Sombrero (1953)

Three intertwining love stories set in two feuding Mexican villages and Mexico City: a cheesemaker (Ricardo Montalban) falls in love with the daughter (Pier Angeli) of the mayor (Thomas Gomez) of a neighboring town but in true Romeo and Juliet fashion, the towns rivalry keeps them apart. A terminally ill aristocrat (Vittorio Gassman) marries a selfish "good" woman (Nina Foch) instead of the socially unacceptable girl (Yvonne De Carlo) he truly loves. A matador (Jose Greco) with near incestuous feelings for his sister (Cyd Charisse) keeps her a prisoner but when she falls in love with a vendor (Rick Jason), she realizes only her brother's death will free her. The lightweight Romeo and Juliet story is played for comedy while the other two are dramas. The most interesting tale is the bullfighter and his sister story which has disturbing psychological implications that are only superficially explored but provides a dark contrast to the other two stories. Charisse and Greco are dancers but are used principally as actors here. While the film is not a musical, there are several songs and one dance number (Charisse). An oddity to be sure but a pleasant enough way to while away the time. Directed by Norman Foster. With Kurt Kasznar, Walter Hampden and John Abbott.