Josephine Baker was every bit a part of the Paris scene during "The Lost Generation" as Hemingway and Stein. Bolting the blatant and institutional racism in the United States she settled in Paris where she went on to great stage acclaim with such acts as her Banana Dance. It was only logical that her free spirit style make its way to film as she does here in Princess Tam Tam.
French writer Max de Mirecourt experiencing writers block and problems with his pre jet set wife decides to run off to Tunisia to get his groove back. Their he runs into lust for life Alwina (Baker) who celebrates the creature comforts with gleeful passion. Along with a friend he hatches a Pygmalion like plan to present Alwina as a Princess Tam Tam to French society and much to the ire of his wife who in turn is being seen around town with a maharajah on her arm.
Strictly a showcase for Baker, Tam Tam does make some cursory observations about bias, class and materialism but it remains centered around Josephine's wild child to illustrate it. All the leads remain ancillary in her presence with her irresistible zest for life providing nearly all of the film's energy. She may not have the formal training of Isadora Duncan but her off the cuff tumblesault at some Tunisian ruins is as timeless as Duncan's iconic photograph without the pretense. Silly premise aside Princesse Tam Tam does afford the viewer an unfettered lengthy glance at one of the most unique icons of Paris between the wars.
French writer Max de Mirecourt experiencing writers block and problems with his pre jet set wife decides to run off to Tunisia to get his groove back. Their he runs into lust for life Alwina (Baker) who celebrates the creature comforts with gleeful passion. Along with a friend he hatches a Pygmalion like plan to present Alwina as a Princess Tam Tam to French society and much to the ire of his wife who in turn is being seen around town with a maharajah on her arm.
Strictly a showcase for Baker, Tam Tam does make some cursory observations about bias, class and materialism but it remains centered around Josephine's wild child to illustrate it. All the leads remain ancillary in her presence with her irresistible zest for life providing nearly all of the film's energy. She may not have the formal training of Isadora Duncan but her off the cuff tumblesault at some Tunisian ruins is as timeless as Duncan's iconic photograph without the pretense. Silly premise aside Princesse Tam Tam does afford the viewer an unfettered lengthy glance at one of the most unique icons of Paris between the wars.