A Message to Garcia (1936)

Director:

George Marshall

Writers:

Gene Fowler (writer)
Sam Hellman (writer)

Release Date:

10 April 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Based on the actual event of Rowan's carrying a message from President McKinley to Garcia in Cuba during the Spanish-American War...

Plot Keywords:

Spanish American War | Historical | Sergeant | Based On Book | Character Name In Title

Cast

Wallace Beery	...	Sgt. Dory
Barbara Stanwyck	...	Raphaelita Maderos
John Boles	...	Lt. Andrew Rowan
Alan Hale	...	Dr. Ivan Krug
Herbert Mundin	...	Henry Piper
Mona Barrie	...	Spanish Spy
Enrique Acosta	...	General Calixto García
Juan Torena	...	Luís Maderos
Martin Garralaga	...	Rodríguez
Blanca Vischer	...	Chiquita
José Luis Tortosa	...	Pasquale Castova
Lucio Villegas	...	Commandant
Frederick Vogeding	...	German Stoker
Pat Moriarity	...	Irish Stoker
Octavio Giraud	...	Spanish Commandant

Runtime:

77 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Company:

20th Century Pictures

Trivia:

Rita Hayworth played the sister of Barbara Stanwyck, but after a test screening all her scenes were cut at the request of Darryl F. Zanuck.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The story takes place in 1898, but Barbara Stanwyck's hairstyle, make-up, false eyelashes, and riding pants are strictly in the 1936 mode, and, in true Hollywood tradition, remain relatively unsullied despite the many perils of the swamp and and backlot jungle through which she doggedly perseveres.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Wife vs. Secretary (1936)

Much Ado About An Invitation To A Meeting

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

In the middle of the Spanish American War, an American newspaper editor and writer (and self-proclaimed Bohemian) named Elbert Hubbard wrote a brief essay that would sweep the country in ways only reminiscent to Tom Paine's "Common Sense" (or his "The Crisis"), Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin", and Edward Everett Hale's "The Man Without A Country". Yet today, while Paine, Stowe, and Hale are still read for their major works, few regard Hubbard. Maybe this is due to the lack of staying power in our memories of the Spanish American War. After all, it is our shortest major conflict (about half a year of declared warfare between the U.S. and Spain, and three months of actual fighting). But we do recall the "Maine" explosion, the battle of Manila Bay and George Dewey, and Teddy Roosevelt, the Rough Riders, and the "charge up San Juan Hill". Why not Hubbard's essay?

I think it is because Hubbard pushed the wrong message in the essay. When Edward Everett Hale wrote "The Man Without A Country", he was looking at the problem of patriotism and nationality. Lt. Philip Nolan foolishly throws it aside, and spends the rest of his life regretting it. Whatever we may think of patriotism, Hale makes a well written defense of it.

Hubbard starts out doing the same thing in describing how Lt. Rowan is given a message to deliver to General Calixto Garcia, head of the Cuban Revolutionary Army. The essay starts describing the many dangers in the jungles of Cuba Rowan faces to deliver the message (an invitation to Garcia to attend an important meeting with American military leaders in front of the city Santiago, which is under siege). There are beasts and natural dangers (like quicksand) that Rowan has to overcome, as well as by-passing Spanish military patrols. He does so, and gets the message to Garcia.

But here Hubbard made the error, which in the Progressive Era was not seen as an error, but which Hale would never have understood. Hubbard sees Rowan's success as an example of "get-up-and-go" American pragmatism. He sees that the Lt. Rowans of the world are the doers and shakers. He compares them favorable with those "slackers" at home who don't do that extra something for their bosses that impresses bosses and leads to raises! The end result is that Hubbard's "A Message To Garcia" becomes an advertisement for America's Chambers of Commerce. There is nothing wrong with this, but it trivializes an important military mission.

Fortunately the 1936 movie ignored the idiocy of Hubbard's message. It concentrated on Lt. Rowan (John Boles) mission to get that message to Garcia (Enrique Acosta). He is aided by Raphaelita Maderos (Barbara Stanwick) and Sgt. Dory (Wallace Beery, as an American deserter, who regains his sense of duty). Opposed is the Spanish agent Dr. Ivan Krug (Alan Hale Sr.) who nearly derails the mission.

It is a serviceable little movie, and one of the few sound films that actually deal with T.R.'s "Splendid Little War". And Garcia did get the message in real life and in the film. One negative comment that I am aware of. Harry Golden, in his book "Only In America", talks about the film, and points out the importance of the meeting is never stressed properly. After Garcia gets the message, we see him go to the meeting by boat, and shake hands with his hosts. As Golden says, it looks like Garcia was simply invited to lunch!

This idea may have influenced a later Warner Brother cartoon with a similar plot involving Speedy Gonzalez and Sylvester the Cat as enemy combatants. Gonzalez is asked to deliver a message to a revolutionary leader from his general. Sylvester keeps trying to catch him, and gets injured, but Speedy gets pretty tired. Finally, having tied up Sylvester, Speedy delivers the message (which he has to read). It's an invitation to a birthday party. Pretty sore about this (and Sylvester is not too thrilled either) the same idea enters both their heads. Speedy releases Sylvester, who starts chasing the revolutionary leader and the general who was throwing the party.