FIESTA

US, 1947, 104 minutes, Colour.
Esther Willliams, Ricardo Montalban, Mary Astor, Cyd Charisse, Akim Tamiroff, John Carroll.
Directed by Richard Thorpe.

Fiesta is an entertaining old-fashioned MGM musical. It was an Esther Williams vehicle - though she did not swim at all. Instead, she performed in the bullring. The film also introduced Ricardo Montalban to American audiences - and to the beginning of a long and successful career. The film also features Cyd Charisse in an early appearance, dancing with great vigour with Ricardo Montalban. Mary Astor is, once again, the quiet mother of the heroine.

The film had Mexican settings, shows the love of bullfights and features sons semi-classical music and some Mexican dances. Direction was by Richard Thorpe, director of some other Esther Williams features (On an Island With You) and director of many Robert Taylor epics at MGM during the '50s.

1. An entertaining MGM musical? Of the '40s? Now?

2. Mexican locations, the atmosphere of bullfights? Music? Colourful material? Songs, dancing, choreography?

3. The focus on the Mexican family? The background of bullfighting? Don Antonio's pride? The birth of his children and his preoccupation about his son? Almost ignoring his daughter - and his wife? His pride - and her long-suffering devotion? The training of the son to be a bullfighter? The family pride at his failure? The father not understanding his son's musical talent? The clashes - and the happy resolution?

4. The focus on Mario and Maria? Their births, the favouring of the son, the boy trained as a bullfighter, the girl with her ability? Their 21st birthday? Their fiances? Romance? Mario and his being prepared to fight? Maria and her marriage to Pepe? Mario's disappointment with his father in concealing the visit of the Maestro? His leaving, wandering, hearing the music on the radio, returning, discovering Maria standing in for him, his coming to the bullfight, the final resolution - especially saving Maria? His love for Conchita? The dances with her? Maria and her vigour, love for Pepe, helping Mario with his music, standing in at the arena for him?

5. Don Antonio and his pride - the portrait of the Mexican patriarch? His insensitivity to his son? His taking everything personally? His relationship with his assistant - the humour and the assistant working with Maria? truth?

6. Don Antonio's wife and her telling him the truth?

7. The background of the music, the piano performances, Mario's career?

8. Themes of family, tradition, pride? Romance?