MEHGSTAR

A mediocre but fun film! But for us in Tampa ..and especially Ybor City...what we remember most was that Williams, Lawford and Montalban came to the famous Columbia Restaurant to eat during the filming of this movie. It was not a far away tropical island. It was filmed in one of Florida's most famous pre-Disney attractions..Cypress Gardens and provided locals with a great taste of Hollywood. Montalban, as usual was his handsome Latin lover persona and gave a wonderful excuse for Charisse to dance with him. Durante was....well, Durante. And poor Peter Lawford was so British. Nonetheless, it made for a good afternoon or evening at the movies. No villains, no messages, no problems. Enjoy!

When "Fiesta" played in Tampa, more local Latinos went to see Montalban than the film or anyone else in it! This was because Montalban was a well known star from the many Mexican movies that played locally.

However, in Mexico he was a serious actor while in Hollywood he was a "latin lover". In his first years more time was spent making him into a musical star than giving him time to display his acting talent.(He had to loose his hair to be taken seriously!) The movie was a vehicle for Esther Williams sans swimming pool (except for one brief scene) but it was Montalban and Cherrise's dancing that made it a hit. This was odd because Montalban was never in musicals in his native country. He sang -well he carried a tune- but actually danced quite well in order to creditably partner Cherrise and later on Anne Miller.

The one dramatic scene -in which Montalban who wants to be a composer and not follow his father's footsteps in the arena - that shows off Montalban's acting. He is in a wayside saloon and on the radio he hears his composition...actually Aaron Copelands "Fantasia Mexicna"..and goes to a piano and interprets with passion, vigor and sensitivity his composition.

An entertaining film and a great vehicle to feature Montalban. Too bad that his early cinematic years did not allow him to display his serious acting ability. Oh well, "That's Hollywood"...Ay Caramba!

Montalban plays a French or at least an Imperial officer in this film which tells several stories as a band of pro-Maximillian supporters are leaving Mexico as Juarez' troops approach.

One of the interesting footnotes to this film is that Sally Blain, sister of Loretta Young and of Georgina Young appears in it. She was soon to be Montalban's sister in law when the young Mexican actor married Georgina.

Montalban was dashing and handsome but his character was very one dimensional.

It was one of the rare Mexican movies that was semi-sympathetic to Emperor Maxmillian.