La Cucaracha

La Cucaracha

31/8/1934 0h 20m 6.1/10

Overview

Señor Martinez, a famous theater owner, visits a local café in Mexico because of its reputation for good food and to audition the famous dancer who performs there. Martinez tells the café owner that if the dancer is as good as he has heard, he will offer the dancer a contract to perform in his theater. The café's female singer hears about this and is determined that he won't leave the café without her.

Director

Lloyd Corrigan

Top Billed Cast

Sam Appel

Sam Appel

Cafe Manager (uncredited)

Don Alvarado

Don Alvarado

Pancho

Paul Porcasi

Paul Porcasi

Señor Martinez

Steffi Duna

Steffi Duna

Chaquita

Eduardo Durant's Rhumba Band

Orchestra

Eduardo Durant

Orchestra Leader

Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

6/28/2025

6/10

If Technicolor was ever going to be used to good effect early on, then this scenario would seem to have been a good choice. The story is all largely predicable as impresario “Sr. Martinez” (Paul Porcasi) arrives at a café for a nice supper and to watch a dancer he hopes to sign up. The resident singer “Chaquita” (Steffi Duna) overhears his plans and sees an opportunity for stardom herself. That tees us up for some flamboyant Spanish dancing from “Pancho” (Don Alvarado) and a fine rendition of the old folk song “La Cucaracha” from Miss Duna. We get the impression that dancer and singer are a bit hung up on each other, and that “Martinez” is heading for a fall, but none of that really matters here as the whole thing is really about showing us just how bright and vital the colours and costumes are when lit properly and the dancing creatively choreographed.

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