Although Desi Arnaz had been around for a while, this was a rare chance for him to star in his own movie musical, and even though it's just a Universal programmer (only an hour long), it's a wonderful opportunity to see him at his best without his wife present. While Lucy was at Universal at the same time (appearing in the A list comedy "Lover Come Back"), she's not the one he loves here.
As the top Cuban singing heartthrob, Desi (playing a character with the same first and last name) is approached to perform in New York, but turns it down because of the memories of his ward, a niece (Beverly Simmons) whose parents died there. But he's persuaded by Joan Fulton to sign a contract with her self centered client, a vain and silly woman overplayed by Jacqueline de Witt, planning to perform with him herself even though she has no talent.
Every ten minutes or so, the ridiculous plot is interrupted by a number, so there's that to be thankful for, although outside of de Witt (an actress I've liked in other films, just not here), the dialog is somewhat amusing. Ethel Smith, the most popular movie organist, gets to perform too, as do the King sisters whom de Witt wantsout of his show. Desi certainly had star quality, so this is definitely a must (as is the 1949 Columbia musical "Holiday in Havana") for fans who want to boom chicky boom one more time.
As the top Cuban singing heartthrob, Desi (playing a character with the same first and last name) is approached to perform in New York, but turns it down because of the memories of his ward, a niece (Beverly Simmons) whose parents died there. But he's persuaded by Joan Fulton to sign a contract with her self centered client, a vain and silly woman overplayed by Jacqueline de Witt, planning to perform with him herself even though she has no talent.
Every ten minutes or so, the ridiculous plot is interrupted by a number, so there's that to be thankful for, although outside of de Witt (an actress I've liked in other films, just not here), the dialog is somewhat amusing. Ethel Smith, the most popular movie organist, gets to perform too, as do the King sisters whom de Witt wantsout of his show. Desi certainly had star quality, so this is definitely a must (as is the 1949 Columbia musical "Holiday in Havana") for fans who want to boom chicky boom one more time.