Flame and the Flesh


Flame and the Flesh is a 1954 drama film made by MGM that stars Lana Turner. It was directed by Richard Brooks and produced by Joe Pasternak from a screenplay by Helen Deutsch based on the novel by Auguste Bailly. The music score was by Nicholas Brodszky and the cinematography by Christopher Challis.
The film also features Pier Angeli, Carlos Thompson and Bonar Colleano.

Plot

Madeline Duvain is evicted from her apartment for non-payment of rent. She wanders the street, where musician Ciccio Duvario takes pity on her and invites her home. The manipulative Madeline soon begins to take advantage of his kindness.
Ciccio works at a nightclub where his roommate Nino is a very popular singer. Lisa, the club owner's daughter, is in love with Nino, who has been seeing a married woman.
Nino realizes that Lisa would be good for him, so they set a wedding date. But when he meets Madeline, the attraction is immediate. They run off together. Ciccio vows to find and kill them.
Madeline grows frustrated when Nino has difficulty finding work. She seduces a club owner into hiring Nino to sing. Nino finally understands the kind of woman she is, striking the club owner and slapping her. Madeline knows too late that she loves him as Nino leaves her forever, hoping that Ciccio will forgive him and Lisa will take him back.

Background and production

The film is a remake of a 1938 French film, Naples au baiser de feu, also known in the USA as The Kiss of Fire, itself a remake of a 1925 French silent film of the same name. Both earlier versions were based on the same novel.
The film was shot in London and Naples, Italy.
In this film, Lana Turner, famously blonde, appears as a brunette.

Cast

According to MGM records the film earned $1,329,000 in the US and Canada and $965,000 elsewhere resulting in a loss of $171,000.