Tropic Holiday (1938)

70,75 or 77 mins | Comedy | 1 July 1938

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HISTORY

The Ascencio del Rio Trio was comprised of Ofelia Ascencio, Sara Ascencio and Emmy del Rio; and The San Cristobal Marimba Band was comprised of the Dominguez brothers. According to the pressbook, the dance numbers were entitled "Dance of the Sombreros," "La Chiapaneca" and "La Sandunga." In her autobiography, Dorothy Lamour notes that the film was originally entitled Ensenada. Music director Boris Morros was nominated for an Academy Award in the Music (Scoring) category. ...

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The Ascencio del Rio Trio was comprised of Ofelia Ascencio, Sara Ascencio and Emmy del Rio; and The San Cristobal Marimba Band was comprised of the Dominguez brothers. According to the pressbook, the dance numbers were entitled "Dance of the Sombreros," "La Chiapaneca" and "La Sandunga." In her autobiography, Dorothy Lamour notes that the film was originally entitled Ensenada. Music director Boris Morros was nominated for an Academy Award in the Music (Scoring) category.

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SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Daily Variety
22 Jun 1938
p. 3
Hollywood Reporter
24 Jan 1938
pp. 10-11
Hollywood Reporter
28 Mar 1938
pp. 18-19
Hollywood Reporter
22 Jun 1938
p. 3
Motion Picture Daily
26 Mar 1938
p. 47
Motion Picture Daily
23 Jun 1938
p. 5
Motion Picture Herald
25 Jun 1938
p. 47
New York Times
30 Jun 1938
p. 21
Variety
6 Jul 1938
p. 15
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
Theodore Reed
Dir
Asst dir
PRODUCERS
Exec prod
PHOTOGRAPHY
Photog
ART DIRECTORS
Art dir
Art dir
FILM EDITOR
SET DECORATOR
Int dec
COSTUMES
Cost
MUSIC
Mus dir
SOUND
Sd rec
Sd rec
VISUAL EFFECTS
Spec photog eff
DANCE
Dance dir
Asst to dance dir
PRODUCTION MISC
Prod consultant
SOURCES
SONGS
"Guadalajara," music and lyrics by Pepe Guizar; "Havin' Myself a Time," music and lyrics by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger; "On a Tropic Night," "My First Love," "Tonight Will Live" and "Lamp on the Corner," music by Agustin Lara with English lyrics by Ned Washington.
SONGWRITERS/COMPOSERS
+ −
DETAILS
Release Date:
1 July 1938
Production Date:
mid Jan--late Mar 1938
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Paramount Pictures, Inc.
22 July 1938
LP8166
Physical Properties:
Sound
Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording
Black and White
Duration(in mins):
70,75 or 77
Length(in reels):
8
Country:
United States
PCA No:
4121
Passed by NBR:
Yes
SYNOPSIS

Ken Warren is sent to Mexico by his producer, Sol Grunnion, to write a romantic screenplay. He is assisted by his secretary, Midge Miller, who falls in love with the serenading Ramon. Meanwhile, Ken falls in love with local beauty Manuela, and while using their relationship as material for his screenplay, he discovers the true meaning of love. Breck Jones, Midge's suitor since kindergarten, flies to Mexico to insist that she marry him, but caught up with the romance of the place, Midge insists she is only interested in a brave man who will pursue her. In the meantime, Midge tries to impress Ramon by taking bullfighting lessons, but is a miserable failure. Breck takes Ken's advice and attempts to duplicate the suicide scene from the film A Star Is Born , hoping to attract Midge's attention. She is uninterested, however, and he is rescued by a local fishing boat. Then, Breck is imprisoned after a staged fight with some locals falls through, and he hits Barrera, who runs the bullfights. When Barrera receives news that his famous female bullfighter will not be able to perform due to an injury, Barrera promises Midge that he will have Breck released if she goes into the ring. Midge reluctantly agrees. Ken's Hollywood starlet fiancée, Marilyn Joyce then comes to town to take him back to Hollywood to marry her. Although she admits they are not in love, Marilyn is afraid she will receive bad publicity if it appears she has been jilted in favor of a Mexican unknown. Later, the wrong bull, "Furioso," is accidentally let in to the ring ...

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Ken Warren is sent to Mexico by his producer, Sol Grunnion, to write a romantic screenplay. He is assisted by his secretary, Midge Miller, who falls in love with the serenading Ramon. Meanwhile, Ken falls in love with local beauty Manuela, and while using their relationship as material for his screenplay, he discovers the true meaning of love. Breck Jones, Midge's suitor since kindergarten, flies to Mexico to insist that she marry him, but caught up with the romance of the place, Midge insists she is only interested in a brave man who will pursue her. In the meantime, Midge tries to impress Ramon by taking bullfighting lessons, but is a miserable failure. Breck takes Ken's advice and attempts to duplicate the suicide scene from the film A Star Is Born , hoping to attract Midge's attention. She is uninterested, however, and he is rescued by a local fishing boat. Then, Breck is imprisoned after a staged fight with some locals falls through, and he hits Barrera, who runs the bullfights. When Barrera receives news that his famous female bullfighter will not be able to perform due to an injury, Barrera promises Midge that he will have Breck released if she goes into the ring. Midge reluctantly agrees. Ken's Hollywood starlet fiancée, Marilyn Joyce then comes to town to take him back to Hollywood to marry her. Although she admits they are not in love, Marilyn is afraid she will receive bad publicity if it appears she has been jilted in favor of a Mexican unknown. Later, the wrong bull, "Furioso," is accidentally let in to the ring with Midge, and she has quite a time dodging it until it crashes through the wall of the jail and reappears with Breck on its back. Breck calms the beast and is finally Midge's hero, after which he cleverly sets up Marilyn with Ramon, thereby allowing Ken to stay in Mexico and pursue his romance with Manuela.

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

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