Watch Lady of the Tropics

Lady of the Tropics is a 1939 drama film directed by Jack Conway and starring Robert Taylor, Hedy Lamarr, and Joseph Schildkraut. The film follows the story of a wealthy plantation owner named Christopher Powell (Robert Taylor) who travels to Saigon to investigate his late father's assets. While he's there, he meets a young and beautiful French-Vietnamese woman named Manon deVargnes (Hedy Lamarr) who is being held captive by a group of unsavory characters. Powell falls in love with Manon but soon discovers that her past may be more complicated than he imagined.

The film is set against the backdrop of Vietnam during the first half of the 20th century, and it explores themes of colonialism, racism, and prejudice. Powell is initially portrayed as an ignorant and condescending American tourist who thinks he knows more about the Vietnamese people and their culture than he actually does. However, as he spends more time in Saigon and gets to know Manon, he begins to realize the error of his ways and learns to embrace the local customs and traditions.

The relationship between Powell and Manon is complicated by the fact that Manon is half-Vietnamese and half-French, which makes her a target of discrimination from both the Vietnamese and the French colonizers. Her mother was a Vietnamese woman who died when Manon was young, and her father is a French aristocrat who is ashamed of his mixed-race daughter. This leaves Manon in a vulnerable position, and she is taken advantage of by a group of corrupt men who force her to work as a nightclub singer and prostitute.

Joseph Schildkraut plays the main villain of the film, a wealthy and powerful businessman named Leon D'Algout who is obsessed with Manon and will stop at nothing to possess her. He uses his influence to keep her captive, and he threatens to expose her mixed-race heritage if she does not comply with his demands. Schildkraut's performance is intense and chilling, and he does an excellent job of portraying the ruthlessness and cunning of his character.

The film is notable for its use of Technicolor, which was still a relatively new technology at the time. The vibrant colors and exotic landscapes of Vietnam are shown in rich detail, and the film is visually stunning from start to finish. The musical numbers are also a highlight of the film, with Hedy Lamarr performing several songs in both English and French.

Lady of the Tropics is a melodramatic and at times over-the-top film, but it is also an important piece of cinema history. It tackles issues of race and prejudice that were groundbreaking for its time, and it features strong performances from its three leads. The film may be a product of its time, but its message is still relevant today, and it serves as a reminder of the importance of tolerance and acceptance in a world that is often divided by cultural and racial differences.