Mexicana (film)

Mexicana
Directed by	Alfred Santell
Written by	Frank Gill Jr.
Produced by	Alfred Santell
Starring	Tito Guízar Constance Moore Leo Carrillo Estelita Rodriguez
Cinematography	Jack A. Marta
Edited by	Arthur Roberts
Music by	Walter Scharf
Production company	Republic Pictures
Distributed by	Republic Pictures
Release date	November 15, 1945 (1945-11-15)
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Mexicana is a 1945 American musical film directed by Alfred Santell and starring Tito Guízar, Constance Moore and Leo Carrillo. The film was one of three made by Republic Pictures in line with the American government's Good Neighbor policy towards Latin America. Its plot is almost identical to that of another Guízar vehicle Brazil (1944).^[1]

Plot

A crooner and heartthrob in Mexico, "Pepe" Luis Almarena Villarreal (Tito Guízar), grows tired of being mobbed by his young female fans. With the help of his manager, Esteban Guzman (Leo Carrillo) they plan to enlist the help of someone to play Villarreal's faux-wife. Enter Alison Calvert (Constance Moore), an American star in her own right, who first declines the offer, but eventually agrees to playing the trophy wife. Villarreal and Calvert butt heads often, and become upset over the competition from his fans. The pretend couple hatch a plan but become aware that they both have a love of family. Tricks and misunderstanding find Villarreal and Calvert in separate places, but both secretly admitting they love each other. A dejected Villarreal still performs, and eventually Calvert joins him on stage during a romantic ballad. As the sweethearts finish the number, they duck behind Villarreal's top-hat share a real kiss.

Cast

• Tito Guízar as 'Pepe' Villarreal
• Constance Moore as Alison Calvert
• Leo Carrillo as Esteban Guzman
• Estelita Rodriguez as Lupita
• Howard Freeman as Beagle
• Steven Geray as Laredo
• Jean Stevens as Bunny Ford
• Bobby Barber as Bellboy
• Maria Valadez as Chamber Maid
• Martin Garralaga as Policeman
• Carla Menet as Old-Fashioned Girl
• Alma Beltran as Modern Girl
• Craig Lawrence as Caballero

References

1. Affron & Affron p.69-70

Bibliography

• Affron, Charles & Affron, Mirella Jona. Best Years: Going to the Movies, 1945-1946. Rutgers University Press, 2009.

External links

• Mexicana at IMDb
• Mexicana at the TCM Movie Database