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Tangier
Tangier
	Original film poster
Directed by	George Waggner
Screenplay by	M. M. Musselman; Monty F. Collins
Story by	Alice D. G. Miller
Produced by	Paul Malvern
Starring	Maria Montez; Robert Paige; Sabu; Preston Foster; Louise Allbritton; Kent Taylor; J. Edward Bromberg
Cinematography	Woody Bredell, A.S.C.
Edited by	Edward Curtiss
Music by	Milton Rosen; (music score and direction)
Color process	Black and white
Production; companies	A George Waggner Production; A Universal Picture
Distributed by	Universal Pictures Company, Inc.
Release date	June 6, 1946;
Running time	76 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Tangier is a 1946 American film noir mystery film directed by George Waggner and starring Maria Montez, Robert Paige and Sabu. It is set in the international city of Tangier, Morocco and was one of the last Universal Pictures films before the studio's reorganization as Universal-International in July 1946.^[1]

The film features a variety of well-known Universal players completing their contracts, such as Montez, Paige and Louise Allbritton.

The film was produced at the insistence of Montez, who had grown weary of her typecasting in Technicolor oriental adventures.^[2]

Plot

In Tangier, disgraced American war correspondent Paul Kenyon, café dancer Rita and local entrepreneur Pepe join forces to battle Adolpho Fernandez, a Nazi diamond smuggler.

Cast

Maria Montez as Rita
Robert Paige as Paul Kenyon
Sabu as Pepe
Preston Foster as Col. Jose Artiego
Louise Allbritton as Dolores
Kent Taylor as Ramon
J. Edward Bromberg as Alex Rocco
Reginald Denny as Fernandez
Charles Judels as Dmitri
Erno Verebes as Capt. Cartiaz
Billy Green as Mike
Dorothy Lawrence as maid
Francis McDonald as Sanchez
George Lynn as lieutenant
Joan Fulton as Rocco's Blonde
Pat Alphin in minor role

Production

Development

Maria Montez became famous in the 1940s appearing in a series of Universal Pictures films set in exotic locales and filmed in color alongside Jon Hall and Sabu, such as Arabian Nights, White Savage and Cobra Woman. In September 1943, Universal announced the upcoming Flame of Stamboul, from a script by Alice Miller, to star Montez, Hall and Turhan Bey (in a role intended for Sabu, who was serving with the military). Paul Malvern was to produce and the film was to be shot in color.^[3]

Miller's script was set in Turkey, which had been neutral for most of World War II. However, Universal was concerned about upsetting the Turkish government and filming was postponed.^[4]

In March 1945, the project was reactivated as Tangier, and Steve Fisher was hired to rewrite the script.^[5] The film was relocated to Tangier and the villains were changed to be agents from Franco's Spain. Later, the nationality of the villains was again changed to an unspecified location.^[4]

Montez had been in a dispute with Universal over her casting in romantic fantasy films. She said: "Sudan is making more money than any of the others and Universal thinks that on that account I should appear in more of these films. But I wanted to quit these films when they are at their peak, not on the downbeat. It isn't only that the pictures are all the same, but the stories are one just like the other."^[6] However, Montez also said: "Tangier is modern. I play a Spanish girl. I like that."^[6]

Filming

Filming began on September 24, 1945. As Bey and Hall were serving with the armed forces, their roles were played by Sabu and Robert Paige, respectively. It was Sabu's first film after his return from military duty.^[7]

Montez was pregnant during filming. Her daughter Maria Christina "Tina" Aumont was born February 14, 1946, one week before the film's February 21 copyright.^[8]

Choreography was led by Lester Horton.

Reception

In a contemporary review for The New York Times, critic A. H. Weiler wrote: "Miss Montez' array of clothes is far more impressive than the picture's plot and the people involved in it. ... Preston Foster has been allotted the film's meatiest line. 'There seems to be an element of confusion here,' he says at one point, neatly explaining everything."^[9]

References

^ "International Pictures and the merger with Universal Pictures".
^ Tangier at Maria Montez Fan Page
^ Scheuer, Philip K. (Sep 11, 1943). "DRAMA AND FILM: Helen Walker Awarded Starring Opportunity Maria Montez, Hall and Turhan Bey Will Appear in 'Flame of Stamboul'". Los Angeles Times. p. 7.
^ ^a ^b FRED STANLEY (Oct 7, 1945). "DIPLOMATIC HOLLYWOOD: Treading Lightly Easy on the Victuals, Please TAPPING THE HOLLYWOOD WIRE Bang, Bang--Badmen! More Theatrical History". New York Times. p. X1.
^ "NEWS OF THE SCREEN: Donna Reed Will Portray Sandy in 'Expendable'". New York Times. Mar 20, 1945. p. 22.
^ ^a ^b Schallert, Edwin (June 9, 1945). "Daughter of Director Begins Cinema Career". Los Angeles Times. p. A5.
^ "STAR OF 'DILLINGER' GETS JAMES ROLE: Lawrence Tierney Listed for 'Bad Man's Territory'--New Mexican Film at Belmont Of Local Origin". New York Times. Sep 15, 1945. p. 21.
^ Hopper, Hedda (Sep 27, 1945). "Cary Eyes 'Hamlet'". The Washington Post. p. 6.
^ Weiler, A. H. (1946-06-07). "The Screen in Review". The New York Times. p. 16.