Pepe

"Pepe" is an odd film. It stars Cantinflas--a very, very famous comic from Mexico but a person rather unknown to most Americans.

I really want to write something good about this movie. I can't, though.

I remember it well. I was 12 YO and loved it.

"Pepe" deserved to flop: it's not funny, it's too long, the character of Cantinflas is a total stereotype, and the story resolution reeks of 1950's Hollywood casual racism AND sexism (the young, initially "tough" Shirley Jones apologizes (!) to the dreary, obnoxious and middle-aged Dan Dailey who had been insulting both her and Cantinflas throughout the movie, and agrees to marry him, because of course in a 1960 movie a woman a) must always be wrong because the man must always right, b) cannot possibly have an interracial marriage).

The major recommendation on this movie is the fact that Kim Novak to me was never more beautiful than the Star was in this movie. Gorgeous.

For a film that was nominated for seven Academy Awards, this odd little movie became pretty hard to find a half-century after it was made. Starring Mario Moreno (aka Cantinflas), who was already hugely popular in his native Mexico, it served as another showcase for a bevy of American singers.

While this film doesn't especially take advantage of Mexican actor Cantinflas's talent, it's not nearly the bomb that other IMDB reviewers might indicate. True, the plotline isn't particularly compelling (in fact, it's a bit absurd), there are many memorable moments in the film.

. .

I'm watching Pepe right now, it was broadcast earlier this week on TCM.