"Mr. Imperium" is one of the lesser musicals produced by MGM during the heyday of such films when that studio reigned as king of the genre. This is a type of fairy tale story with a prince from a small country in Europe falling for an American tourist and vice versa. But they are separated and she later becomes a big movie star. Years later they meet again, this time in California; but their love must once again be put on hold due to a crisis in the prince's kingdom.
While the plot's a little silly - more like the stuff of Disney animated films, it's a fair musical romance that stars Italian baritone opera singer, Ezio Pinza, and glamorous Hollywood star Lana Turner. Turner's singing was dubbed. This was Pinza's first lead role in cinema, and only one of four films in which he appeared. His star among American theater-goers had risen with his role as Emile de Becque in the Broadway debut and production of the 1949 smash Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, "South Pacific." His voice would later dub the singing of Rossano Brazzi in the 1958 musical film of the same title. It had the top box office of that year.
This film has a fine supporting cast that includes Marjorie Main of "Ma and Pa Kettle" fame, as Mrs. Cabot. Cedric Hardwicke plays Bernard, Barry Sullivan plays Paul Hunter and a young Debbie Reynolds (19 at the time) appears in just her fifth film. While modern audiences overall don't go for this type of film, those who like musicals and the old-fashioned type of Hollywood romance (yes, including some young folks today) should enjoy it. Just don't expect it to be anywhere near the scale of "South Pacific" or any of the other colossal musicals.
While the plot's a little silly - more like the stuff of Disney animated films, it's a fair musical romance that stars Italian baritone opera singer, Ezio Pinza, and glamorous Hollywood star Lana Turner. Turner's singing was dubbed. This was Pinza's first lead role in cinema, and only one of four films in which he appeared. His star among American theater-goers had risen with his role as Emile de Becque in the Broadway debut and production of the 1949 smash Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, "South Pacific." His voice would later dub the singing of Rossano Brazzi in the 1958 musical film of the same title. It had the top box office of that year.
This film has a fine supporting cast that includes Marjorie Main of "Ma and Pa Kettle" fame, as Mrs. Cabot. Cedric Hardwicke plays Bernard, Barry Sullivan plays Paul Hunter and a young Debbie Reynolds (19 at the time) appears in just her fifth film. While modern audiences overall don't go for this type of film, those who like musicals and the old-fashioned type of Hollywood romance (yes, including some young folks today) should enjoy it. Just don't expect it to be anywhere near the scale of "South Pacific" or any of the other colossal musicals.