Full page view
HISTORY

Cuban Pete was Desi Arnaz's first film in three years, an absence caused by his enlistment in the U.S. Army. The José Norman song "Cuban Pete" became one of the signature songs for actor-singer Arnaz and gained new popularity in 1994, when it was performed by comedic actor Jim Carrey in the New Line film The Mask. ...

More Less

Cuban Pete was Desi Arnaz's first film in three years, an absence caused by his enlistment in the U.S. Army. The José Norman song "Cuban Pete" became one of the signature songs for actor-singer Arnaz and gained new popularity in 1994, when it was performed by comedic actor Jim Carrey in the New Line film The Mask.

Less

SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Box Office
27 Jul 1946
---
Daily Variety
19 Jul 1946
p. 3
Hollywood Reporter
19 Apr 1946
p. 21
Hollywood Reporter
19 Jul 1946
p. 3
Motion Picture Herald Product Digest
29 Jun 1946
p. 3066
Motion Picture Herald Product Digest
14 Sep 1946
p. 3198
Variety
24 Jul 1946
p. 26
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
Dial dir
Asst dir
PRODUCERS
Exec prod
Assoc prod
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dir of photog
ART DIRECTORS
Art dir
FILM EDITOR
Film ed
SET DECORATORS
T. F. Offenbecker
Set dec
COSTUMES
Gowns
MUSIC
Mus dir
SOUND
Dir of sd
[Sd] tech
MAKEUP
Hairstylist
Jack P. Pierce
Dir of makeup
PRODUCTION MISC
SOURCES
MUSIC
"The Breeze and I" by Ernesto Lecuona.
SONGS
"Cuban Pete," music and lyrics by José Norman; "El cumbanchero," music and lyrics by Rafael Hernandez; "Lullaby," music and lyrics by Bill Driggs, based on the traditional Mexican folk song "Cielito lindo;" "After Tonight," music by Jack Brooks, lyrics by Milton Schwarzwald; "Rhumba matumba," music and lyrics by Bobby Collazo.
SONGWRITERS/COMPOSERS
+ −
DETAILS
Release Date:
26 July 1946
Production Date:
mid Apr--early May 1946
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Universal Pictures Co., inc.
18 July 1946
LP446
Physical Properties:
Sound
Western Electric Recording
Black and White
Duration(in mins):
61
Country:
United States
PCA No:
11734
SYNOPSIS

Screwball perfume manufacturer Theresa Lindsay informs George Roberts of the Roberts Advertising Agency that she has decided to change the musical programming of her radio show from Russian to Cuban. Furthermore, Theresa insists that the unknown Desi Arnaz and His Cuban Rhythm Band be imported from Cuba to New York City to star on her show. When the bandleader refuses George's phone and telegram offers, the desperate advertising executive sends Ann Williams, his assistant, to Cuba to personally pursue Desi. She finds Desi and his group working on a plantation on the outskirts of Havana. Desi tells Ann that he refused the radio offer because his sister and brother-in-law were killed in New York City, and that he has been taking care of his orphaned niece Brownie ever since. With Brownie's help and a bit of romance, Ann convinces Desi to go to New York, but he soon becomes disenchanted when he learns that George paid Ann a $5,000 bonus to get him to appear on Theresa's show. Matters are further complicated when Theresa announces that she plans to perform on the radio program with Desi and his band. When Desi refuses to sing with her, Theresa attempts to enlist Brownie's aid by taking the little girl's sick parrot, José, to Alvin, her physician. Instead, Theresa is arrested when the parrot disrupts the doctor's office. Ann then agrees to arrange for Theresa's release from police custody only if the radio sponsor agrees never to sing with Desi. With Theresa at a safe distance, the radio show is a great success, and Desi and Ann are happily ...

More Less

Screwball perfume manufacturer Theresa Lindsay informs George Roberts of the Roberts Advertising Agency that she has decided to change the musical programming of her radio show from Russian to Cuban. Furthermore, Theresa insists that the unknown Desi Arnaz and His Cuban Rhythm Band be imported from Cuba to New York City to star on her show. When the bandleader refuses George's phone and telegram offers, the desperate advertising executive sends Ann Williams, his assistant, to Cuba to personally pursue Desi. She finds Desi and his group working on a plantation on the outskirts of Havana. Desi tells Ann that he refused the radio offer because his sister and brother-in-law were killed in New York City, and that he has been taking care of his orphaned niece Brownie ever since. With Brownie's help and a bit of romance, Ann convinces Desi to go to New York, but he soon becomes disenchanted when he learns that George paid Ann a $5,000 bonus to get him to appear on Theresa's show. Matters are further complicated when Theresa announces that she plans to perform on the radio program with Desi and his band. When Desi refuses to sing with her, Theresa attempts to enlist Brownie's aid by taking the little girl's sick parrot, José, to Alvin, her physician. Instead, Theresa is arrested when the parrot disrupts the doctor's office. Ann then agrees to arrange for Theresa's release from police custody only if the radio sponsor agrees never to sing with Desi. With Theresa at a safe distance, the radio show is a great success, and Desi and Ann are happily united.

Less

Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

TOP SEARCHES

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

According to HR news items, "The Gentleman from Montana" (an unpublished story by Lewis R. Foster, alternately called "The Gentleman from Wyoming" by both contemporary and modern ... >>

The Grapes of Wrath

According to materials contained in the Twentieth Century-Fox Records of the Legal Department at the UCLA Theater Arts Library, Fox paid John Steinbeck $70,000 for the rights to his ... >>

Casablanca

In the onscreen credits, actor S. Z. Sakall's name is incorrectly spelled "S. K. Sakall." HR news items add the following information about the production: ... >>

Yankee Doodle Dandy

George M. Cohan wrote and produced more than thirty-five plays, many of them with his partner Sam H. Harris, and composed more than 500 songs. Modern critics have attributed ... >>

Citizen Kane

This film's end credits begin with the statement, “Most of the principal actors in Citizen Kane are new to motion pictures. The Mercury Theatre is proud ... >>

The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.