Gone With the Wind transformed? Chivalry in the Caribbean
Classic story CORAZON SALVAJE based on book trilogy by influential Cuban writer (see also telenovela LA MENTIRA--brief summary at end of post) has been repeatedly remade in movie and telenovela versions. Writers of fiction often find inspiration by asking "what if" questions.
CS might be result of wondering how to turn GONE WITH THE WIND into a true romance--which Margaret Mitchell's novel is not--although sometimes misread as one. This error of interpretation is rebutted in book A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE ROMANCE NOVEL by Pamela Regis, a scholarly study of genre that is "the most popular, yet least respected".
First of essential "eight narrative elements" explained by Regis is "a definition of society, always corrupt, that the romance novel will reform". In CS, romantic hero is freedom fighter, not supporter of society built on slavery. Essay "Utopias televisadas" by American professor Leslie Bary on Henciclopia website examines CORAZON SALVAJE from political/sociological perspective. Vix is currently streaming complete version.
You don't understand Spanish? Que lastima--Spanish is language with 2nd highest number of native speakers on the planet, only one of excellent reasons to be bilingual (if not polylingual) cited in Preface to 20th anniversary edition of helpful and amusing book BREAKING OUT OF BEGINNER'S SPANISH by Joseph Keenan.
Shakespeare himself is well-known for finding ideas for his own plays in history and other stories, creatively transforming them like powerful sorceror Prospero of his final play THE TEMPEST with famous Ariel's song "a sea change, into something rich and strange".
Protagonist of CORAZON SALVAJE reminds me of Jules Verne's Captain Nemo, revered by his crew of freed slaves. Carlos Eire memoir WAITING FOR SNOW IN HAVANA describes his reaction to Disney's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea being pulled from theaters in Castro's Cuba. My guess at reason why--bearded leader is called madman, defeated by Yankee. In 1977 CS telenovela starring fair Angelica Maria (with gringo father), her male co-star may have had Black ancestry.
Conclusion of ESQUIRE magazine May 16, 2023 article by Michael Clinton about Hollywood ignoring older viewers says: "Throughout its history, the entertainment world has played a pivotal role helping to shape cultural, social and political evolutions." See also review of CASABLANCA dvd about another chivalric hero, clear example of an influential dream.
Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows): "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" (Following description contains spoilers.)
CORAZON SALVAJE seems to speculate "what if" spoiled Scarlett O'Hara married weak Ashley Wilkes, and renegade Rhett married saintly Melanie? (I think Rhett describes her as a true Lady in novel).
In CORAZON SALVAJE, a willful beauty is raised in city by frivolous relatives when her titled father dies, leaving his family with illustrious ancestral name, but little material wealth. When relatives can't foot the bill to keep her longer--and men in their social circle prefer to marry into families with money and influence--she must return to sleepy small town to join invalid mother and convent-educated sister.
Like some Jane Austen characters, they are distantly related to rich and dominating widow whose only child, a son, has just returned from Europe. Snobbish Sofia and the mother of two girls had arranged when their children were still very young (like royalty used to do), that boy would marry sweet stay at home daughter.
Instead, son becomes infatuated at first sight with flirtatious sister, and they marry. Being jilted, "good girl" decides to become a nun, more to hide her humiliation at fiance being stolen by her own sister than from actual vocational conviction. Destiny will intervene--in order to protect Andres from scandal, she "sacrifices" herself by marrying another man in order to keep him and her sister Aimee apart.
Before marriage of flirt, the bored butterfly had secret affair with infamous local bad boy, assumed by many to be a pirate (original novel is set on Caribbean island of Martinique--important to plot is real life 1902 volcanic eruption that destroyed town of St. Pierre, tho in other versions is replaced by hurricane or earthquake).
Renegade chooses to go by name JUAN DEL DIABLO (of the Devil), twist on meaning of French Jean Dieu (John of God) which in English became John Doe, used for males of unknown origin or parentage, foundlings.
Juan teasingly calls novice nun Santa Monica (she's home on a visit due to poor health caused by emotional stress) when seeming "polar opposites" first meet on night he comes in search of her sister, who has gone to dine at aunt Sofia's, leaving bedroom scattered with discarded gowns to be tidied up by Monica, who will resemble saint that reformed her pagan husband and sons.
In fact, Juan knows he is illegitimate older half-brother to Andres Alcazar--whom Juan's lover marries, believing rumor of Juan's arrest and imprisonment for many years. (But wealth & social position of Andres looks good to her too--not for nothing is Alcazar name related to word Czar or castle.)
Father of half-brothers died soon after learning of existance of teen boy, whom he'd intended to legally recognize as his son, result of affair with lonely wife of his former best-friend. Embittered alcoholic devised revenge for this betrayal by mistreating boy, raising him among the scum of the port and in deep poverty.
