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Casbah (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Casbah' is a 1948 American film noir crime musical film directed by John Berry starring Yvonne De Carlo, Tony Martin, Peter Lorre, and Mrta Torn. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song "For Every Man There's a Woman".
It is a musical remake of 'Algiers' (1938), which was in turn an American remake of the French film 'Pp le Moko' (1937).
Plot
Pp le Moko (Tony Martin) leads a gang of jewel thieves in the Casbah district of Algiers, where he has exiled himself to escape imprisonment in his native France. Inez (Yvonne De Carlo), his girl friend, is infuriated when Pp flirts with Gaby (Mrta Torn), a French visitor, but Pp tells her to mind her own business.
Detective Slimane (Peter Lorre) is trying to lure Pp out of the Casbah so he can be jailed. Against Slimane's advice, Police Chief Louvain (Thomas Gomez) captures Pp in a dragnet, but his followers free him. Inez realizes that Pp has fallen in love with Gaby and intends to follow her to Europe. Slimane knows the same and uses her as the bait to lure Pp out of the Casbah.
Cast
* Yvonne De Carlo Inez
* Tony Martin Pp Le Moko
* Peter Lorre Slimane
* Mrta Torn Gaby
* Hugo Haas Omar
* Thomas Gomez Louvain
* Douglas Dick Carlo
* Herbert Rudley Claude
* Gene Walker Roland
* Curt Conway Maurice
* Katherine Dunham Odette
'Cast notes:'
* Eartha Kitt plays an uncredited bit part. This was her film debut.
* Kathleen Freeman plays an uncredited American Woman
Production
The film was made by Marston Productions, Tony Martin's production company, who signed a deal with Universal. Tony Martin was keen to re-establish himself in the film industry after having been blacklisted in the entertainment industry since being discharged from the Navy for "unfitness" in 1942. He was charged with buying a Navy officer a car to facilitate his obtaining a chief specialists rating."TAX COURT RULES FOR TONY MARTIN ON BAD DEBT COUNT" 'Chicago Daily Tribune' 28 Oct. 1955: 3.
It was the first production from Marston, which Martin owned with his agent, Nat Gould. The Bank of America lent $800,000 to finance the film; Universal provided some of the balance.
Yvonne de Carlo signed to play the female lead in June 1947."DRAMA AND FILM: Noyes Poem Purchased; De Carlo, Martin Lead" Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 9 June 1947: A7. Erik Charrell was to produce, William Bowers was to write the script and Harold Arlen to do the music."WARNERS TO FILM PLAY BY KINGSLEY: Pays $250,000 for 'Patriots,' Which Bretagne Windust Will Direct in Debut" By THOMAS F. BRADY 'New York Times' 9 June 1947: 27. John Berry signed to direct."SELZNICK HAS FILM FOR SWEDISH ACTOR: Producer Will Star Alf Kjellin in 'Tender Is the Night' -- Picture Due Next Year" By THOMAS F. BRADY 'New York Times' 5 Aug. 1947: 27.
Mrta Torn made her film debut here."SMALL CONCLUDES A RELEASING DEAL: Columbia Will Distribute His 'Fuller Brush Man,' Starring Skelton -- Simon to Direct" By THOMAS F. BRADY 'New York Times' 16 Sept. 1947: 27.
Soundtrack
Songs by Harold Arlen (music) and Leo Robin (lyrics).
* "For Every Man There's a Woman", sung by Tony Martin.
* "Hooray for Love", sung by Tony Martin and Yvonne De Carlo.
* "It Was Written in the Stars", sung by Tony Martin.
* "What's Good About Goodbye", sung by Tony Martin.
Reception
The film only recouped $600,000 of its negative cost. By September 24, 1949 the film had earned rentals of $1,092,283.
Lawsuits
Marston sued Universal in January 1949 for $250,000, alleging improper distribution. Universal counter-sued in May for $325,439, including the $320,439.25 Universal provided to the filmmakers, and $5,000 which Universal claimed Marston distributed contrary to their agreement."U-I ASKS DAMAGES ON 'CASBAH' FILM: Studio Seeks $325,439 and Foreclosure Decree Against Marston Productions" By THOMAS F. BRADY 'New York Times' 18 May 1949: 33.Universal succeeded in getting a court judgment against Marston of $350,000. A judge ordered that the film be sold to auction for $329,486."Television Aid in New Sales Field Disclosed" 'Los Angeles Times' 1 Feb. 1950: A2. Universal bought all rights to the film at public auction for $5,000. This purchase was subject to an unsatisfied lien against the property of $195,000 to the Bank of America.
Martin had to go to court again to argue (successfully) that he was entitled to claim his loss on the film as a tax deduction.
Awards
In 1949, the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song "For Every Man There's a Woman" by Harold Arlen (music) and Leo Robin (lyrics).References
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