It's early 19th century Spain. Carmen (Rita Hayworth) is one of the wild lawless persecuted gypsies. She attacks another woman with a knife. Earnest soldier Don José (Glenn Ford) takes her into custody. She escapes and he's punished while she's dancing for his superior officer García. Nevertheless, he continues to be completely taken with her. He gets pulled further and further into her world. García catches Don José with Carmen. The men get into a duel and García is killed.
This is a Rita Hayworth vehicle. She gets to do a dance and lip sync a song. She taps into her Spanish heritage even though some may complain about white washing. The actual white washing has to be Glenn Ford. Hayworth has her dance background to fall back on but Ford is terribly stiff. It's fine initially to be a soldier with a stiff upper lip. It gets harder and harder to show the needed passion. It's also too bad that this isn't more a song and dance musical. This is not anything more than what you expect for a hot red-headed Hayworth.
This is a Rita Hayworth vehicle. She gets to do a dance and lip sync a song. She taps into her Spanish heritage even though some may complain about white washing. The actual white washing has to be Glenn Ford. Hayworth has her dance background to fall back on but Ford is terribly stiff. It's fine initially to be a soldier with a stiff upper lip. It gets harder and harder to show the needed passion. It's also too bad that this isn't more a song and dance musical. This is not anything more than what you expect for a hot red-headed Hayworth.