The diminutive spitfire Lupe Velez certainly always grabbed the spotlight, but the attention she demanded wasn't necessarily giving the reaction she hoped for. Her early sound films has her over-the-top and more brash than mesmerizing. As a young Mexican girl in a border town, she's tired of being exploited by the powerful Leo Carrillo (equally hammy) and longs for something more serious. A prediction of how she will find her true love leads her into the arms of amnesiac American pilot Melvyn Douglas, and with Carrillo interfering, his past will certainly be exposed.
Velez wears a lot of traditional Mexican style outfits, is stunning to look at, but the script is corny and the performances by Velez and Carrlo laughable at times. Douglas plays the role completely straight, doesn't bellow his lines (even when the situation calls for heavy emoting), and walks off with acting honors. George Barbier also scores as an obviously American man whom Velez refers to as "father". Priest or surrogate is never explained. It's glamorously filmed but just silly and mostly unbelievable. Not even memorable for subtle pre-code elements. Velez would score better work later on, especially when cast opposite Leon Errol in the "Mexican Spitfire" series.
Velez wears a lot of traditional Mexican style outfits, is stunning to look at, but the script is corny and the performances by Velez and Carrlo laughable at times. Douglas plays the role completely straight, doesn't bellow his lines (even when the situation calls for heavy emoting), and walks off with acting honors. George Barbier also scores as an obviously American man whom Velez refers to as "father". Priest or surrogate is never explained. It's glamorously filmed but just silly and mostly unbelievable. Not even memorable for subtle pre-code elements. Velez would score better work later on, especially when cast opposite Leon Errol in the "Mexican Spitfire" series.