Mr. Imperium (1951)

Mr. Imperium (UK title: You Belong to My Heart) is a 1951 romantic musical drama Technicolor film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and starring Lana Turner and singer Ezio Pinza. It was directed by Don Hartman, who cowrote the screenplay with Edwin H. Knopf based on a play written by Knopf. The musical score was composed by Bronisław Kaper. Turner’s singing voice was dubbed by Trudy Erwin.

Director – Don Hartman

Writers – Edwin H. Knopf (screenplay), Don Hartman (screenplay)

Cast –
Lana Turner as Fredda Barlo
Ezio Pinza as Mr. Imperium
Marjorie Main as Mrs. Cabot
Barry Sullivan as Paul Hunter
Cedric Hardwicke as Bernand
Debbie Reynolds as Gwen
Ann Codee as Anna Pelan
The Guadalajara Trio as themselves

Watch “Mr. Imperium” (1951)

Plot

In Italy in 1939, Mr. Imperium uses a ruse to meet attractive lady American Frederica Brown. He is revealed to be Prince Alexis, an heir to the throne and a widower with a five-year-old son. Mr. Imperium nicknames her Fredda and she calls him Al.

When his father becomes gravely ill, Mr. Imperium must rush to be with him but asks prime minister Bernand to deliver a note of explanation to Fredda. Bernand instead informs her that the prince has left permanently as he would often do after seducing women.

Twelve years later, Fredda is now a film star known as Fredda Barlo. Mr. Imperium travels to California, where film producer Paul Hunter is in love with Fredda and proposing marriage. Fredda drives to Palm Springs to consider the proposal and decide which actor should costar in her next film, which will tell the story about a girl who falls in love with a king. Mr. Imperium takes a room next to hers, and soon they meet and embrace. He explains the crisis that took place at home during the war and that had prevented him from finding her. Now he wants a new life and Fredda believes that he could portray the king in her film.

Bernand appears, saying that his son is preparing to ascend to the throne. Mr. Imperium realizes that he is needed there, so he must say goodbye to Fredda once more.