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La Sirene des tropiques (1927)
English: Siren of the Tropics
Directed by: Mario Nalpas, Henri Etievant
Starring: Josephine Baker, Pierre Batcheff, Regina Thomas
Length: 86 minutes
Genre: Drama / Romance
The first time Josephine Baker appears on my journey (and one of the only times), and this film from France shows that the French didn't have hangups about nudity even in the 1920s as Baker appears topless several times. Yes, of course that would be the first thing I point out!
Andre Berval (Pierre Batcheff) unfortunately is in love with the same woman his boss loves. In an effort to take his rival out of the picture, the boss sends Berval to Monte Puebla to explore for minerals. While there, Andre meets Papitou (Josaphine Baker), who falls for him. When Andre returns to Paris Papitou chases after him. However, she sees that Andre loves Denis (Regina Thomas), she stops pursueing him, but, due to her dancing ability, Papitou ends up becoming a star in show business.
Baker was born in St. Louis in 1906, but in the 1920s when she saw just how limited her oppurtinuties were because she was a black woman, she left the US for France where she became a star very quickly. She returned to the states in the mid 1930s to perform on Broadway, but bolted for Europe again when she saw that treatment towards black people had not changed.
Entertainment Rating: 6/10
Historical Rating: 6/10
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