Jump to content

Mexican Spitfire Out West

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mexican Spitfire Out West
Directed byLeslie Goodwins
Screenplay byCharles E. Roberts
Jack Townley
Story byCharles E. Roberts
Produced byLee S. Marcus
Cliff Reid
StarringLupe Vélez
Leon Errol
Donald Woods
Elisabeth Risdon
Cecil Kellaway
CinematographyJack MacKenzie
Edited byDesmond Marquette
Music byRoy Webb
Production
company
Distributed byRKO Radio Pictures
Release date
  • November 29, 1940 (1940-11-29)
Running time
76 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Mexican Spitfire Out West is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Leslie Goodwins and written by Charles E. Roberts and Jack Townley. It is the sequel to the 1940 film Mexican Spitfire. The film stars Lupe Vélez, Leon Errol, Donald Woods, Elisabeth Risdon, and Cecil Kellaway. The film was released on November 29, 1940, by RKO Radio Pictures.[1][2][3]

Plot

[edit]

The story and characters continue where the previous film Mexican Spitfire left off. Newlyweds Carmelita and Dennis Lindsay are settling into their Manhattan apartment, much to the approval of Dennis's uncle Matt and much to the disgust of Matt's wife Della. Della thinks it isn't too late to send Carmelita away and marry Dennis off to his former flame Elizabeth Price. On the business front, advertising man Dennis is anxious to land a new client, British distiller Lord Basil Epping.

Carmelita, furious with Dennis for his preoccupation with business, goes to Reno for a divorce. Uncle Matt follows her and tries to keep Dennis's competitor off-balance by masquerading as Lord Epping, so the real Lord Epping can sign with Dennis. This backfires in short order, as Uncle Matt is constantly mistaken for Lord Epping at the hotel, and the genuine Lord Epping can't account for the frequent mistaken identities. Things come to a head when Lady Epping arrives, and Aunt Della descends upon the hotel, further confusing matters.

Cast

[edit]
Publicity still of Lupe Vélez

Production

[edit]

While making the film in August 1940, it was announced Velez was signed to do four more "Spitfire" movies.[4]

Reception

[edit]

Trade reviewers greeted the film as one of the funniest of the year. Boxoffice: "It assays high in hilarity, due not only to Errol's drollery in a dual role but also because of [an] ingeniously concocted farce script. It should set laugh records among fans of the slapstick school."[5] The Exhibitor: "This is the funniest of the Spitfire series, and had the preview audience howling with laughter, drowning out much of the dialogue."[6] Film Daily: "Surefire for laughs netted by comedy that moves along at a fine tempo... Direction by Leslie Goodwins is outstanding."[7] Motion Picture Herald: "Mexican Spitfire Out West was greeted with hilarity bordering on hysterics by the preview audience in Los Angeles... the seats prevented the audience from rolling in the aisles."[8]

Variety said Errol delivers a "smash characterisation" but disliked the film.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Mexican Spitfire Out West (1940) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  2. ^ "Mexican Spitfire Out West Trailer, Reviews and Schedule for Mexican Spitfire Out West - TVGuide.com". TV Guide. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  3. ^ "Movie Review - The Dreyfus Case - THE SCREEN; 'Mayerling to Sarajevo' at the Little Carnegie--Light Farce at the Rialto--'The Dreyfus Case' at the Thalia - NYTimes.com". Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Some more 'Spitfire'". Variety. 7 August 1940. p. 9.
  5. ^ Boxoffice, Oct. 5, 1940, p. 32-C.
  6. ^ The Exhibitor, Oct. 16, 1940, p. 620.
  7. ^ Film Daily, Oct. 9, 1940, p. 13.
  8. ^ Vance King, Motion Picture Herald, Oct. 12, 1940, p. 49.
  9. ^ "Mexican Spitfire Out West". Variety. 30 October 1940. p. 14.
[edit]