Rio Rita (1942)

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

Director:

S. Sylvan Simon

Writers:

Richard Connell (screenplay), Gladys Lehman (screenplay)

Stars:

Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Kathryn Grayson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bud Abbott	...	'Doc'
Lou Costello	...	'Wishy' Dunne
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 aka Pete
Eros Volusia	...	Eros Volusia
Eros Volusia Brazilian Dancers	...	Eros Volusia Brazilian Dancers

Storyline

After being fired from their jobs as clerks in a pet store, Doc and Wishey, a couple of bumpkins, hide in the trunk of a car that they think will take them to New York. Somehow, however, they end up in Texas where they help to facilitate the romance of a popular Latin singer and the owner of a resort hotel while exposing a gang of Fifth-Columnists.

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Plot Keywords:

remake | slapstick comedy | male male relationship | female sexual predator | female jealousy | 

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Taglines:

THERE'S Monkey Business GOING ON!

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Genres:

Comedy | Music | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Some modern credits erroneously list the song "Long Before You Came Along" as appearing in the 1929 version. It was written for the 1942 version.

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Goofs

Lou gets thrown from the washing machine. But when he gets up from the table, his hair and clothes are completely dry.

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Quotes

Ricardo Montera: It's a code.
'Wishy': I don't think so. It's pretty hot in here.

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Connections

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997)

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Soundtracks

Such Unusual Weather
(1942) (uncredited)
Music by Harold Arlen
Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg
Written for the movie but not used

User Reviews

Rio Rita (1944) **1/2

Abbott and Costello were huge stars over at Universal Studios during this time, and this was the first time they made a movie for another studio (MGM) during their peak years. The results are quite good as far as the comical shenanigans of A&C are concerned -- they engage in some pretty laughable situations and were really spot-on at their game here, having energetic fun; I wonder if they were trying harder to show that they could be just as good for a rival studio other than their own? But unfortunately it isn't all roses. MGM was noted for their musicals, and there is a lot of singing trickled about here -- though unlike some of the more upbeat ditties from the Andrews Sisters in the Universal movies, these interludes are cringe-worthy. I mean there's some downright AWFUL singing to be endured in RIO RITA. The worst is a lengthy cadenza performed by one of the lead ladies. Just brutal. Too bad, as this could have been a good solid vehicle for Bud and Lou. **1/2 out of ****

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish German

Release Date:

April 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Рио-Рита

Filming Locations:

Hemet, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1