Mexican Spitfire Sees a Ghost (1942)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Leslie Goodwins

Writers:

Charles E. Roberts (original screenplay) and
Monte Brice (original screenplay)

Release Date:

26 June 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Sequel | Partnership | Nobility | New York City | Mistaken Identity

Cast

Lupe Velez	...	Carmelita Lindsay
Leon Errol	...	Uncle Matt Lindsay / Lord Basil Epping
Charles 'Buddy' Rogers	...	Dennis Lindsay
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Aunt Della Lindsay
Donald MacBride	...	Percy Fitzbadden
Minna Gombell	...	Edith Fitzbadden
Don Barclay	...	Fingers O'Toole
John Maguire	...	Luders
Lillian Randolph	...	Hyacinth
Mantan Moreland	...	Lightnin'
Harry Tyler	...	Bascombe
Marten Lamont	...	Mr. Harcourt
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Martin	...	Epping's Chauffeur (uncredited)
Barbara Moffett	...	Bit Part (uncredited) (unconfirmed)
Linda Rivas	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Mary Stuart	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Sally Wadsworth	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Julie Warren	...	Secretary (uncredited)
Jane Woodworth	...	Epping's Main Secretary (uncredited)

Directed by
Leslie Goodwins

Writing credits
Charles E. Roberts		(original screenplay) and
Monte Brice		(original screenplay)

Produced by
Cliff Reid	....	producer

Original Music by
C. Bakaleinikoff		(uncredited)
Dave Dreyer		(uncredited)
Paul Sawtell		(uncredited)
Roy Webb		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Russell Metty		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Theron Warth

Art Direction by
Carroll Clark
Albert S. D'Agostino

Costume Design by
Renié		(gowns)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Dorfman	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
John E. Tribby	....	sound recordist

Music Department
C. Bakaleinikoff	....	musical director

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1942) (USA) (theatrical)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)

Runtime:

75 min (copyright length)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:TV-G (TV rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #8100) (original rating)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Notorious as the main feature on the double bill which also featured the original release of the Orson Welles classic The Magnificent Ambersons (1942). "Ambersons" was therefore relegated to "second feature" status, something usually reserved for B pictures.

Movie Connections:

Follows The Girl from Mexico (1939)

Soundtrack:

The British Grenadiers

If you like Donald MacBride.....

.....this one should not be missed. Usually limited to a few minutes of screen time as a mercurial, frustrated figure of supposed authority (cop, manager of some sort) with a very short fuse, MacBride logs many minutes here in a juicy supporting role, allowed to exhibit a seemingly full range of mugging, double-takes, arm-waving and growling. Perhaps insufferable to some, but if you care for his shtick, it is presented to great advantage here. Like Leon Errol's Lord Epping, if you are a fan you can't get too much of a good thing.

Lupe Velez is very much in the background in this entry, and Mantan Moreland, with notable comic skills, has little to do. The gangsters hiding in the basement are an awkward insertion, unrelated to the story line - such as it is. MacBride steals the show, in perhaps his greatest performance.