Pepe (1960)

Although loosely based on a play by Leslie Bush-Fekete, "Pepe" is really a Hollywood showcase for Mexico's reigning comedy clown Cantinflas, who had been so good in "Around the World In Eighty Days" four years prior. However, Cantinflas doesn't have the chops to carry a lengthy movie all on his own, and nothing (not even an eye-popping art direction) can save the floundering results. Director and co-producer George Sidney appears to be trying to top "Eighty Days" in the star-cameos department; unfortunately, whereas that earlier film dropped in celebrity faces in the guise of different story characters, Sidney utilizes this group of celebrities as themselves in and around Hollywood. Sometimes this works (Jack Lemmon, Janet Leigh, Kim Novak) and sometimes it backfires (Judy Garland, who sings but doesn't even appear; Debbie Reynolds, who dances but only in long-shot; Bobby Darin, who sings but doesn't even get properly introduced). Edward G. Robinson, playing himself as a tough sonuvabitch one minute and an old softie the next, looks completely unsure of himself, and with good reason: this script is a mess. Cantinflas opens the picture with some fancy footwork in a Mexican bullring, but once he lands in Los Angeles (in search of the horse he brought up from a colt) he turns into a comical dummy. The team of screenwriters are not sure who they want Pepe to be: gallant hero, bighearted animal lover, or clueless flunky who keeps getting in the way (even interrupting a dramatic dance sequence because he actually thinks someone might get hurt!). The Las Vegas sequence is simply there to show off the Sands and Sinatra's Clan, but it gets the film nowhere. Shirley Jones tries her best with a ridiculous role of a waitress/dancer with a grudge against Hollywood, while Dan Dailey looks and acts sour as a director on the comeback trail. Worst of all is Cantinflas, who has Sidney to blame for what amounts to a disastrous starring performance. Acting stupid for a laugh doesn't create a character--and it doesn't create laughs for long--yet Cantinflas keeps milking the same, dumb one-note: the ignorant peasant who doesn't even know Americans say "Cheers" when they toast drinks. This is a picture so blind to the real world that even the fantasy bits are bummers. *1/2 from ****

It was Easter Sunday 1960 that I saw this movie with my parents. What a treat! My grandmother use to take me to see his hilarious movies here in S. Texas. He was the "Charlie Chaplin" of Mexico, comedic, as well as a dramatic actor loved by everyone. It may not have been the commercial success as Around The World In Eighty Days, but entertaining none the less. He may have been given the stereo typical poor hapless Mexican, yet I guess he had the last laugh! When was the last time a movie was centered around a poor Mexican with the most noted stars of the era? I counted at least 37! I still remember the cheery song "Pepe". When I hear "Tequila" today I still think of the dance he did with Debbie Reynolds and that big bottle they popped out of. I wish they'd release it on DVD, I'd be the first in line to buy it!!!

It seems Hollywood just didn't know what to do with Cantinflas; after his appearance in AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS, it took four years for him to appear in his next Hollywood movie - which was this train wreck that I'm sure had many of its participants licking their wounds for years to come! Upon seeing PEPE, it seems even its filmmakers weren't sure what to do with him, given the fact that a great deal of the movie is devoted to the ton of cameo appearances, appearances where Cantinflas is more or less made to simply blubber statements that you can barely make out, or just sit back stunned. In fact, even in the scenes where he appears with the regular characters, Cantinflas really doesn't have that much to do. Needless to say, he ends up being completely unfunny. There's nothing he does here that gives me a clue as to why he was so popular south of the border. (One other possible problem may be that reportedly his style of humor was geared towards the language and customs of his part of the world.) The whole movie is agonizing to sit through for its 158 minutes - the scary thing is that the movie was originally LONGER - over THREE HOURS LONG! (I am curious as to what was cut out - anyone know?) The only moment that provides anything of real entertainment is the "beatnik ballet" segment. Though it runs too long, and is somewhat goofy, some of the choreography is pretty spectacular.

Cantinflas plays a sweet Everyman with dreams of rising above his work as a rodeo (well, bullfight) clown through successful management of the beautiful stallion, Don Juan. Possible Spoiler Comments follow. Make no mistake about the point of this movie...it is a horse movie that equestrians will enjoy simply for the stunning stallion. The movie star cameos and high-power leads are just a bonus. The formula is one familiar to all horse lovers who read the books and watch the movies: wholesome person (child, innocent, or virtuous adult) needs horse, loses horse, conquers adversity, gains horse. The colorful settings and many celebrities fill out the story with fun, such as the "Tequila" drunken dream sequence. Like the Kim N. fan, I've sat through this film multiple times during the original run and many times since then, as much to see the horse as for the Hollywood legends.