Mexican Spitfire's Blessed Event (1943) User Reviews

Lupe Velez rises to the occasion!

[JohnHowardReid · 6/10 · 12 May 2018]

Lupe Velez (Carmelita), Leon Errol (Lord Epping/Uncle Matt), Walter Reed (Dennis Lindsay), Elizabeth Risdon (Aunt Della), Lydia Bilbrook (Lady Epping), Hugh Beaumont (George Sharpe), Aileen Carlyle (Mrs Pettibone), Alan Carney (bartender), Marietta Canty (Carmelita's maid), Wally Brown (desk clerk), Charles Coleman (Epping butler), Eddie Dew (Sheriff Walters), Don Kramer, Dorothy Rogers, George Rogers (dancers), Patti Brill (bellgirl), Bud Geary, Duke Green (deputies), June Booth (nurse), Eddie Borden (messenger boy), Barbara Hale (girl at airport), George Plues (stage driver), Ann Summers, Margie Stewart, Mary Halsey, Margaret Landry, Rita Corday, Joan Barclay (bits), Robert Anderson (Captain Rogers), Ruth Lee (Mrs Walters), Anne O'Neal (orphanage director), Billy Edward Reed (attendant). Director: LESLIE GOODWINS. Screenplay: Charles E. Roberts, Dane Lussier. Strory; Charles E. Roberts. Film editor: Harry Marker. Photography: Jack Mackenzie. Art directors: Albert S. D'Agostino, Walter E. Keller. Set decorators: Darrell Silvera, Harley Miller. Music directed by Constantin Bakaleinikoff. Assistant director: James Casey. Sound recording: Terry Kellum. Sound re-recording: James G. Stewart. RCA Sound System. Producer: Bert Gilroy.

Copyright 11 July 1943 by RKO-Radio Pictures, Inc. No recorded New York opening. U.S. release: 17 July 1943. Australian release: 13 January 1944. 5,789 feet. 63 minutes. COMMENT: Despite guest appearances by Alan Carney and Wally Brown, plus the re-appearance of Charles Coleman (albeit as a different butler), this last entry rates as neither the best nor the worst of the series. Negative elements include some misplaced wartime patriotism (if the writers really wanted to introduce all the "Anchors Aweigh" rah-rah-rah, why not make it part of the "contract-must-be-signed" plot? It's hard to believe the principals are still haggling about this stupid radio advertising contract seven pictures later), and a rather threadbare "misunderstanding" which doesn't stand up to close scrutiny unless we accept the fact that Dennis is an idiot. He is, of course, but this reduces our sympathy and interest in him to zero. Certainly he makes a typical naval officer, as feather-brained as they come, but I don't think this was the script's intention. Epping is supposed to be the dope, but his actions and reactions are far less asinine.

Throwing the plot further off balance is the strong performance by Hugh Beaumont who makes his villain so likable and personable, we are genuinely sorry to see him lose out at the end.

It's good to recorcd that Miss Velez rises to the occasion nobly. She dances up a storm too.

"I never insist in a lobby."

[utgard14 · 5/10 · 30 August 2016]

Final movie in the Mexican Spitfire series. The plot's about Dennis thinking Carmelita is pregnant but it's really some nonsense with an ocelot. Oh don't worry, somehow the filmmakers find a way to make it all about Uncle Matt and Lord Epping again. In my other reviews for these Spitfire movies, I've noted my problems with the series as a whole so I won't go into detail on that again here. Suffice it to say the series is very repetitive and focuses more on a supporting actor than the supposed star. That does not change in this final entry nor does the series go out in a fresh and original way. More "someone getting the wrong impression" hijinks and an especially tired old routine with Leon Errol, the true star of the series, playing dual roles. They do find a way to work baby kidnapping into a comedy plot, so points for that. And hey, there's Ward Cleaver himself - Hugh Beaumont! All in all, like most entries in this series, it's a watchable movie on its own but seen after even one other Spitfire movie you're likely to be bored. Sadly, Lupe Velez would take her own life the year after this was released. Whatever issues I have with the series and her sometimes grating performance, it was groundbreaking at the time to have a film series with a Mexican actress as the lead (even if she was consistently upstaged by co-star Errol). If you really want to try out the series, I suggest starting at the beginning because the first couple of movies were the best.

The Mexican Spitfire comes to an end

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 26 December 2020]

The farewell film of the Lupe Velez-Leon Errol Mexican Spitfire series ends with this one with a lot of people getting the wrong idea that Lupe Velez is pregnant. Ironically enough when Velez died she was pregnant

In the usual tradition of these films news of the cat having kittens is misinterpreted. It's all wrapped up with negotiations with Leon Errol in his Lord Epping persona.

I didn't see the Mexican Spitfire films in any particular order so when i did see my first one I thought it non-stop hilarity. It took two more films before I realized that RKO was making the same film over and over again.

If Lupe hadn't died I suspect the series would have stopped in any event. It was incredibly repetitious as funny as Velez and Errol were.

