Princess Tam Tam (1935)

This 1935 variation on Pygmalion is a clever French vehicle for Josephine Baker, the Missouri woman who found stardom in Paris as a dancer and singer. The black performer plays an African shepherd, Alwina, a wild and exotic creature who meets a celebrity novelist, Max (Albert Prejean), the latter in a desperate search for inspiration. He finds it in a bemused notion to polish away Alwina's earthy sexuality and turn her into a princess presentable to upper-crust Parisian society. Meanwhile, Max's estranged wife, Lucie (Germaine Aussey), has concocted an affair with a black prince, thus giving the City of Lights much to buzz about when both spouses turn up as separate halves of interracial couples. Career director Edmond T. Greville (The Hands of Orlac) brings a light touch to Princess Tam Tam, only his fifth film of many, and the Continental wit on display is occasionally comparable to some of Ernst Lubitsch's best ideas. Baker trills and leaps about and dances during a few scenes, and does exceedingly well in the Eliza Doolittle-like part. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

So bad it's good

I used to think that no movies in the world beat 1930s-style Hollywood films--especially the ones featuring big musical and dance scenes--for sheer camp. But after watching "Princess Tam Tam," I realized that the French of the 1930s were pretty good at making movies so bad that, eighty-odd years later, their very badness makes them totally fun to watch.

"Tam Tam" is formulaic, as one would expect: debonair and worldly novelist is jealous of his wife, so he fakes a romance with a wild girl of north Africa--played by Josephine Baker--to make his wife jealous in turn. Baker plays a street urchin whom the novelist pretends is a "jungle" princess and introduces to Parisian high society as such. Predictably, the charade is exposed, but--also predictably--everyone lives happily ever after anyway.

There are some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments in the film. The guy who plays the novelist's sidekick, a sort of Oliver Hardy character, is really a good comedic actor. But for the most part the dialogue is strained and the editing is particularly bad. Jumps between splices occur nonstop.

The film was made, one suspects, to give Josephine Baker a stage. She'd made two earlier French films, the silent "Siren of the Tropic" and "Zou Zou," a much better talkie in which she sings the song made famous by the later film "Frida." But "Tam Tam" doesn't give Baker much of an opportunity to show her stuff. She sings a couple of numbers, which is good. But her two dance scenes are continuously interrupted by the camera panning the crowd of onlookers. And Baker looks old and a bit tired in the film. She tries real hard to be the vivacious and spirited gal that France fell in love with, but can't quite pull it off in this film.

So the film is pretty much an utter cinematic disaster. But it's great fun to watch. September 12, 2008

Princess Tam Tam

Delightful musical comedy gives us a rare glimpse of Baker's powerful allure and talent, and projects a knowing, sophisticated light-heartedness reminiscent of director Ernst Lubitsch. On-location Tunisian scenery lends distinctive atmosphere, and the viewer is transfixed any time Baker sings or dances. Somewhat daring and different for the times, "Tam-Tam" provides an invaluable record of one of the last century's most celebrated entertainers. June 21, 2007

The Apple of My Eye...

When I was about ten years old in 1991 I fell in love with two black legends...Mahalia Jackson and Josephine Baker.

It is indeed a great joy to be able to see Josephine in action...to witness the star quality that enchanted people the world over and mesmerised fans for half a century.

I love Princess Tam Tam overall...The dance scenes are magnificent; the flexibility and lithe grace that Josephine possessed never ceases to amaze me. One critic said that she just had a few gimicks and shouldn't be considered a dancer but Josephine accomplished with her body what many are rushing to Juilliard to achieve today. She was able to combine ballet, acrobatics, jazz dancing and vaudeville comedic steps into one stunning whole. Some people were not moved by her singing either but her range was breath taking to me. Her voice was pristine and girlish...a soprano of exquisite beauty...

Josephine you were the true definition of DIVA!!!

The highlights of the film for me were her rendition of 'Dreams'...a lovely song that she sings; the camera gets a excellent closeup of her against the backdrop of a boat sail - showcasing her exotic good looks. And the dance scene at the end were she reveals her 'savage ways' to the French Gentry on stage at the Maharajah's party where she dances to 'Ahe, la Conga'. That scene particular keeps me on the edge of my seat. January 2, 2006

The Black Venus comes to dvd

Josephine Baker, born and raised in St. Louis, left the United States as a teenager to escape racial discrimination. She moved to France and in the mid-20s became the toast of Paris dancing and singing in the Folies Berge. Billed as the "Black Venus," Baker wowed audiences with her provacative moves, especially her infamous "banana dance." And she made a few movies as well.

"Princess Tam Tam," filmed in Tunisia, is one of her better efforts. It is a Pygmalion-type story about a writer who takes an African vacation to escape his arrogant society wife. He and his collaborator seek inspiration to write a novel and they find it in an exotic native girl played by Baker. The writer decides to transform the girl into a princess and bring her back to France to make his wife jealous. The film is enhanced by Baker, whose personality shines through - it is easy to see why audiences were so enchanted with her. She gets to do two dance numbers - one inside a cafe and the other during an elaborate Busby Berkeley style number at the end of the film.

The extras on the disc inside a 20 minutes documentary which discusses three significant Baker films - "Siren of the Tropics," "Zou Zou," and "Princess Tam Tam." It includes interviews with Baker's adopted son, Jean-Claude as well as actress Lynn Whitfield (who portrayed Baker in the film "The Josephine Baker Story"), NY Times theater critic Margo Jefferson and dance critic Elizabeth Kendall. August 23, 2005

King Kino

A long time ago, in the early days of the 20th Century, the Madonna of French society was a vivacious, exotic black singer/dancer named Josephine Baker. Blessed with enormous eyes and an infectious smile, she starred in her 3rd movie, "Princess Tam Tam", in 1935. A French version of Pygmalion, "Princess Tam Tam" stars Baker as a wild African shepard, reformed(somewhat), and brought to Paris for exhibition. The story lacks momentum, but, in the end, Baker breathes life into the film. "Princess Tam Tam" is part of the Kino Josephine Baker DVD-trilogy. Kino's transfer includes a documentary, songs, and other generous extras. Once again, Kino is King. June 30, 2005

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