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Sombrero (film)

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Wikipedia article




'Sombrero' is a 1953 American musical romance film directed by Norman Foster and starring Ricardo Montalbn, Pier Angeli, Vittorio Gassman and Cyd Charisse.

Plot



Three couples involved in budding romances are caught in the middle of a feud between two Mexican villages.

Cast



Production



The film was based on the 1945 book 'Mexican Village' by Josefina Niggli. It was a collection of 11 short stories set in the north Mexican town of Hidalgo.Mexicans of the North: The Bookshelf, W.K.R. 'The Christian Science Monitor' 3 Nov 1945: 20. 'The New York Times' called it "remarkable...one of the finest books about Mexico."Books of the Times: Easy and Delightful Reading Exotic and Colorful Goings On By ORVILLE PRESCOTT. 'New York Times' 16 Oct 1945: 27.

In June 1951, MGM announced they had bought the screen rights as a "possible vehicle for Ricardo Montalbn" and assigned Jack Cummings to produce.METRO WILL FILM 'MEXICAN VILLAGE': Studio Buys Niggli's Novel About Life in Hidalgo as a Story for Montalbn By THOMAS F. BRADY 'New York Times' 5 June 1951: 49. In July, Norman Foster was signed to direct and co-write the script with Niggli; the cast was Montalbn, Cyd Charisse and Fernando Lamas, plus one American Joseph Cotten, Wendell Corey and John Hodiak were the favorites for this.Drama: Gloria Swanson Again to Play Actress; 'Strike Match' Bids Laughton, Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 2 July 1951: B7. (Both Cummins and Foster had made movies in Mexico.) Eventually the role of an American character was removed. Niggli and Foster collaborated on the script over six months.

In April 1952, Cornel Wilde was being sought for a lead role. By this stage the title of the film had changed from 'Mexican Village' to 'Sombrero'.'Julius Caesar' Slated for Summer; Evelyne Asther's Debut Likely, Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 28 Apr 1952: B9. Vittorio Gassman, Pier Angeli and Ava Gardner joined the cast; it was Gassman's second American film after 'The Glass Wall'.A.F.L. FILM COUNCIL URGES BAN ON REDS: Hollywood Union Group Asks Action 'to Control or Outlaw the Communist Party' By THOMAS M. PRYOR 'New York Times' 23 Apr 1952: 25. Gardner dropped out in late April and was put on suspension by MGM (lifted when she agreed to make 'Mogambo').Film With Spain Locale Named for Cummings; Carey Plans Novel Story Schallert, Edwin. 'Los Angeles Times' 29 Apr 1952: B9.

Then Lamas refused to make the film because it meant going on location in Mexico; MGM suspended him until he agreed to star in 'The Girl Who Had Everything'.LAMAS TO CO-STAR WITH MISS TAYLOR: Metro Lifts Suspension of Actor, Who Will Appear in 'Girl Who Had Everything' 'New York Times' 30 June 1952: 14. By May, Yvonne de Carlo, Nina Foch and Kurt Kaznar joined the cast.COURT DENIES PLEA IN JARRICO ACTION 'New York Times' 16 May 1952: 18. Rick Jason joined the cast (presumably replacing Lamas), making his film debut. Dore Schary said he expected Gassmann and Jason to become big stars.Looking at Hollywood: Olivia De Havilland Will Star in 'My Cousin Rachel' Film Hopper, Hedda. 'Chicago Daily Tribune' 2 June 1952: a5.

Filming started June 1952. The movie was shot on location in Mexico City, Cuernavaca, Tetecala and Tepoztln, Mexico.FOCUS ON 'SOMBRERO' BELOW THE BORDER By JOHN ROTHWELL 'New York Times' 28 Sep 1952: X4.

De Carlo did all her scenes with Gassman. "We got along wonderfully," she said. "He's a wonderful actor."YVONNE Marches on! Hopper, Hedda. 'Chicago Daily Tribune' 5 Oct 1952: g9.

Reception



Box office

According to MGM records, the film earned $1,071,000 in the U.S. and Canada, and $1,389,000 in other markets, resulting in a profit of $592,000.

Proposed follow-up movie



In September 1952, before the film was released, MGM announced Foster would write a follow-up movie based on three or four other stories in the collection 'Mexican Village' that were not used in 'Sombrero', but no film was made.

References




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