Charles Farrell and Dolores del Rio for The Red Dance (1928). Source: Pinterest
“Someday….somewhere….we’ll be together again,” is the promise that Charles Farrell makes to Dolores del Rio in The Red Dance (1928). Set during the Russian Revolution, the story centers on 2 people from different social classes meeting the day before they’re to embark on predestined paths, which intertwine with danger. Farrell and Del Rio make a unique team. Both had been in Hollywood for less than 5 years, yet were quickly becoming appreciated and well known.
Del Rio, in her own era and at times today, is noted solely for her beauty, yet she had strong abilities as an actress. In a 1978 TV interview with Merv Griffin, she recalled how she came to America after meeting Fox director Edwin Carewe in 1925 at a party in Mexico City, “He saw me and said to me, ‘You could be the female [Rudolph] Valentino.’ . . . I was very much intrigued, and thought it would be fun and exciting to come and spend a month here, working in a picture and return to Mexico City. And I never did return. I stayed [in Hollywood] 16 years.”
Costume Design
Costume Designer: Unknown, Hair and Makeup: Unknown
Dolores del Rio as Tasia in The Red Dance (1928).
Dolores del Rio plays Tasia, a young woman who is educated and enjoys reading, which is a threatening secret since her father is in prison for teaching. As Tasia, her costume on the left is a wide neck blouse with minimal embroidery and a skirt that doubles as her apron. What you can’t see in the picture are her shoes, weaved mules with string laces, revealing the living conditions. Del Rio’s hair is coiled and pinned over her ears, probably because her character works hard on the farm, yet this also creates a demure quality. Although the movie is set in the 1910s-early 20s, the costumes are distinctly 1928. On the right is later in the film when Tasia becomes a dancer for the Moscow Theatre. Her eye makeup is darkened, her hair is sleek and wraps into a low bun behind her head. The long earrings and elegant dress suggests a more cultured and confident woman from the change in circumstances.
Charles Farrell as Grand Duke Eugene in The Red Dance (1928).
Charles Farrell portrays the compassionate Grand Duke Eugene. In an earlier article about Farrell, I mentioned how his characters displayed a different type of masculinity. I felt a sequence showed the tenderness his characters typically had. As Dolores del Rio’s character hangs her clothes by the fire, Farrell shields his face behind a robe he’s holding up for her. Also when she’s brushing her hair, he holds the mirror, later brushing her hair.
On the right is Farrell’s military costume. The medal on his coat appears to be The Cross of St. George, which was awarded for courage, implying the type of journey he’s had during the war. Gold ropes suggest his position of leadership, demonstrating why he’s been given a special mission. On the left is the silk shirt he wears with jodhpurs and boots, since his character is likely riding a horse or hiking while in the woods. This was difficult to get a clear screen capture, but the belt around his waist has what appeared to be a medallion of some kind and have a small dagger type tool.
Set Design
Set Decorators: Ben Carre, David Hall, Property Master: Don Greenwood
The set of Grand Duke’s Eugene cabin in The Red Dance (1928). Click image for larger view.
This is the set for His Majesty Orenburg’s forest lodge. Only the front room is filmed. On the left is the dining table, which might also be used as a desk. It’s decorated with a porcelain lamp and decorative tablecloth, since it’s the property of royalty who would’ve added a few elements to keep the cabin a little more comfortable. Note the lantern from one of the arches above. The large and deep fireplace suggests that the warmth of what’s likely a small cabin. On the right is a view from nearby the fireplace. You can see the tools for the fireplace, a gourd on the shelf and other tools on the wall, implying the cabin is overall about functionality than decorative. The single chair further alludes to solidarity.
Charles Farrell and Dolores del Rio were unique to their Hollywood surroundings. He portrayed kind and strong men in dramas, among those more rugged or debonair. Del Rio’s roles had a gracefulness to them, which reflected her deep artistic sensibilities. The Red Dance (1928) isn’t intended to be accurate of the Russian Revolution, it’s more about the romance aspect. At 2 hours, it could have better tied up loose ends in certain subplots and given Charles Farrell’s character more growth. However for what it is, the film’s a delight to see two underrated leads at their peak, right before they’d enter talking movies.
Vintage Stardust 