Sangaree
Directed byEdward Ludwig
Written byDavid Duncan
Frank L. Moss
Based onnovel by Frank Slaughter
Produced byWilliam H. Pine
William C. Thomas
StarringFernando Lamas
Arlene Dahl
Patricia Medina
CinematographyLionel Lindon
Edited byHoward Smith
Music byLucien Cailliet
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • May 27, 1953 (1953-05-27)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.8 million (US)[1]

Sangaree is a 1953 American 3-D color period costume drama film by director Edward Ludwig. It was adapted from the 1948 novel of the same name by Frank G. Slaughter.[2][3]

The film stars Fernando Lamas and Arlene Dahl. The film is set during the American Revolution and focuses on an indentured servant, Dr. Carlos Morales, who rises to power in the state of Georgia. It was Paramount's first 3-Dimensional film release.[2]

Plot

On his death bed, old Revolutionary War general Darby bequeaths his Georgia estate, Sangaree, to a man he trusts, Dr. Carlos Morales, requesting that he seek freedom for servants and slaves.

The general's son Roy has no objection, but knows his sister Nancy is determined to keep Sangaree in the family. She and her fiancé, attorney Harvey Bristol, make it clear to Morales that he will have a fight on his hands.

Roy's wife, Martha, is secretly still in love with Morales, an old beau. Martha spreads the word that Nancy is in league with Felix Pagnol, a French pirate who is making raids off the Savannah coast. A plague outbreak also concerns Morales, who is running a free clinic.

Morales learns that Bristol has a business partnership with Pagnol the pirate and that Martha, not Nancy, is involved.

Bristol's warehouse, where the stolen goods are being kept, is the source of the plague so Morales burns it to the ground.

Martha contracts the plague and dies after shooting Bristol. Nancy joins forces with Morales to live together at Sangaree.

Cast

Production

The film was based on the novel by Frank G. Slaughter, which was published in 1948.[4] Slaughter was a doctor turned novelist who specialised in historical fiction.

Pine-Thomas Productions purchased the film rights in March 1952.[5] In June they hired Edward Ludwig to direct this and The Rebel.[6] (The latter would not be made.)

By November Arlene Dahl was set as the female lead and Pine and Thomas were trying to get Tyrone Power for the male star.[7] Eventually Fernando Lamas was borrowed from MGM.[8]

Filming started 17 January 1953.[9] Filming took place for ten days when Paramount chairman Adolph Zukor decided to halt, and start again in 3-D.[10][11] The new technique involved a deal of adjustment.[12][13]

"It was rather like doing a stage play," said Patricia Medina.[14]

Paramount later decided to make Red Garters in 3-D.[15]

It was the first of two films which Arlene Dahl and Fernando Lamas starred together.[2] They also appeared in The Diamond Queen released the same year. They were married from 1954-1960.[2]

David Duncan, who worked on the script, recalls visiting the set during filming. He noticed a sign which said "George Washington for President" and asked producer Bill Thomas to take it down as Washington did not become president until years after the film was set. Thomas halted production to do this but was upset when he discovered the sign would have been out of shot and was only put up as a joke.[16]

Reception

In February 1953 Paramount estimated the film would earn $1.5 million as a 3-D film and $500,000 as a 2-D film.[17]

Variety estimated the film earned $1.8 million at the North American box office during its first year of release.[1]

The film earned between $150,000 to $300,000 in France.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b "The Top Box Office Hits of 1953". Variety. 13 January 1954.
  2. ^ a b c d Sangaree at the American Film Institute Catalog
  3. ^ Pine-Thomas Purchase Best Seller; 'Bonanza' Will Boost Newer Stars Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 25 Feb 1952: B9.
  4. ^ Repeat Performances By HARVEY BREIT. New York Times 6 Apr 1952: BR33.
  5. ^ HOLLYWOOD IN REVIEW Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 2 Mar 1952: D3.
  6. ^ Drama: Hodiak Replaces O'Brien as Star of 'Battle Zone;' Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 11 June 1952: A11.
  7. ^ Lovejoy Will Portray Gambler in 'System' Hopper, Hedda. Los Angeles Times 1 Nov 1952: 12.
  8. ^ ROBSON TO DIRECT WHALING PICTURE New York Times 3 Dec 1952: 45.
  9. ^ Closer Linking Seen of Stage, Screen; Agar Named for Song Film Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times 31 Dec 1952: 7.
  10. ^ "3D Race". Variety. 28 January 1953. p. 18 – via Archive.org.
  11. ^ PARAMOUNT STARTS 3-DIMENSION MOVIE New York Times 27 Jan 1953: 22.
  12. ^ BEHIND THE 3-D SCREEN SCENES OF 'SANGAREE' By WILLIAM H. PINE and WILLIAM C. THOMAS. New York Times 31 May 1953: X3
  13. ^ "Far Exhib Rushes of 3-D Sangaree". Variety. 18 February 1953. p. 7 – via Archive.org.
  14. ^ Pat Flits From Nation to Nation, Film to Film, Dimension to Dimension Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 15 Mar 1953: D1.
  15. ^ STUDIOS PUSH FILMS IN STEREOSCOPICS New York Times 30 Jan 1953: 24.
  16. ^ Weaver, Tom (2006). Interviews with B Science Fiction and Horror Movie Makers: Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Moguls and Makeup. McFarland. p. 122. ISBN 9780786428588.
  17. ^ "3D Data". Variety. 7 October 1953. p. 22. Retrieved 22 September 2019 – via Archive.org.
  18. ^ "High Grossing Films". Variety. 1 December 1954. p. 13 – via Archive.org.

External links

Films directed by Edward Ludwig
Films of Pine-Thomas Productions
Categories