Starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Kathryn Grayson, and John Carroll
Directed by S. Sylvan Simon
Music and Lyrics by various
Our second Abbott and Costello vehicle takes us south of the border and across Culver City to a very different studio. Apparently, MGM originally wanted to hire them, but Universal snapped them up first. They placated their rivals by allowing them to make three movies with the duo, of which this was the first. MGM opted to drop them in this lavish remake of the 1929 RKO operetta hit with Wheeler and Woosley and Bebe Daniels as the title character; it was also Grayson's first leading role. How does the story of two guys who find themselves dodging Nazis in a Mexican resort look today? Let's begin with those two guys, Doc (Abbott) and Wishy (Costello) and find out...
The Story: The two pet-store workers are stranded on the border of Mexico and Texas and are trying to get out. They stow away in the trunk of a car that belongs to popular singer Ricardo Montera (Carroll), who is on his way to the Hotel Vista del Rio for a major radio show. Wishy snags a basket of apples that turn out to be miniature radios. They belong to spies who infiltrated the hotel and intend to use the radio show to send coded messages.
Rita Winslow (Grayson), the hotel's owner, is concerned about recent incidents and hires the duo as house detectives. She'd love for them to throw Ricardo out if the show wasn't a big deal. He was a childhood sweetheart, but left to start his career. The spies do finally get their hands on Wishy, Doc, and the codebook, but it's Wishy who finally has the last laugh.
The Song and Dance: Abbott and Costello are given the chance to see what they can do with a larger budget. While not one of MGM's blockbuster extravaganzas, this is still far above what Universal was doing with them at the time, with some genuinely funny set pieces like the knock-down, drag-out finale. The costumes are especially nice, with Grayson sporting gorgeous gowns and everyone in nifty modern Mexico-meets-Hollywood Latin fantasy costumes. Carroll, at the least, understood the turf - he played Zorro in a serial five years before - and partners Grayson well in "Long Before You Came Along."
Favorite Number: We hear the title song over the credits and at the hotel, when Ricardo performs it. "The Rangers' Song" is mainly heard over the radio. The other major chorus number is the nifty "Brazilian Dance," with ladies in swirling ruffled Carmen Miranda-style dresses doing high kicks and big twirls for the crowds. "Long Before You Came Along" is the big duet for Rita and Ricardo after he finally gets a chance to really talk to her. "Ombres Legeres," aka "The Shadow Song," is Rita's big number at the party before the radio broadcast. Ricardo tries flirting with her, but she thinks he's chasing another woman and spreads among the other men.
What I Don't Like: First of all, as anyone who has seen the 1929 RKO Rita knows, this has nothing to do with the original Broadway show or the early sound movie besides the title song, "The Rangers' Song," two comedians and two operetta lovers south of the border, and more action than usual for a musical. I am going to admit that I actually prefer Abbott and Costello's stowaway side story over Wheeler and Woosley's slightly distasteful divorce plot, but the entire thing with the spies taking over the hotel is just too ridiculous, even for the early 40's. I think Abbott and Costello work better without MGM's frippery. Their largess and random songs get in the way more often than not, including a goofy spinning car in the beginning that doesn't pay off.
The Big Finale: Once again, not this team's absolute best, but worth a look if you're a fan of them or Grayson.
Home Media: On streaming and DVD, the latter in a remastered edition from the Warner Archives.
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