Tropic Holiday (1938)

A Hollywood screenwriter looking for inspiration for his next film goes to Mexico, where he runs into a beautiful Mexican girl who sets her sights on him.

Director:

Theodore Reed

Writers:

Don Hartman (story and screenplay), Frank Butler (story and screenplay)

Stars:

Bob Burns, Dorothy Lamour, Ray Milland

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bob Burns	...	Breck Jones
Dorothy Lamour	...	Manuela
Ray Milland	...	Ken Warren
Martha Raye	...	Midge Miller
Binnie Barnes	...	Marilyn Joyce
Tito Guízar	...	Ramón
Elvira Ríos	...	Rosa
Roberto Soto	...	Roberto
Michael Visaroff	...	Felipe
Bobbie Moya	...	Pepito
Fortunio Bonanova	...	Barrera
Matt McHugh	...	Joe
Pepito Pérez	...	Chico (as Pepito)
Chris-Pin Martin	...	Pancho
San Cristobal Marimba Band	...	San Cristopbal Marimba Band

Storyline

A Hollywood screenwriter looking for inspiration for his next film goes to Mexico, where he runs into a beautiful Mexican girl who sets her sights on him.

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Plot Keywords:

hollywood california | slapstick comedy | actor's name in tagline | actress name in tagline | racial stereotype | 

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Taglines:

FIESTA OF FUN! (print ad - Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Tech Theatre - Lubbock, Texas - Dec. 28, 1939 - all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.

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Quotes

Marilyn Joyce: Well, you're very attractive - in a primitive sort of way.
Manuela: Oh, thank you. I saw you in a picture one time.
Marilyn Joyce: Oh, really?
Manuela: You were very, very beautiful. I'd never recognise you.

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Connections

References Captains Courageous (1937)

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Soundtracks

On a Tropic Night/Noche tropical
(uncredited)
Music by Agustín Lara
English Lyrics by Ned Washington
Performed by Dorothy Lamour, Tito Guízar

User Reviews

Ensenada

After filming The Jungle Princess and Her Jungle love, the studio wanted to pair Dorothy Lamour and Ray Milland once again. This time, unfortunately, she wears no sarong. The action is moved to Mexico instead and although including several beautiful songs by the so called Irving Berlin of Latin America Agustín Lara and cast Bob Burns and Martha Raye (who take the protagonism out of a couple of too bland and poorly written main characters), the final result is a too slow moving movie that shines only in its musical moments. Famous mexican singer Tito Guízar sings some of the songs -better in Spanish than in English, since the lyrics' translations are not very good either - and choreograper José Fernández staged the dances. Dorothy Lamour also sings several beautiful songs but her screen time -as well as Ray Milland's- is not very long, leaving the film mostly to Burns and Raye routines. Plot is too poorly developed and you have the feeling time runs while nothing really happens. Even the songs' timing is too slow, as if a 45rpm vinyl was played 33 rpm. Maybe in another director's hands it could have been an entertaining movie but it never really takes off and beautiful songs are not enough to sustain it. Originally entitled Ensenada (cove), title was changed to leave any tropical reference apart. Definitely not one of Dorothy's best.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 July 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

La belle de Mexico

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1