MartinHafer "Latin Lovers" is a tough movie to love. After all, the main character, Nora (Lana Turner), is very rich AND very arrogant. Through much of the film she seems to think she is entitled due to her money...yet she also is worried a man might want her for her money. Oddly, despite this, she is uninterested in marrying her long-time boyfriend (John Lund)...who is even richer than her.When the boyfriend goes to Brazil to play polo, she follows and soon is smitten with Roberto (Ricardo Montalban). She worries he, too, wants her money. And, when she tells him she's loaded, he's thrilled...futher convincing her that all men want is her cash, not her circa 1953 hot bod.In addition to Nora acting dumb and annoying through much of the film, the two men in her life aren't exactly prizes either--though you still often wonder WHAT they see in her! This is because Nora OFTEN gets angry and huffy and is as pleasant as a lion with a toothache. So, with some unlikable characters all you have left is the nice MGM gloss...which this one has in spades.

JLRMovieReviews Lana Turner has 37 million dollars. John Lund has 48 million. She feels he's about to pop the question and thought she wanted to marry him -- until now, that is. He has to go to Brazil to look at some ponies he's interested in buying and to play a little polo. During a night on the town, she is intrigued when she is asked to dance by a Brazilian (who just happens to be in town), and he tells her not to go to Brazil. "It would be dangerous for you. There's something about the air in Brazil. Men in Brazil see what they want and just take it." She hops on a plane, going after Lund, who she thinks will just take her (up in his arms.) But this air only puts John Lund to sleep. Enter Ricardo Montalban. While he is showing his horses to John Lund, she takes an instant liking to Ricardo….and he notices her. The looks he gives her are too much and she acts more passionate here than I've ever seen her. But will he be bothered by her money? Jean Hagen is good in a supporting role as her secretary, and John Lund is good as a stuffed shirt. Louis Calhern is great as Ricardo's grandfather, providing a touch of class. (A side note that many may not know: Not only was Louis Calhern also in Lana's "A Life of Her Own" and "The Prodigal" but, in "The Bad and the Beautiful," he provides the voice of her father's on the record that Kirk Douglas smashes.) This was supposed to be a reunion movie with Fernando Lamas. (They made "The Merry Widow" prior to this.) But since they were no longer together as a couple, she wanted someone else to play opposite her. This was a break for Ricardo, who looks like he is having the time of his life. (Even though that wasn't him really singing.) Rita Moreno dances the samba with him, teaching Lana how to do it right. But, Rita gets jealous of her real quick, when she discovers he likes Lana. With their attraction to each other and the way they move together, it almost seems like we shouldn't be watching.But, if you've never seen Lana and Ricardo, looking their best and complementing each other, then you're missing something. Granted the movie may get silly, like with her Portguese teacher who'll practically live or die for her. But who cares? "Latin Lovers" may be colorful fluff, but it's one of the best and most provocative colorful fluffs you're likely to see. Just sit back and enjoy!

moonspinner55 Shallow time-filler, directed by the estimable Mervyn LeRoy (who must have been a bit embarrassed), this picture-postcard travelogue-cum-romance should have put Ricardo Montalban on the map as a huge matinée idol. Montalban never quite broke the ethnic barrier to become a Valentino-type player in Hollywood, and filmdom certainly missed a prime opportunity. Montalban swaggers and struts and exudes mucho charisma as a horse rancher in Brazil who falls for vacationing heiress Lana Turner. Semi-musical piece of Hollywood factory gloss entertains in its fashion, but you'll be ashamed of yourself in the morning. Turner is so aloof that even Ricardo fails to melt her icy exterior, but the South American flavor is amusingly captured and the picture looks good enough to eat. ** from ****

s.knowles This is highly entertaining fluff. Lana Turner looks lovely, so it is probably carping to comment on her limited acting ability. Ricardo Montalban is suitably macho. The film is saved for me by the other actors with John Lund showing a deft comic touch and making his character more than one dimensional, which it surely would have been had the earlier choice, Michael Wilding played the role. Louis Calhern steals most of his scenes as Montalban's grandfather - the fact that he was only 25 years older apparently bothered no one. There are some nice touches in the writing and the costumes and cinematography are beautiful. All in all there is plenty to enjoy.