Despite dire environment, young man--image of biological father--grows up to have chivalrous, truly noble nature, partly innate. Story is also exploration of "nature versus nurture" debate influencing theories for child rearing and origin of individual personality.
His father prefers Juan's inner strength and independence over mollycoddled Andres, hopes Juan can improve weak son if they grow up together as brothers. Husband angrily warns wife "no lo castres" (don't castrate our son).
Juan also has role model in Don Noel, poor but honest lawyer (poor because he's honest?) to whom Juan's father had written letter recognizing boy as his son and heir. Father is killed in accident after argument with wife Sofia, who hides letter which will eventually come to light--she may feel qualms about destroying a "last testament"--or was it stolen by crooked overseer of her vast plantations, in order to blackmail her? She will eventually go mad, searching by night for her son who returned to Europe, leaving our hero and heroine to live in peace in new home on other side of valley from now "haunted" castle.
More benign kind of "ghosts" at end of version starring late, great actors Edith Gonzales and Eduardo Palomo: Juan and Monica gaze lovingly at each other by ocean waves, confirming that "nothing can separate us. Not even death."
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Above previously appeared as Borrower review around September 2023 on LAPL catalog, but has since vanished from that site, possibly due to limited lifespan of such reviews. Those who wish to refer back to this commentary or share with others would be wise to make their own copy for future reference, just in case blog or GoodReads account also eventurally disappear.
BTW, actor who played Don Noel in1993 version of CORAZON SALVAJE had previously starred as Juan del Diablo, AND also as Demetrio Azunsolo in earlier 1960's versions of LA MENTIRA, inspired by books written by the same author, Caridad Bravo Adams. The following review of DVD version of 1998 telenovela appeared as Borrower review on LAPL catalog around November 2021.
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LA MENTIRA ("The Lie"--related English word is "mendacious") Inspired by Shakespeare's OTHELLO and MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, this classic telenovela is subtitled in English (so counts as reading, right?)
Too bad that 2 disk DVD edition drastically cuts down original broadcast version from 100 episodes to only about 10 hours--eliminated are many, many favorite scenes, such as enjoyably entertaining battles between the lovers trapped in a web of lies.
Torn between attraction & hatred, HE was mislead into believing feisty heroine caused death of his only relative. SHE is baffled by how, after a whirlwind romantic courtship, her Prince Charming whisks her away to remote "castle" (hacienda in the middle of nowhere) and suddenly seems to turns into the Beast.
Big part of the fun is when after Veronica (her name means "true image") discovers who is really behind the deception, she makes adorable Demetrio suffer until he proves he truly regrets trying to get revenge.
Eventually a natural disaster puts everything in perspective, making her realize how much she really loves him. Then the second honeymoon begins! Rich in visual symbols expressing contrast between selfish death-dealing antagonists, and new life & new family created by the loving protagonists.
Wonderfully perfect original music soundtrack and theme song by the great Vicente Fernandez was also cut from DVD (sob) in favor of generic bland "muzac". Hopefully this classic will someday be available in complete televised version on demand somehow, someday.
In the meantime, try very entertaining new TV series set mostly in Los Angeles, PARIENTES A LA FUERZA (Family by Force) now on Telemundo & On Demand NBC app, with English subtitles on you tube (tho dialogue is often bilingual--lead actor of PALF and LA MENTIRA is actually fluently tri-lingual, having been born in Brazil & grown up all over the Americas).
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P.S. Complete & intact 1993 version of LA MENTIRA is currently streaming on VIX. Re-print on blog of much longer commentary is planned soon.
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Began adding a few review on GoodReads for items that deserve wider audience. When commenting on CORAZON SALVAJE (3rd book in trilogy, to make easier to find), recalled the following.
I still have copy of Issue #128, November 1994 ROMANTIC TIMES MAGAZINE (RT for short) from from work-related research of then-recently published romance novels. Saved it for letter from fan of CORAZON SALVAJE, Sheila Clemett (who says she is "voracious reader, and future writer of romances"):
"I would like to encourage all your readers hungry for more romance on the small screen to take up Spanish, since novelas are the closest thing to our genre ever produced for TV and star some of the handsomest actors I've ever seen. Definitely check out EDUARDO PALOMA from TV Y Novelas. He appears as "Juan del Diablo", and ought to be on covers! EDITOR: "Wow, thanks for the great tip. We investigated and found your suggestion to be very accurate!"
NOTE: Tho I can get free from library, I no longer bother looking at TV NOTAS or TV Y NOVELAS magazines. Since these changed to more frequent issues to compete with entertainment mags in English, quality of content as gone down drastically, filled with stuff unrelated to telenovelas like trumped up scandals & even worse.
In contrast is private collection of TV Y NOVELAS from 90's & earlier, with intelligent, informative coverage & official professional photos (not paparazzi spy snaps). PEOPLE EN ESPANOL (now only available as e-magazine) is more reliably truthful, or see official Instagram accounts for programs.
