La Fiesta de Santa Barbara

Louis B. Mayer actually splurged for color in this Pete Smith short, La Fiesta De Santa Barbara. The short revolves around MGM's recreation of the famous celebration in Santa Barbara, California with a number of MGM's contract players and others making a brief appearance.

Seen in the audience are such luminaries as Robert Taylor, Gary Cooper, Gilbert Roland, Edmund Lowe, and a whole lot more. In her only film appearance with her sisters, Judy Garland appears with them under her real name of Frances Gumm singing La Cucaracha.

Highlight for me is Andy Devine fighting a couple of guys in a bull's costume as per the Hispanic tradition of the Fiesta. Capping the whole thing off in the end is Leo Carrillo riding in something very much like the native costume he wore when playing Pancho on the Cisco Kid. This is real though for Leo Carillo actually was a descendant of the earliest settlers in California.

It's a pleasant enough short, especially for those who like to stargaze.