Gay Desperado, The

Ida Lupino and Metropolitan Opera star tenor, Nino Martini, star in this classic musical comedy directed by the great Rouben Mamoulian (Applause, Queen Christina and Love Me Tonight). After watching an American gangster film, Pablo Braganza, a fierce Mexican bandit (Leo Carrillo), is inspired to reorganize his outlaw gang to Chicago standards. Also a music lover, he kidnaps the great opera star Chivo (Martini) because he likes his voice. When Braganza learns that two hold-up victims are actually a wealthy young man and his fiancee, crossing the Mexican border to elope, he kidnaps them both in hopes of getting a healthy ransom. The groom-to-be, interested only in saving his own skin, escapes, leaving Chivo and lovely Jane (played by the wonderful Ida Lupino) to fall in love. Carrillo is hilarious as the Mexican bandit-turned-gangster and the film satirizes such Hollywood tough guys as James Cagney, Edward G. Robinson and George Raft. Martini sings contemporary songs and popular arias including Verdi's "Celeste Alda." Lupino shines in one of her best roles. An eccentric, wild ride featuring gags, in-jokes and bizarre characters, The Gay Desperado features master filmmaker Rouben Mamoulian's famous style, humor and musical flair.

Restored by UCLA Film and Television Archives in cooperation with the Mary Pickford Foundation.

Reviews

"One of Mamoulian's rare comedies, The Gay Desperado mixes a music-loving bandit (played with panache by Leo Carillo) who's eager to emulate the gangsters he sees in American movies, a singing caballero (opera star Nino Martini, who cut a far more romantic figure than Lawrence Tibbett) and a spunky eloping would-be bride (a very young Ida Lupino) for much light-hearted fun. Cinematographer Lucien Andriot's stunning black-and-white compositions have been restored to their original razor-sharp definition." - Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times