Sangaree (1953)

Sangaree: Directed by Edward Ludwig. With Fernando Lamas, Arlene Dahl, Patricia Medina, Francis L. Sullivan. Lamas plays an indentured servant who rises to power in Georgia shortly after the Revolutionary War.

“To my mind this is the most u0026quot;Hollywoodu0026quot; of all the Golden Age 3-D titles Iu0026#39;ve seen so far. I mean that as a compliment, of course. Itu0026#39;s sumptuous, vibrant, lusty, melodramatic, romantic, and it has exactly the characters (and actors playing them) youu0026#39;d want in period genre fare like this: the macho matinee hero, the strong-willed heroine who starts out antagonistic but eventually comes to see things the herou0026#39;s way, the hissable villains, the wildcard interlopers youu0026#39;re never too sure about.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAt least two plot twists blind-sided me, which is always good. The script is sharp enough and the material sturdy enough to keep me invested through repeat screenings. Itu0026#39;s a polished, colourful production thatu0026#39;s typical of the kind of literary costume romp the Hollywood studio system used to deliver on a good day. I enjoyed every minute of it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFernando Lamas is so perfectly cast itu0026#39;s almost untrue. His speech at the court hearing more than convinced me of Carlosu0026#39;s intelligence and his moral compass. Thereu0026#39;s also a Flynn-like ironic touch to his bravado; he knows exactly what the material is and how this well-educated-yet-two-fisted character should be played.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eArlene Dahl is at her best when sheu0026#39;s at her feistiest. She really lights up whenever a scene gets dramatic and tempers flare, though to be honest sheu0026#39;s very good throughout. Like Rhonda Fleming and Eleanor Parker, those other underrated redheads, sheu0026#39;s a far more accomplished actress than her cover girl looks might suggest.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003ePatricia Medina is one of the most gorgeous women Iu0026#39;ve ever seen. I think her character is the hardest to swallow, but she acquits herself admirably. This is a very competent cast indeed.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNumerous 3-D shots in Sangaree are strikingly composed. Two in the tobacco warehouse, umpteen at the ball, at least one in the courtroom, several crowd scenes indoors and outdoors, some views over the water: itu0026#39;s a varied and highly effective use of what was at the time a fledgling form of visual storytelling. Much has been made of the innovative early uses of sound, of colour, of the widescreen format, and the films that first managed to incorporate them seamlessly into the filmgoing experience. Iu0026#39;d place several 3-D shots from Sangaree alongside any moments from those in terms of seamlessness, artistry, and the sheer magic of experiencing a fresh dimension of cinema. Critics maintain that a 3-D film should be able to stand on its own without the extra dimension. Well, this one does, thank you very much, but itu0026#39;s so much more when viewed the way the filmmakers intended. All films should be afforded that right.”