Review of The Baron of Arizona (1950) by Hm F — 16 Mar 2011
A whopper of a story is based on some truth, although I don't need to be too familiar with the real facts to see that the movie takes some liberties with history. Vincent Price commands the screen with his presence right away, already a natural at walking the fine between melodrama and comedy.
His continual use of the same lines of seduction "...but with you I feel afraid" is just classic in Price's hands. The story is crazy to follow but the cast manage to hold it together, as does some good production design, especially the Baron's office with a giant map of Arizona as its focal point.
Although Price comes off as a villain during his time seducing gypsies, countesses, impersonating monks, and finally committing one the cinema's most heinous examples of robbing the cradle, audiences can't help feeling sorry for him by the movie's end.
Its a wonder his wife still loves him by movie's end but amazingly enough so do we. Credit Vincent Price for this miracle.
This review of The Baron of Arizona (1950) was written by Hm F on 16 Mar 2011.
The Baron of Arizona has generally received positive reviews.
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