Rio Rita (1942)

Director:

S. Sylvan Simon

Writers:

Richard Connell (screenplay) and
Gladys Lehman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

April 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

THERE'S Monkey Business GOING ON!

Plot:

Doc and Wishey run into some Nazi-agents, who want to smuggle bombs into the USA from a Mexican border hotel. |

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Dog | Garage | Mexican American | Secret Service

Cast

Bud Abbott	...	'Doc'
Lou Costello	...	'Wishy'
Kathryn Grayson	...	Rita Winslow
John Carroll	...	Ricardo Montera
Patricia Dane	...	Lucette Brunswick
Tom Conway	...	Maurice Craindall
Peter Whitney	...	Jake
Barry Nelson	...	Harry Gantley
Arthur Space	...	Trask
Dick Rich	...	Gus
Eva Puig	...	Marianna
Joan Valerie	...	Dotty
Mitchell Lewis	...	Julio
Eros Volusia	...	Herself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eros Volusia Brazilian Dancers	...	Themselves

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #8091) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Hemet, California, USA

Company:

Loew's

Trivia:

The musical "Rio Rita" opened on Broadway in New York City, New York, USA on 2 February 1927 and closed on 7 April 1928 after 494 performances. The cast included Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey who reprised their roles in the 1929 movie of the same name. Only 2 songs were used in this 1942 movie, and the screenplay bears no resemblance to the plot of the 1929 version. In fact, the SAB designated the 1942 version as an original story.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the scene where Lou is on top of the car garage roof, a seam in the sky cyclorama can clearly be seen, even in long shot, and shadows of trees are also reflected on the "sky."

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Ranger's Song

Superb comedy!

Abbott and Costello stranded in a petshop (this part was filmed after the film was completed as Kathryn Grayson's opening number was considered racist and was cut!!) and lose their jobs. They are stranded in a town. Oddly enough, they decide to go their separate ways!! I didn't like this idea. Bud and Lou are supposed to be partners (well for most of their films).

They sneak into the boot (trunk) of famous crooner Ricardo Montera, as they wrongly assume he is going to NY. He is on his way to Vista Del Rio, A radio station in Texas to sing on a live broadcast. Rita, is a big star on the station and has eyes only for Montera, who they had a brief encounter with 10 years previously. He arrives next morning, with the boys still in the back of the car and immediately gets on his horse and rides off to the plains. He grew up with the rangers. Ricardo, not remembering Rita, meets up with her and comes on fresh to her (After a boring song). After, she reminds him who she is, the rangers then appear and they sing the only good song in the movie. Bud and Lou(after an absolutely hilarious - and I mean HILARIOUS!!) routine with the car, find themselves wondering around starving. After stealing fake apples used by the nazi owners (they are really radios), they are more hungry than ever. A waiter lays a table right where they are lying and they eat the food. After the waiters chase them away, Rita tells Lucette, also after Ricardo, that she sent them the food. She then employs the boys as house detectives. The boys have to get Lucette away from Ricardo and the manager has to get a broadcast out that night to fellow nazis in code. This is a hilarious, top Abbott and Costello comedy. There is a good background story and plenty left over for the boys to do many routines and wordplay. If only they made more films of this standard. They did make better films though. The only downside is the many songs. Kathryn Grayson performs a never ending opera number which slows down the pace. The rest of the songs, after 10 years of watching this movie (and STILL laughing) I can sit through.

Look out for the best bit: Lou trapped inside a giant washing machine!! Abbott and Costello fans will certainly not be disapointed with this movie.

There was something so special about the films they made in the early 40s that I just can't define! Wonderful!