Carole Lombard, George Raft - Rumba




Joe Martin is a talented dancer and performer who is tough and determined to succeed. When he meets wealthy Diana Harrison on vacation in Cuba, she initially dislikes him, but after seeing him dance in a Havana nightclub, she becomes more interested in him. However, Martin misunderstands her intentions and a fight breaks out with Fletcher, Diana's escort. As a result, Martin loses his job, but he is not discouraged and travels to the interior of the country where he sees a native performance of the rumba. This inspires him to open his own night club and perform the rumba with his Cuban girlfriend, Carmelita. Diana is impressed by Martin's dancing and offers to finance his act in New York, but Martin receives a warning that it will be dangerous for him to go there, as a gunman believes he betrayed a gangland member to the police. Despite the warning, Martin is determined to perform in New York and opens his show at Solanger's Club to a full house. However, Carmelita becomes overwhelmed with the tension and collapses, forcing Martin to perform a solo act. Diana, fearing for Martin's safety, volunteers to be his partner. It is later revealed that the warning of an assassination attempt was a ploy by Martin's associate, Flash, to publicize the show.


Books with substantial mentioning of Rumba

Frederick W. Ott
The Films of Carole Lombard
Secaucus, NJ, 1974