank Morgan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 34User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Photos64

    Hedy Lamarr in White Cargo (1942)
    Hedy Lamarr and Richard Carlson in White Cargo (1942)
    Hedy Lamarr and Frank Morgan in White Cargo (1942)
    Richard Carlson, Frank Morgan, Henry O'Neill, and Walter Pidgeon in White Cargo (1942)
    Hedy Lamarr and Walter Pidgeon in White Cargo (1942)
    Hedy Lamarr and Richard Carlson in White Cargo (1942)
    Hedy Lamarr, Richard Carlson, and Walter Pidgeon in White Cargo (1942)
    Hedy Lamarr, Richard Carlson, and Walter Pidgeon in White Cargo (1942)
    Hedy Lamarr and Walter Pidgeon in White Cargo (1942)
    Hedy Lamarr and Walter Pidgeon in White Cargo (1942)
    Hedy Lamarr and Walter Pidgeon in White Cargo (1942)
    Hedy Lamarr and Richard Carlson in White Cargo (1942)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Hedy Lamarr
    Hedy Lamarr
    • Tondelayo
    Walter Pidgeon
    Walter Pidgeon
    • Harry Witzel
    Frank Morgan
    Frank Morgan
    • The Doctor
    Richard Carlson
    Richard Carlson
    • Mr. Langford
    Reginald Owen
    Reginald Owen
    • Skipper of the Congo Queen
    Henry O'Neill
    Henry O'Neill
    • The Reverend Dr. Roberts
    Bramwell Fletcher
    Bramwell Fletcher
    • Wilbur Ashley
    Clyde Cook
    Clyde Cook
    • Ted - First Mate of the Congo Queen
    Leigh Whipper
    • Jim Fish
    Oscar Polk
    Oscar Polk
    • Umeela
    Darby Jones
    Darby Jones
    • Darby - The Doctor's Houseboy
    Richard Ainley
    Richard Ainley
    • Mr. Worthing
    Ed Allen
    • Native Drug Seller
    • (uncredited)
    John Burton
    • Jim Benson
    • (uncredited)
    Jim Davis
    Jim Davis
    • Seaplane Pilot
    • (uncredited)
    Delos Jewkes
    Delos Jewkes
    • Native Singer
    • (uncredited)
    Martin Wilkins
    • Native Prisoner
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Richard Thorpe
    • Writers
      • Ida Vera Simonton(novel "Hell's Playground")
      • Leon Gordon(play) (screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Because of the miscegenation aspects of the play (Tondelayo was a black woman), it was on the Production Code Administraiton's "condemned" list of sources not to be considered. A big outcry was heard when the British film, based on the same sources, was released in New York in March, 1930, because it was deemed to violate the spirit of the Hays decree. MGM hired playwright Leon Gordon to adapt his play for the screen; he changed Tondelayo's parentage to half Egyptian and half Arab, and it was eventually given an approved certificate. Still, the movie was placed on the Legion of Decency's condemned list, and the film was banned in Singapore and Trinidad because of its racial implications.
    • Goofs
      The doctor hands a small bottle to Tondelayo and describes it only as "new medicine." However, when giving a dose to her husband she calls it "quinine" - a medical term she would unlikely know with her limited command of English.
    • Quotes

      Tondelayo: [entering for the first time, seductively] I am Tondelayo.

    • Connections
      Edited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972)
    • Soundtracks
      The Wedding March
      (1843) (uncredited)

      from "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Op.61"

      Written by Felix Mendelssohn

      Played briefly on a concertina by Reginald Owen

    User reviews34

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Showcases The Legendary Beauty of Hedy Lamarr!
    This film certainly was not one of the best films of 1942. However, I do believe it succeeds as purely escapist entertainment. Yes, the plot was silly, the script was poor, and the performances were mostly indifferent; but Hedy's entrance, with the line 'My name is Tondelayo', became a vintage moment in film history. She was a beguiling and breathtakingly beauty, and she seemed to enjoy this role. Hedy made this a major box-office hit in 1942, and became a pin-up favorite of many WW2 vets. This was a showcase for Hedy's beauty, as previously noted the cinematography was very good. Note, the use of shadows against Hedy's face, to accentuate every incredible feature. The one thing that annoyed me, was the insufferably long and boring 30 minutes or more, before Hedy made her entrance

    All criticisms aside though, a film like this needs to be viewed, within the context of escapist film entertainment, circa 1942. The studios were cranking out many more films than they do today. The world was within the grips of the worst war in history, and nearly half of the country's population was going to the movies, at least once a week! There were great films being released, but most films were released just to entertain audiences, who would then have an excuse to buy popcorn and perhaps a soda. So this campy movie was made, with Hedy Lamarr as the incredibly beautiful and seductive Tondelayo, and made millions for MGM. Thus, 'White Cargo' with legendary beauty Hedy Lamarr rates a 7/10, for providing some fairly mindless, but visually compelling entertainment.
    helpful•30
    6
    • wndlz
    • Dec 11, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 12, 1942 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tondelayo
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Hedy Lamarr and Walter Pidgeon in White Cargo (1942)
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