Lupe Vélez burns down the patriarchy in a pre-code fever dream of pearls and rebellion.
Lovely Anita dreams of escaping the monotony of her island home and sailing to bustling Havana. But when her abusive father promises her to the greasy local merchant, Anita does everything in her power to make her dream a reality.
Acting
Lupe Vélez's volcanic screen presence outshines every man.
Cinematography
Glorious two-strip Technicolor seascapes in early color experiments.
Writing
Shockingly frank pre-code dialogue about women's bodily autonomy.
Director
Henry King
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Shot on location in Cuba with a largely Hispanic cast, rare for 1930 Hollywood.
The infamous 'nude pearl diving' scene was heavily censored; surviving prints vary dramatically in content.
US
