Mexican Spitfire's Blessed Event

These Mexican Spitfire films are something else. Almost always the same plot and antics, but so lively that they breeze by. This series is the epitome of frantic farce. Leon Errol bounds from Uncle Matt, the sensible American, to Lord Epping, the befuddled Englishman, and brings things to a froth by consistently having Uncle Matt do impersonations of Epping. Much sputtering confusion, innuendos, door-slamming, and racing around ensues. But Errol is so effortlessly charming and game that it all goes down smoothly, no matter how high-pitched the antics get. And Errol is matched with the Spitfire herself, Lupe Velez. Sadly, this is her last Hollywood film. Her famous suicide followed at the end of the following year. It was thought she was washed up in Hollywood, but it's doubtful such a firecracker personality could have stayed unlit for long. She might have exploded on television in the fifties, if anything. But she left behind a lot of personality on screen for viewers to marvel at. She and Errol are unsung as one of the finest comedy teams in Hollywood history. The Mexican Spitfire films are worthless without their timing, talent, and inter-action. 'Blessed Event' concerns the confusion over Carmelita (Lupe) having a baby and how its existence, or non-existence, influences Lord Epping's signature on a contract for Carmelita's husband. Hugh Beaumont is competing for Epping's signature and he's well aware that the whole baby thing is a crock. But Epping goes to Arizona to find out, with Beaumont following. Inevitably, it's up to Uncle Matt to do his Epping impersonation again to save the day. Beaumont is okay, but the other cast members are wallpaper. Errol and Velez are a vortex of energy, leaving nothing to anyone else. There is one minor note: Alan Carney and Wally Brown have separate bit parts (Carney as bartender, Brown as desk clerk) but soon after in the same year would start their comedy team antics as RKO's answer to Abbott & Costello.