Caravan (1934) DVD-R

Starring Charles Boyer, Loretta Young, Jean Parker, Phillips Holmes, Louise Fazenda,
Eugene Pallette, C. Aubrey Smith, Charley Grapewin, Noah Beery
Directed by Erik Charell

Print: black/white
Runtime: 101 min.
Genre: musical
Print Quality: B

Charles Boyer played his first major Hollywood role (and gets to sing in the bargain!) in the
oddball musical romance Caravan. A miscast Loretta Young stars as young Countess
Wilms, who is forced to wed by midnight or lose her inheritance. She impulsively chooses
gypsy vagabond Latzi (Boyer), offering him a huge sum of money if he'll consent. Swallowing
his pride, Latzi agrees to the marriage, but soon the coy Countess falls in love with young
Lieutenant Von Tokay (Philips Holmes) — who is himself in love with Latzi's gypsy
sweetheart Tinka (Jean Parker). Director Erik Charrell, famed for his European musical
productions (notably Congress Dances), seems uncomfortable adapting to the Hollywood
movie-making process. Though evidently intended to be taken seriously, there are times
that Caravan comes off like a parody of operettas: one half expects the stars to join in a
duet of Cole Porter's spoofish "Wunderbar."