All I Desire

My, we certainly have Merle Oberon on the brain lately, don't we? Poseidon3 recently suggested we check out her final film, Interval (1973). It was co-produced by Merle herself, co-stars her much-younger, then-new husband, Robert Wolders, and was brought to the screen by Joseph E. Levine, the maestro responsible for such triumphs as the Carroll Baker Harlow (1965) -- we're sure we'll love it. However, we're even more eager to finally see Merle's legendary South American soaper, Of Love and Desire (1963).


An overheated stew of nymphomania, promiscuity, rape, incest, and an abrupt, morally-safe happy ending, Of Love and Desire sounds like the ultimate trashy Douglas Sirk rip-off, and We Must Watch It. Plus, it features a fifty-something Merle Oberon writhing around like a cat on a hot tin roof, and the always-watchable Steve Cochran as her swarthy knight in sweaty armor.

If anyone out there has a copy to lend us, we'll love you long time.

THANKS for the Of Love and Desire images.

More Merle

Shown above holding a hair hopper's conference with Anne Ford, Charlotte Ford, and Mrs. Henry Ford III. As noted by the everlovin' Peenee, Ms. Oberon's last husband was former actor Robert "Robby" Wolders, aptly described as "humpalicious."


Mr. Wolders, after being widowed by Ms. Oberon, went on to become Audrey Hepburn's longtime companion until her death. As as been mentioned, such was Robby's beauty, he more than held his own next to the formidable Oberon and Hepburn; and we think he would have made an even prettier pairing with his Laredo co-star Peter Brown.