Sunday, June 14, 2009

Radio review – Lux - “Trade Winds” (1940) ***

The 1938 Sam Goldwyn film was created in order to show off location footage of various exotic spots around the world; it’s chiefly remembered today if at all for being the movie where Joan Bennett changed her hair colour from blonde to brunette. Both these things are visual, so you might ask yourself “why do a radio play?”

 I couldn’t help feeling a big reason was to attract Errol Flynn, who is perfectly cast as the womanising, wonderlust detective who chases after Bennett. (You get the feeling Flynn would have loved to taken part in the film, especially the location stuff). 

The hokey story actually translates quite well – there is some bright dialogue, you can use your imagination for the locations, and Flynn and Bennett are enjoyable together. There’s also Mary Astor (wisecracker) and Ralph Bellamy (dumb ox) in a broad comic support performances, giving this real star power.

No comments: