It was probably a little unfortunate for soprano Mary Ellis (who only died in 2003 - aged 105!) that opportunities to star in these kinds of semi-operatic films were starting to become thin on the ground. Partnered with Otto Kruger ("King Stefan" - who has shades of Leslie Howard about his, I thought)) she portrays the Gypsy leader "Melitza"; his lover and supporter against the ruthless Prime Minister "Lyadeff" (Victor Jory). It turns out that the scheming PM knows that there be oil in them thar hills, it's just that despite hiring two experienced oil men - Barry MacKay and Finlay Currie, he i…
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