RT Issue #128 also includes 2-page spreads of two romances with heroes who might be similar to Juan del Diablo, PIRATE BRIDE by Kathryn Kramer and MY SEASWEPT HEART by Christine Dorsey. (I haven't read either, or any by next author.)
In same issue, article by Leigh Greenwood, male romance reader & writer of Western historicals (he later branched out to Western romances). Too long to quote entire piece, but was interesting defence of the genre & important values shared by favorite telenovelas:
"....what is a romance? What's at the core of the book...? At the center is what used to be called basic American values--honesty, responsibility, and the primacy of home, family, and love that works, struggles, agonizes to endure.....Romance encourages us to work to be the best we can be, to believe in the nobility of the human spirit and the importance of truth, honesty, and love."
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(BTW, cover of issue features artwork for book REMEMBER WHEN by Robin Lee Hatcher with hero who has what's often considered "Latin looks" of darker skin & hair--tho judging from his name, Jeremiah Wesley, may not be Hispanic. His appearance may only be to contrast with blonde heroine; eyelids of both are closed, so can't see eye color. Mention this because I saw young Paloma play heir to major department store chain in family-friendly light-hearted telenovela LA PICARA SONADORA, so know his skin & hair color are really not naturally as dark as in CS.
PICARA SONADORA is about young woman who is studying to become lawyer by night, but by day works in toy department of store. To cut cost of renting apartment in order to help finance her education, she sleeps in the furniture dept at night, keeps track of store food she eats to repay later.
Her uncle is nightwatchman, retired firefighter & long-lost love of grandmother of young hero. Homeless young widow with baby also moves into store & reforms playboy uncle of similarly reformed hero who suddenly develops interest in family business on meeting our charming heroine.
Reminds me a bit of Charlie Chaplin in movie MODERN TIMES, which also seems refered to in first FANTASTIC BEASTS film. See GoodReads review for books of screenplays 1st & 3rd FB movies for why. To find, "search review text" for keyword "PANTERA" or "CEDRIC".)
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As posited in Leigh Greenwood's article & longer study, scholarly book A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE ROMANCE NOVEL, many who disparage the genre have never have read or done much serious research of the field & reasons why fans enjoy it. A typical misconception is illustrated by character Daisy in early 1990's British TV satire about social classes, KEEPING UP APPEARANCES.
Fact that show's four sisters all have flower names & main character has similarities to Harry Potter's Aunt Petunia (paranoid concern about how her family appears to neighbors, yet complete blindness about her own son) suggests J.K. Rowling was familiar with this very popular program. Tho may seem off-topic, illustrates how inspiration may be found in superficially unrelated areas--so read widely, keep eyes & mind open.
Without further research (such as comparing with other work by same creators) unsure if "psychological reasoning" shaping characters Daisy & Sheridan is meant as shared beliefs or spoof of exploded theories such as cause of male homosexuality.is having a very dominating mother.
Never having seen even more extreme sounding 1970's British sitcom MIND YOUR LANGUAGE (about a class teaching English as a second language to varied group of adult immigrants) can't tell if stereotyping was as innocent as allegedly meant. Wikipedia lists other TV series apparently based on it, tho seem more respectful depictions of cultures such as 1980's WHAT A COUNTRY! (about U.S. citizenship class) & 2021 Korean sitcom SO NOT WORTH IT on Netflix about racially mixed group of college students who all speak colloquial Korean.
Above comments were written before December 2023 incident went viral. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-12-11/racist-rant-caught-on-video-inside-disneyland-bathroom Don't know if anyone suggested singing "It's a small world", or pointing out that Disneyland is in city of Anaheim (which WIkipedia states is "a blend of Ana, after the nearby Santa Ana River, and Germain -heim meaning "home".)
Plus, state of California gets its name from character in fantasy novel mentioned in Spanish novel DON QUIXOTE, imaginary Amazonian dark-skinned Queen Califia, inspired by word for ruler in Moorish Spain.
Also might reel off other Los Angeles place names in Spanish: ritzy Beverly Hills RODEO Drive has Spanish pronunciation, streets "La Brea" and "La Cienega" & (usually mispronounced) "Cabrillo", Palos Verdes Peninsula, cities & mountains Santa Monica & San Gabriel, Nearby county San Bernadino & El Cajon pass both would be familiar to woman who felt only English should be spoken in United States of America (named after explorer from Italy.)
(Book BREAKING OUT OF BEGINNER'S SPANISH lists many other words adopted into English, borrowed from Spanish).
Wonder if Disney might make push to appear more Hispanic-inclusive, especially after recent ENCANTO. Remember popular Disney TV series about early days of Los Angeles, ZORRO? Mentioned elsewhere lesser known family-friendly 1955 Disney movie THE LITTLEST OUTLAW filmed in Mexico with bilingual cast who made two versions, one in English & another in Spanish.
