Executive producer: Herbert J. Yates. Songs: "Lost Now" (Rodriguez), "Making With the Conversation" (Rodriguez), — music and lyrics for both by Walter Kent and Walton Farrar; "I'll Forget You" (Rodriguez), "Oh That Rhythm!" (Rodriguez), — music and lyrics for both by Walter Kent; "Yoyo Yaya" (Carioca and Pandeiro), music and lyrics by Antonio C. Martins.
Copyright 20 January 1950 (in notice: 1949) by Republic Pictures Corp. U.S. release: 1 March 1950. U.K. release: 1 March 1951. 70 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Wealthy playboy appoints himself guardian of wartime buddy's "little sister". However, it transpires girl is neither "little" nor "sisterly".
COMMENT: Almost a lost film. Not even mentioned in The Hollywood Musical (though it certainly qualifies) and never theatrically released in Australia (though Estelita's subsequent films were), it suddenly turned up on free-to-air television in 1986.
Not that it was actually worth discovery. Even avid Republic fans will be hard put to mine much entertainment gold from this collection of dross. It's hard to tell which are the dullest — the musical numbers or the comedy stretches.
After giving it some thought, I think I'll plump for the "comedy". Not only are these sequences longer than the songs — and thus more tedious by reason of length — but they are dominated by the extremely tiresome Dave Willock.
Admittedly, Thurston Hall and Gordon Jones are just as irritatingly and over-strenuously jocose, but at least their roles are smaller. Only Florence Bates and Fritz Feld (giving vent to one of his amusing musical pop-pop perambulations) manage to partially overcome their pitiful material. As for Ms Rodriguez herself, not only is she a lackluster performer complete with silly accent, she's not much of a singer and is most unflatteringly photographed too!
Yes, — attention all Republic fans! — better give this one a miss.
OTHER VIEWS: Although it makes no mention of the fact, this "B" musical comedy was very obviously suggested by the Sonia Henie vehicle, "Sun Valley Serenade". Unfortunately, Estelita Rodriguez's talents are as remote from Miss Henie's as Carlos Molindo's from Glenn Miller's.
Aside from a frantic chase sequence which is rather excitingly staged, this is an undistinguished "B"-feature with dull direction and a particularly trite script (even if it does provide for the entrance of some of our favorite character players).
Admittedly, the color photography is attractive, though Miss Rodriguez comes out second best to Miss Patrick. Other production credits are less satisfactory. The songs are unmemorable and are poorly staged, the sets are unimpressive and the male lead is wet.
Copyright 20 January 1950 (in notice: 1949) by Republic Pictures Corp. U.S. release: 1 March 1950. U.K. release: 1 March 1951. 70 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Wealthy playboy appoints himself guardian of wartime buddy's "little sister". However, it transpires girl is neither "little" nor "sisterly".
COMMENT: Almost a lost film. Not even mentioned in The Hollywood Musical (though it certainly qualifies) and never theatrically released in Australia (though Estelita's subsequent films were), it suddenly turned up on free-to-air television in 1986.
Not that it was actually worth discovery. Even avid Republic fans will be hard put to mine much entertainment gold from this collection of dross. It's hard to tell which are the dullest — the musical numbers or the comedy stretches.
After giving it some thought, I think I'll plump for the "comedy". Not only are these sequences longer than the songs — and thus more tedious by reason of length — but they are dominated by the extremely tiresome Dave Willock.
Admittedly, Thurston Hall and Gordon Jones are just as irritatingly and over-strenuously jocose, but at least their roles are smaller. Only Florence Bates and Fritz Feld (giving vent to one of his amusing musical pop-pop perambulations) manage to partially overcome their pitiful material. As for Ms Rodriguez herself, not only is she a lackluster performer complete with silly accent, she's not much of a singer and is most unflatteringly photographed too!
Yes, — attention all Republic fans! — better give this one a miss.
OTHER VIEWS: Although it makes no mention of the fact, this "B" musical comedy was very obviously suggested by the Sonia Henie vehicle, "Sun Valley Serenade". Unfortunately, Estelita Rodriguez's talents are as remote from Miss Henie's as Carlos Molindo's from Glenn Miller's.
Aside from a frantic chase sequence which is rather excitingly staged, this is an undistinguished "B"-feature with dull direction and a particularly trite script (even if it does provide for the entrance of some of our favorite character players).
Admittedly, the color photography is attractive, though Miss Rodriguez comes out second best to Miss Patrick. Other production credits are less satisfactory. The songs are unmemorable and are poorly staged, the sets are unimpressive and the male lead is wet.
