The Gay Desperado
(1936)
85 mins | Comedy | 2 October 1936
Cast:
Nino Martini, Ida Lupino, Leo Carrillo [ More ]Director:
Rouben MamoulianWriter:
Wallace SmithCinematographer:
Lucien AndriotEditor:
Margaret ClanceyProduction Designer:
Richard DayProduction Company:
Pickford-Lasky Productions, Inc.Actor Chris-Pin Martin is erroneously list in the onscreen credits as Chris King Martin. This film was the second and final production for Pickford-Lasky, and was shot in the Arizona desert on the Papago Indian Reservation near Tucson. According to FD, Ida Lupino was signed for this film following the preview of One Rainy Afternoon, the first Pickford-Lasky production (see below). Members of the Trovadores Chinacos, who made their debut in this film, include Pedro Galindo, Rogue Castillo and Nicandro Castillo. The American gangster-film-within-the-film featured burlesques of Jack La Rue , George Raft, Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney. Pickford-Lasky conducted a nation-wide poll for this film's title; 21,000-25,000 people voted for "Gay Desperado." Press information claims the gold embroidered sombrero worn by Leo Carrillo in the film had been worn by Pancho Villa and was presented to Carrillo by Villa's widow. The fight scenes in this film were performed by former professional boxers and wrestlers including Sailor Vincent, Bert Colima, Ky Robinson, George Magrill, Jack Perry, Jimmie Dime, Harry Wilson, Jack Padgen, Bud Fine and George Du Count. According to press information, the state of Arizona was especially generous to the film crew: Rouben Mamoulian was made honorary lieutenant by a patrolman who had arrested him two years earlier for a traffic infraction when he was driving in the state with Greta Garbo; Tucson police chief Ben West gave assistant director Robert Lee the bullet-proof vest of famous gangster John Dillinger, who had been arrested two years earlier; and Governor B. B. Moeur gave Carrillo a 1,700-year-old cactus tree. Press materials claim that actor Alan Garcia, a former Madera revolutionist, ...
Actor Chris-Pin Martin is erroneously list in the onscreen credits as Chris King Martin. This film was the second and final production for Pickford-Lasky, and was shot in the Arizona desert on the Papago Indian Reservation near Tucson. According to FD, Ida Lupino was signed for this film following the preview of One Rainy Afternoon, the first Pickford-Lasky production (see below). Members of the Trovadores Chinacos, who made their debut in this film, include Pedro Galindo, Rogue Castillo and Nicandro Castillo. The American gangster-film-within-the-film featured burlesques of Jack La Rue , George Raft, Edward G. Robinson and James Cagney. Pickford-Lasky conducted a nation-wide poll for this film's title; 21,000-25,000 people voted for "Gay Desperado." Press information claims the gold embroidered sombrero worn by Leo Carrillo in the film had been worn by Pancho Villa and was presented to Carrillo by Villa's widow. The fight scenes in this film were performed by former professional boxers and wrestlers including Sailor Vincent, Bert Colima, Ky Robinson, George Magrill, Jack Perry, Jimmie Dime, Harry Wilson, Jack Padgen, Bud Fine and George Du Count. According to press information, the state of Arizona was especially generous to the film crew: Rouben Mamoulian was made honorary lieutenant by a patrolman who had arrested him two years earlier for a traffic infraction when he was driving in the state with Greta Garbo; Tucson police chief Ben West gave assistant director Robert Lee the bullet-proof vest of famous gangster John Dillinger, who had been arrested two years earlier; and Governor B. B. Moeur gave Carrillo a 1,700-year-old cactus tree. Press materials claim that actor Alan Garcia, a former Madera revolutionist, narrowly escaped death in 1911 at the hands of a Corporal Mariano Valenzuela, who, in the film, ironically plays a rebel held captive by a federal officer, played by Garcia. About the time of this film's release, Nino Martini opened his fourth season on the air over the Columbia radio network with a performance of his hit song "The World Is Mine."
When Mexican bandit Braganza and his men watch an American gangster movie, Braganza urges them to behave like the tough Americans, and a brawl starts in the theater, causing Chivo, a theater employee, to pacify the crowd with his mellifluous singing. Braganza recruits Chivo as his permanent entertainer, dressing him up as a bandit and forcing him to hold up an American couple, Bill Shay and Jane, who are crossing the border to get married. When Braganza learns the young man is the son of the wealthy B. Warden Shay, he holds the couple for ransom at his hacienda and leaves to contact American gangster Butch. The next morning, Bill, concerned only for his own safety, begs Jane to befriend Chivo, and with their help, Bill escapes. Chivo and Jane then spend the day falling in love. When Braganza returns, Chivo confesses his love for Jane and his part in Bill's escape, and Braganza stages a court-martial. The bandit Diego, however, breaks a self-imposed ten-year silence to protest Braganza's brute American behavior, and Braganza postpones Chivo's execution. Chivo and Jane then escape in her car and pick up Bill. He then drives off with Jane, leaving behind Chivo, who assumes the couple is already married. Butch hi-jacks Bill and Jane and returns them to the hacienda, hoping to collect Shay's ransom for himself. In town, Chivo gives himself up to the police, then sings to Braganza over the radio, begging him to return Jane to him and release Bill. Braganza defeats Butch and denounces the American gangster way, returning to a Mexican code of honor by offering the police ...
When Mexican bandit Braganza and his men watch an American gangster movie, Braganza urges them to behave like the tough Americans, and a brawl starts in the theater, causing Chivo, a theater employee, to pacify the crowd with his mellifluous singing. Braganza recruits Chivo as his permanent entertainer, dressing him up as a bandit and forcing him to hold up an American couple, Bill Shay and Jane, who are crossing the border to get married. When Braganza learns the young man is the son of the wealthy B. Warden Shay, he holds the couple for ransom at his hacienda and leaves to contact American gangster Butch. The next morning, Bill, concerned only for his own safety, begs Jane to befriend Chivo, and with their help, Bill escapes. Chivo and Jane then spend the day falling in love. When Braganza returns, Chivo confesses his love for Jane and his part in Bill's escape, and Braganza stages a court-martial. The bandit Diego, however, breaks a self-imposed ten-year silence to protest Braganza's brute American behavior, and Braganza postpones Chivo's execution. Chivo and Jane then escape in her car and pick up Bill. He then drives off with Jane, leaving behind Chivo, who assumes the couple is already married. Butch hi-jacks Bill and Jane and returns them to the hacienda, hoping to collect Shay's ransom for himself. In town, Chivo gives himself up to the police, then sings to Braganza over the radio, begging him to return Jane to him and release Bill. Braganza defeats Butch and denounces the American gangster way, returning to a Mexican code of honor by offering the police the couple in exchange for Chivo and a fifteen-minute head start for himself. Back at the hacienda, Chivo and Jane are reunited, and Braganza, having kept his word, escapes from the police.
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