Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by AudioHead (A) on November 28, 2006 at 09:36:03

'Boy On a Dolphin'-1957, directed by Jean IIegulesco and starring Alan Ladd,
Sophia Loren and Clifton Webb is a romantic adventure set on and around the beautiful Greek island Hydra in the Aegean Sea. Loren, in her American film debut, plays poor, but voluptous Phaedra,a sultry sponge
diver who discovers an ancient Greek artifact, aka, Boy on A Dolphin,
and low-key suspenseful plot centers around her getting what she wants - actually a who - anthropologist Jim Caulder via statue. Bad
guy art collector Victor Parmalee (Webb)wants statue also, but Caulder
honorably wants it returned to Greek government. Phaedra's shiftless
Albanian lover, Rhif (Jorge Mistral) lends some heavy handedness due
possessiveness of Phaedra and alliance with Parmalee. Predictable happy ending
with both Phaedra and Caulder getting what they wanted. Beautiful
cinematography by Milton Krasner and scenic locale, with colorful underwater scenes. Lyrical score by Hugo Friedhofer and title theme song sung by Julie 'Cry Me A River'. Loren is without a doubt more
statuesque than the artifact and talented she is: that gal could
really sing and dance as well as act. Ladd is the casting weak spot,
he is too stiff and cold, providing too much dramatic contrast with
the emotional Loren and too short to boot! At 5'5" the little guy
was dwarfed by Sophia at 5'8&1/2".
Director IIegulesco did best he could to mask this vertical disparity,
Sophia in a trench, Ladd on a box! Robert Mitchum was originally planned to play Caulder,but pulled out and Ladd filled in. A shame,machismo-inclined
Mitchum would have added needed fiery chemistry (and masculine dominant heigth!)) tween Caulder and
Phaedra, helping to counter the film's somewhat lethargic suspense and sense
of adventure. AH's Rating: 2.75 out of 4 stars. Recommended viewing,
however, don't think it is available on DVD-VHS. Saw it on AMC Channel. ~AH