Bolero *** (1934, George Raft, Carole Lombard, Sally Rand, William Frawley, Ray Milland, Frances Drake, Gertrude Michael) – Classic Movie Review 7975

Director Wesley Ruggles’s 1934 black and white Paramount Pictures romantic drama Bolero stars George Raft, who sparkles as a big-headed nightclub dancer, Raoul De Baere, who throws away his chance at love in favour of the soft-shoe shuffle from small dives to success in his own smart Paris club.

Carole Lombard delightfully co-stars as Helen Hathaway, a dance partner he can’t help falling for against his better judgment – he thinks women are trouble and anyway Helen loves Lord Robert Coray (Ray Milland). And it all goes pear-shaped and Raft’s Raoul ends up with a (perhaps symbolic) dodgy heart.

Fan-dancing Sally Rand, old William Frawley and young Milland bring the kind of enduring charm that keeps the daft, ancient tale bright. Bolero was hit of the day and the stars were paired again in Rumba (1935). As you would expect from the title, there is great dancing, including a dance performed on a circular stage to a shortened version of Ravel’s Bolero. But, oddly since they can do it, it is not always Raft and Lombard you see dancing. Adept dancer Raft had honed his skills as a taxi dancer in New York, dancing with women at clubs for ten cents a dance.

Ann Sheridan appears in a walk-on (billed under her real name as Clara Lou Sheridan). Also in the cast are Frances Drake, Gertrude Michael, Gloria Shea, Del Henderson, Frank G Dunn, Paul Panzer, Adolph Miller, Anne Shaw and John Irwin.

The screenplay by Carey Wilson, Kubec Glasmon and Horace Jackson is based on a play by Ruth Ridenour. There are two other films with the same title: Bolero (1981) and Bolero (1984) with Bo Derek.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7975

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