Starring Ann Ayers, Jorge Negrete, Armida, and George Givot
Directed by LeRoy Prinz
Music and Lyrics by various
Let's celebrate Cinco De Mayo, the day of Mexico's great victory against France in the Franco-Mexican War of 1862. While it's no longer a major holiday in most of Mexico, in the US it's still considered a day to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture. Hal Roach gathered many of the Mexican and Mexican-American actors working in Los Angeles in the early 40's for this feature length "Streamliner." How does the story of a Mexican lass whose boyfriend tries to win her love when she falls for a gold-digging radio star look now? Let's begin in town, right as Cholita (Ayres) is to return and wed her childhood sweetheart Jose (Negrete) and find out...
The Story: Cholita shocks everyone when she arrives with radio star Fernando (Givot) in tow and claims he's her fiance. Jose is crushed, but her uncle Don Hernandez (Antonio Moreno) suggests he and two friends of his pose as bandits to reveal how cowardly Fernando really is. Meanwhile. Cholita's friend wealthy friend Cuca (Armida) has her own heart set on Fernando...and he's not exactly saying no to her riches...
The Song and Dance: Colorful and charming for a low-budget comedy. Ayers was a star at the time with the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, and she gets to show off her luminous soprano in several numbers. Armida, who had been playing fiery senoritas since the early talkie era, steals the show as the rich lady who knows what she likes and doesn't care how much of a coward Fernando is or isn't. The Technicolor sets and costumes are gorgeous for a B-musical, with brightly patterned or pastel dresses for the ladies and fancy embroidered suits, sombreros, and woven ponchos for the men.
I also like the relatively accurate casting. With the exception of Jose's two friends (played by Italian-American actors), Givot (who was Russian-born), Ayres (American), and the narrator, most of the cast are actual Mexicans and Spaniards. They add a layer of authenticity to the simple story. Several of the songs are even in untranslated Spanish.
Favorite Number: In fact, we open with one of those untranslated numbers, "El Ralajo," which Jose sings as he arrives to prepare for his wedding. Jose also gets "Ride Mi Caballeros" with his buddies when they pretend to turn bandits. His buddies Pedro (Nick Moro) and Pablo (Frank Yaconelli) claim to be "The Two Bravest Hombres In All Mexico"...when in reality, they're even bigger cowards than Fernando.
Cholita claims "I'll Never Forget Fiesta" after she's arrived home, despite her father's disapproval of her new sweetheart. The Guadalarja Trio join Cholita and the chorus for the gentle ballad "La Golondria" as Cholita's uncle claims Jose has turned bandit. Cuca's "Never Trust a Jumping Bean" has goofy lyrics, but she's obviously enjoying it, wiggling her hips and having a great time with the catchy tune. "Quien Sabe" is is heard three times, as a number for Jose and the Trio, as a duet for Jose and Cholita, and as a chorus number for a group of lively gypsy dancers.
Trivia: Ann Ayers never made a big splash in films, but she eventually became a major soprano at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and would sing in the opera-based film Tales of Hoffman.
What I Don't Like: The story is pretty silly, and maybe even a little on the stereotypical side. It's fine for the 45-minute run time, but this isn't the place for you if you like your musicals on the darker or meatier side. Most of the "stereotypes" are ironically perpetuated by Jose's buddies Pedro and Pablo, the ones played by Italian-Americans. They were probably harmless in the 40's, but may mildly offend some folks today. Ayers is blank and dull when she isn't singing, and despite being seven years younger than Armida, looks at least a decade older.
The Big Finale: Cute enough way to pass an hour when you're bored online if you can get past some of the more overt stereotypes.
Home Media: Beware - several free sites have this instead of the 1947 Fiesta with Esther Williams, even if they have the 1947 version listed. (Among those with this under the wrong title are Flex and YouTube.) Amazon Prime currently has it for free under the correct listing.
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