Mr. Imperium

Mr. Imperium
MGM, 1951, Color, 87 minutes, **½
Released March, 1951

Lush romantic tale starring Ezio Pinza as a charismatic prince who falls for aspiring nightclub singer Lana Turner. When Pinza becomes king of his country, their love is lost... until he meets her years later after she has become a Hollywood star. Marjorie Main, Debbie Reynolds and Sir Cedric Hardwicke also star. Songs by Harold Arlen and Dorothy Fields.

One of Debbie Reynolds' earlier appearances on screen. She doesn't sing or dance, but Ezio Pinza does. Also features Marjorie Main and Lana Turner.

This is another film that has fallen into public domain. Most prints being sold on home video are black and white, though the movie was filmed in Technicolor. The VHS tape I have has the portion of the credits referring to color photography (etc.) trimmed from the print! Amazing the lengths some companies will go to trying to dupe their customers! Of course, some color films were distributed in black and white in order to save money (especially for second runs), so I don't know if this tape is from a B/W print or not. At any rate, it's worth watching!

Produced by: Edwin H. Knopf
Directed by: Don Hartman
Screen Play by: Edwin H. Knopf and Don Hartman
From the play by Edwin H. Knopf
Musical Direction: Johnny Green
Background Musical Score: Bronislau Kaper
Songs: Music by Harold Arlen, Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Paul Groesse
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Associate: Richard A. Pefferle
Costumes Designed by: Walter Plunkett
Hair Styles Designed by: Sydney Guilaroff
Miss Turner's Hairstyles by Larry Germain
Make-Up Created by: William Tuttle
Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: George J. Folsey
Special Effects: Warren Newcombe
Film Editors: George White and William Gulick

Cast: Lana Turner [Fredda Barlo], Ezio Pinza [Mr. Imperium], Marjorie Main [Mrs. Cabot], Barry Sullivan [Paul Hunter], Cedric Hardwicke [Prime Minister Bernand], Keenan Wynn [Motor Cop], Debbie Reynolds [Gwen], Ann Codee [Anna Pelan], Wilton Graff [Andrew Bolton], Giacomo Spadoni [Giovanni], Chick Chandler [George Hoskins], Joseph Vitale [Bearded Man], Mae Clarke [Secretary], Don Haggerty [Director], Jimmy Cross [Assistant Director], Tony Marlo [Lackey], Cliff Clark [Restaurant Proprietor], Matt Moore [Gateman], Mitchell Lewis [Old Watchman], Richard Simmons [Air Corps Colonel], Trudy Erwin [singing voice for Lana Turner]

Musical Program: [0:02] My Love and My Mule (Trudy Erwin dubbing for Lana Turner); [0:14] Let Me Look at You (Ezio Pinza); [0:25] Andiamo (Ezio Pinza and Trudy Erwin dubbing for Lana Turner); [1:03] You Belong to My Heart (Ezio Pinza, Trudy Erwin dubbing for Lana Turner, and the Guadalajara Trio)