Call of the Flesh | 1930 | Musical Drama

Title: Call of the Flesh | 1930 | Musical Drama Director: Charles Brabin Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Starring: Ramon Novarro, Dorothy Jordan, Ernest Torrence, Nance O’Neil, Renée Adorée, Mathilde Comont, Russell Hopton Based on: Original screenplay Release Date: August 16 1930 (United States) Runtime: 100 minutes Format: Black and white with sound (early talkie, originally included Technicolor sequence) Country: United States Language: English Genres: Musical Drama Romance --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Juan de Dios at the cantina 00:15:00 Maria Consuelo in the convent 00:30:00 Romance begins over the music 00:45:00 Juan’s opera aspirations 01:00:00 Pursuit by jealous lovers 01:15:00 Madrid and climactic aria --- Summary: Call of the Flesh is a 1930 American pre-Code musical drama that follows Juan de Dios, a charismatic singer in Seville whose performances at a café captivate Maria Consuelo, a young postulant at a nearby convent. Drawn together by music and desire, the couple embarks on a journey to Madrid where Juan seeks to establish himself as an opera singer. Their passion is tested by past lovers, family opposition, and the challenges of his artistic ambitions, blending romantic drama with musical performances. The narrative explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the tension between artistic aspiration and personal relationships, with elaborate vocal sequences and character interplay rooted in early sound filmmaking. --- Background: Directed by Charles Brabin and produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Call of the Flesh was part of the studio’s early sound era output, notable for featuring songs performed by star Ramon Novarro and originally including a Technicolor musical sequence. Production began in early 1930 under the working title *The Singer of Seville* before being retitled prior to release. --- Trivia: The film originally contained a Technicolor sequence showcasing Novarro’s performance of an aria from *Pagliacci*, though this footage is absent from most existing versions. Call of the Flesh was financially successful despite mixed contemporary reviews that described its plot as uneven. Renée Adorée, who appears in the cast, was seriously ill with tuberculosis during production; this was her final film appearance. Several foreign language versions were produced, including *Sivigliana* and a French version with Novarro reprising his role. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: August 16 1930 Original Studio / Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Not applicable --- Hashtags: #CallOfTheFlesh1930 #RamonNovarro #EarlyTalkie #MusicalDrama #PreCode #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain