"Holiday in Mexico" is a delightful, funny, and very entertaining film. It's centered around a 16-year-old girl coming of age. Jane Powell was actually playing her age -- she was 17 when this movie came out. This was just her third film, and she is perfect as the youngdaughter of the American ambassador to Mexico. Walter Pidgeon plays Jeffrey Evans, a widower. So, daughter Christine makes sure that his excellency is all spiffy and presentable. And she assumes the direction of the ambassador's household -- or, so she thinks. All of that provides for some wonderful, warm humor.
Besides the comedy and some romance for the widowed ambassador, this film is loaded with musical talent, and a great variety of playing and singing. Christine is planning a gala party for the American embassy. And, with her winning and persuasive ways, she puts together a smashing slate of entertainment. It does take a little extra effort, including help from her boyfriend, Stanley Owen (played by Roddy McDowall). He's the son of the English ambassador, Sir Edward Owen (Paul Stanton).
Chris and Stanley scale a private garden wall to invite a touring classical singer, Countess Toni Karpathy (played by Ilona Massey) to sing. And, that's after Xavier Cugat (as himself) assured Chris that Ms. Karpathy did not do private parties. Besides Cugat and Karpathy, Chris invites famed pianist Jose Iturbi. And, two other noted musical performers are in this film in uncredited roles. Opera star, Marina Koshetz, is Mme. Baranga, wife of a Latin American diplomat. But she doesn't sing at all. Then, in the nightclub that Jeffrey and Toni visit, one of the greatest trumpet players of all time, Rafael Mendez is leading the Mexican band and playing "The Girl from Chihuahua."
So, this film has lots of very good music. Christine and Toni sing, Iturbi plays the piano and a smashing duet with his daughter, and Cugat and his orchestra play some lively song and dance numbers. Amidst all of this, Christine's dad and Countess Toni renew their friendship from an early romance. They had met in her native Hungary when he was a young diplomat stationed there after World War I. Chris is initially taken aback by her father's attention and time with Ms. Karpathy She begins to miss the father-daughter routines they had. He later reminds her that she is growing up. And that fans another change in Chris.
This film has a very good subplot of young women falling for older men. In this case both Iturbi and Ambassador Evans are the prey - or older men. But neither one knows it -- at the time. Iturbi is genuinely fond of and admires Chris for her talent and persona. And, while she admires him and becomes infatuated, she mistakenly takes his gentlemanly affections as love. At the same time, the daughter of a Latin American diplomat, is falling for Ambassador Evans. Among the older teen girls of the diplomatic circles, Yvette Baranga fawns over the handsome American ambassador. When they cross paths at any social affair, Yvette makes some gesture that gets a gentleman's response from Evans - a good evening, a thank-you, pick up of a dropped hanky, etc. He thinks nothing of these, but she takes them as personal affection.
When these two teen idolizing romances with older men come to a head, it bamboozles both men. But how they work it out is priceless and hilarious. Christine is hurt at first, embarrassed at her foolishness. But dad's wisdom is reassuring when he tells her that Mr. Iturbi would do nothing to embarrass her. In handling his own situation with Yvette's infatuation for him, Ambassador Evans is a hoot. His need for a monumental dowry from her parents has Yvette's father, diplomat Baranga (played hilariously by Mikhail Rasumny) disavow any engagement to his daughter and taking his wife and daughter away in a huff.
This movie was a big hit with audiences in 1946 - the first full year after the end or World War II. It was a big year for great movies. The post-war drama "The Best Years of Our Lives" took eight of nine Academy Awards, including best picture. It also finished first in box office at over $505 million. "Holiday in Mexico" was 20th in box office at $266 million. And "It's a Wonderful Life" finished 28th in box office at $233 million.
While this film is somewhat of a period piece, it's in full color and has a warm family feel that is timeless. Its humor and music should continue to entertain people for decades to come. Here are some favorite lines.
Jeffrey Evans, "Hey, uh, when did I make that speech about the well-organized household?" Christine, "Well, you might have at one time or another."
Christine Evans, "I may have to start looking for an ambassador who'll need me more than you do." Jeffrey Evans, "You'll never find one, darling."
Countess Toni Karpathy, "Oh, I can imagine - a little plump, a little bald." Xavier Cugat, "Oh, no, no, no. He's one of the handsomest men I have ever seen. In fact, he's even better looking than I am."
Christine Evans, "Nothing turns out the way one expects, does it?" Jose Iturbi, "Often it's because one expects the wrong thing."
Baranga, "You're obviously not worthy of our daughter. And I would appreciate your considering my being here, not being here at all. Goodbye!"
Jeffrey Evans, to Christine, "Don't you see, darling? You have your own place in my heart - a place no one else can fill. I think you know that, don't you?"
Christine Evans, "Father, I thought you'd be more understanding." Jeffrey, "Would it be more understanding if I pretended you hadn't made a fool of yourself -- when we both know you have? Remember this, darling. Everyone,... everyone makes a fool of himself at one time or another - many times."
Besides the comedy and some romance for the widowed ambassador, this film is loaded with musical talent, and a great variety of playing and singing. Christine is planning a gala party for the American embassy. And, with her winning and persuasive ways, she puts together a smashing slate of entertainment. It does take a little extra effort, including help from her boyfriend, Stanley Owen (played by Roddy McDowall). He's the son of the English ambassador, Sir Edward Owen (Paul Stanton).
Chris and Stanley scale a private garden wall to invite a touring classical singer, Countess Toni Karpathy (played by Ilona Massey) to sing. And, that's after Xavier Cugat (as himself) assured Chris that Ms. Karpathy did not do private parties. Besides Cugat and Karpathy, Chris invites famed pianist Jose Iturbi. And, two other noted musical performers are in this film in uncredited roles. Opera star, Marina Koshetz, is Mme. Baranga, wife of a Latin American diplomat. But she doesn't sing at all. Then, in the nightclub that Jeffrey and Toni visit, one of the greatest trumpet players of all time, Rafael Mendez is leading the Mexican band and playing "The Girl from Chihuahua."
So, this film has lots of very good music. Christine and Toni sing, Iturbi plays the piano and a smashing duet with his daughter, and Cugat and his orchestra play some lively song and dance numbers. Amidst all of this, Christine's dad and Countess Toni renew their friendship from an early romance. They had met in her native Hungary when he was a young diplomat stationed there after World War I. Chris is initially taken aback by her father's attention and time with Ms. Karpathy She begins to miss the father-daughter routines they had. He later reminds her that she is growing up. And that fans another change in Chris.
This film has a very good subplot of young women falling for older men. In this case both Iturbi and Ambassador Evans are the prey - or older men. But neither one knows it -- at the time. Iturbi is genuinely fond of and admires Chris for her talent and persona. And, while she admires him and becomes infatuated, she mistakenly takes his gentlemanly affections as love. At the same time, the daughter of a Latin American diplomat, is falling for Ambassador Evans. Among the older teen girls of the diplomatic circles, Yvette Baranga fawns over the handsome American ambassador. When they cross paths at any social affair, Yvette makes some gesture that gets a gentleman's response from Evans - a good evening, a thank-you, pick up of a dropped hanky, etc. He thinks nothing of these, but she takes them as personal affection.
When these two teen idolizing romances with older men come to a head, it bamboozles both men. But how they work it out is priceless and hilarious. Christine is hurt at first, embarrassed at her foolishness. But dad's wisdom is reassuring when he tells her that Mr. Iturbi would do nothing to embarrass her. In handling his own situation with Yvette's infatuation for him, Ambassador Evans is a hoot. His need for a monumental dowry from her parents has Yvette's father, diplomat Baranga (played hilariously by Mikhail Rasumny) disavow any engagement to his daughter and taking his wife and daughter away in a huff.
This movie was a big hit with audiences in 1946 - the first full year after the end or World War II. It was a big year for great movies. The post-war drama "The Best Years of Our Lives" took eight of nine Academy Awards, including best picture. It also finished first in box office at over $505 million. "Holiday in Mexico" was 20th in box office at $266 million. And "It's a Wonderful Life" finished 28th in box office at $233 million.
While this film is somewhat of a period piece, it's in full color and has a warm family feel that is timeless. Its humor and music should continue to entertain people for decades to come. Here are some favorite lines.
Jeffrey Evans, "Hey, uh, when did I make that speech about the well-organized household?" Christine, "Well, you might have at one time or another."
Christine Evans, "I may have to start looking for an ambassador who'll need me more than you do." Jeffrey Evans, "You'll never find one, darling."
Countess Toni Karpathy, "Oh, I can imagine - a little plump, a little bald." Xavier Cugat, "Oh, no, no, no. He's one of the handsomest men I have ever seen. In fact, he's even better looking than I am."
Christine Evans, "Nothing turns out the way one expects, does it?" Jose Iturbi, "Often it's because one expects the wrong thing."
Baranga, "You're obviously not worthy of our daughter. And I would appreciate your considering my being here, not being here at all. Goodbye!"
Jeffrey Evans, to Christine, "Don't you see, darling? You have your own place in my heart - a place no one else can fill. I think you know that, don't you?"
Christine Evans, "Father, I thought you'd be more understanding." Jeffrey, "Would it be more understanding if I pretended you hadn't made a fool of yourself -- when we both know you have? Remember this, darling. Everyone,... everyone makes a fool of himself at one time or another - many times."