Affair in Trinidad *** (1952, Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford, Alexander Scourby, Valerie Bettis, Torin Thatcher) – Classic Movie Review 10,932

The 1952 black and white crime thriller film Affair in Trinidad re-teams the stars of the 1946 film noir masterwork Gilda, Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford. The star team still shines, but the Gilda magic proves elusive. 

Producer-director Vincent Sherman’a 1952 black and white crime thriller film Affair in Trinidad re-teams the stars of the 1946 film noir masterwork Gilda, Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford, six years later. The Gilda magic proves, perhaps inevitably, elusive.

Gorgeous Rita Hayworth plays a Trinidad chanteuse nightclub singer searching for her husband’s killer, a spy ring boss (Alexander Scourby), with the help of the local police inspector (Torin Thatcher) and her brother-in-law (Glenn Ford).

The Gilda star team still shines, but Sherman’s espionage thriller is not a particularly special affair, largely because of its flimsy, cliché-ridden plot and routine scripting. However, it does have moderate noir charms, and Hayworth does get to perform, though not sing, two numbers written by Lester Lee and Bob Russell – ‘Trinidad  Lady’ and ‘I’ve Been Kissed Before’ (both dubbed by Jo Ann Greer).

Jean Louis was an Oscar nominee for Best Costume Design, Black-and-White.

The screenplay is by Oscar Saul and James Gunn, based on a story by Virginia Van Upp and Berne Giler.

Co-star Valerie Bettis plays Veronica Huebling and is also the choreographer of Rita Hayworth’s numbers.

Also in the cast are Alexander Scourby, Torin Thatcher, Valerie Bettis, Steven Geray, Karel Stepanek, George Voskovec, Howard Wendell, Walter Kohler, Juanita Moore, Gregg Martell, Mort Mills, Robert Boon, Ralph Moody, Ross Elliott and Don Kohler.

The Lady in Question  (1940) is the first of five films teaming Ford and Hayworth appeared together, followed by Gilda (1946), The Loves of Carmen (1948), Affair in Trinidad (1952) and The Money Trap (1965). Their liaison developed into a lifelong friendship.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 10,932

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