''Mexicana'' is a 1945 American

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serve merely as brea ...

directed by

Alfred Santell Alfred Allen Santell (1895–1981), was an American film director and film producer. Santell directed over 60 films, beginning in 1917, most of which were two-reel comedy short subjects for Hal Roach and other productions companies. Taking up f ...

and starring Tito Guízar,

Constance Moore Constance Moore (January 18, 1920 or January 18, 1921Additional on April 23, 2017. – September 16, 2005) was an American singer and actress. Her most noted work was in wartime musicals such as ''Show Business'' and ''Atlantic City'' and the ...

and

Leo Carrillo Leopoldo Antonio Carrillo (; August 6, 1880 – September 10, 1961), known professionally as Leo Carrillo, was an American actor, vaudevillian, political cartoonist, and conservationist. He was best known for playing Pancho in the television ...

. The film was one of three made by

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City a ...

in line with the American government's Good Neighbor policy towards

Latin America Latin America or * french: Amérique Latine, link=no * ht, Amerik Latin, link=no * pt, América Latina, link=no, name=a, sometimes referred to as LatAm is a large cultural region in the Americas where Romance languages — languages derived ...

. Its plot is almost identical to that of another Guízar vehicle ''

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

'' (1944).Affron & Affron p.69-70

Plot

crooner Crooner is a term used to describe primarily male singers who performed using a smooth style made possible by better microphones which picked up quieter sounds and a wider range of frequencies, allowing the singer to access a more dynamic range ...

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 *

as Alison Calvert *

as Esteban Guzman *

Estelita Rodriguez Estelita Rodriguez (July 2, 1928 – March 12, 1966) was a Cuban actress best known for her roles in many Westerns with Roy Rogers for Republic Pictures, as well as her role in Howard Hawks' '' Rio Bravo''. Early life and career Rodriguez's c ...

as Lupita *

Howard Freeman Howard Freeman (December 9, 1899 – December 11, 1967) was an American actor of the early 20th century, and film and television actor of the 1940s through the 1960s. Biography Freeman was born in Helena, Montana, and began working as ...

as Beagle * Steven Geray as Laredo * Jean Stevens as Bunny Ford *

Bobby Barber Bobby Barber (December 18, 1894 – May 24, 1976) was an American actor who appeared in over 100 films. Barber is notable for his work as a foil for Abbott and Costello on and off screen. Biography Barber was born Robert S. Barbera in New York. ...

as Bellboy * Maria Valadez as Chamber Maid *

Martin Garralaga Martín Garralaga (10 November 1894 – 12 June 1981) was a Spanish actor who worked in Hollywood from the 1930s through the 1960s. He was married to opera singer and actress Rosa Rey. Biography Garralaga first came to the United States wh ...

as Policeman * Carla Menet as Old-Fashioned Girl *

Alma Beltran Alma Leonor Beltran (August 22, 1919 – June 9, 2007) was a Mexican-American film, stage and television actress. She appeared in 82 films between 1945 and 2002. In addition to her film roles, Beltran played over 80 roles in film and television, ...

as Modern Girl * Craig Lawrence as Caballero

References

Bibliography

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

External links

* 1945 films American musical comedy films American black-and-white films 1945 musical comedy films 1940s English-language films Films directed by Alfred Santell Films scored by Walter Scharf Republic Pictures films 1940s American films {{musical-comedy-film-stub