Last order from the 'Spitfire' grill

[vandino1 · 3 October 2006]

These Mexican Spitfire films are something else. Almost always the same plot and antics, but so lively that they breeze by. This series is the epitome of frantic farce. Leon Errol bounds from Uncle Matt, the sensible American, to Lord Epping, the befuddled Englishman, and brings things to a froth by consistently having Uncle Matt do impersonations of Epping. Much sputtering confusion, innuendos, door-slamming, and racing around ensues. But Errol is so effortlessly charming and game that it all goes down smoothly, no matter how high-pitched the antics get. And Errol is matched with the Spitfire herself, Lupe Velez. Sadly, this is her last Hollywood film. Her famous suicide followed at the end of the following year. It was thought she was washed up in Hollywood, but it's doubtful such a firecracker personality could have stayed unlit for long. She might have exploded on television in the fifties, if anything. But she left behind a lot of personality on screen for viewers to marvel at. She and Errol are unsung as one of the finest comedy teams in Hollywood history. The Mexican Spitfire films are worthless without their timing, talent, and inter-action. 'Blessed Event' concerns the confusion over Carmelita (Lupe) having a baby and how its existence, or non-existence, influences Lord Epping's signature on a contract for Carmelita's husband. Hugh Beaumont is competing for Epping's signature and he's well aware that the whole baby thing is a crock. But Epping goes to Arizona to find out, with Beaumont following. Inevitably, it's up to Uncle Matt to do his Epping impersonation again to save the day. Beaumont is okay, but the other cast members are wallpaper. Errol and Velez are a vortex of energy, leaving nothing to anyone else. There is one minor note: Alan Carney and Wally Brown have separate bit parts (Carney as bartender, Brown as desk clerk) but soon after in the same year would start their comedy team antics as RKO's answer to Abbott & Costello.

First let's have some particulars and then we'll talk about sex

[gridoon2024 · 6/10 · 20 May 2022]

OK, the Uncle Matt / Lord Epping joke had most definitely run its course at this point, and it is not unfair that this would be the last entry in the series, but it is also one of the most tolerable ones, thanks to a larger-than-usual role for Carmelita and - especially - some surprisingly racy material that the filmmakers managed to sneak through right under the censors' noses, most notable my above summary line (which is followed by a "huh??" reaction by Uncle Matt and Carmelita). **1/2 out of 4.

Ending the series on a happy note...

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 14 April 2014]

While actress Lupe Velez's life would not end up on a happy note, the series and character for which she is best remembered would tie things up, hopefully happy. It was the end of Carmelita but not for Lord Epping who, with Leon Errol repeating the part, ended up as a short film several years later.

The film here starts off with confusion for Dennis Lindsay, now in the Merchant Marines, and on leave to finalize some business with Lord Epping. Errol is in more scenes here as both Uncle Matt and Lord Epping, although they are never in the same frame at the same time, only with a double as Uncle Matt while the camera is focused on Lord Epping. A telegram arrives for Dennis to notify him from Carmelita that they have just had a "little blessed event". Believing that Carmelita just had a baby, they rush to the Arizona resort where she's staying, unaware that the "blessed event" is a tiger kitten, not a human baby.

Of course, this gets one of Dennis's business rivals scheming to get Lord Epping to sign a contract, and this is where Uncle Matt must disguise himself as the British nobleman one more time. Every time this happens though, Carmelita reminds him of "the time you put on the goat face". The time? He did it several times in each of the 8 movies in the series, utilizing his rubber-legged comical ability over and over again. When Carmelita colors an Indian wig blonde, she refers to the "dyed" hair as "dead", one of the best malapropisms in the film.

This isn't as funny as previous entries, but of course, it is a bit more touching knowing that Velez would never play this part again, and there's a very funny scene towards the end where Errol, as Lord Epping, not Matthew in disguise as the business rival thought, is dunked in a well as part of punishment for the supposed kidnapping of the local sheriff's new baby. Then, Carmelita comes in to make her announcement, which proves that's all's well that ends well. Of course, Uncle Matt gets his own revenge here against the business rival, the storyline which seems straight out of something you'd see on "Bewitched".

This reprehensible "entertainment" spoofs kidnapping . . .

[tadpole-596-918256 · 5/10 · 27 December 2020]

. . . corporate fraud and even an ongoing World War as it perpetuates such racist stereotypes as the loose (if not totally open) Latin Lass. As MEXICAN SPITFIRE"S BLESSED EVENT wraps up, Dennis' biracial marriage partner is diagnosed as being an "expectant" mom by the Stagecoach Inn house doctor. But prospective Pop Denny is only on the third day of a two-week leave, and otherwise has not been within 1,000 miles of his marital yoke mate for more than a year previously. (Remember, even certified OB-GIN's never were able to confirm fertilization within 72 hours of seminal emission in 1943.)

All's Well That Ends In A Well

[hogwrassler · 8/10 · 26 December 2020]

The series finale features another array of misunderstandings and mistaken identity. Dennis is now in the Navy but is still after a contract with Lord Epping. His rival this time for the Lord's signature is George Sharp, played by none other than the Beaver's dad, Hugh Beaumont. The blessed event mentioned in the title is actually a litter of kittens that Carmelita's cat had. But, of course, there is a big misunderstanding about that. In order to continue the deception, Carmelita disguises herself as a nurse in order to borrow (kidnap) a real human baby. Naturally, the real mother is a bit upset about these playful hijinks. Lord Epping gets mistakenly accused of the baby taking, and the sheriff (who is also the baby's father) has him dunked in a well to make him tell where the baby is. There is something of a surprise at the end to finish the final movie of the series. And one other character gets dunked in the well just before "The End" appears on the screen.

All good things come to an end

[jaykay-10 · 28 August 2000]

The last of the series, and not the best, but kudos to Lupe Velez, who was unique and never better than in this series. Leon Errol's rather nondescript film career was capped by his brilliant comic creation of Lord Epping. What an unlikely pair...but they are terrific together.

Same film, different titles

[logan2445 · 27 April 2000]

This was the 2nd MEXICAN SPITFIRE film that I saw and, although I loved MEXICAN SPITFIRE OUT WEST (my 1st)this film and every other subsequent MEXICAN SPITFIRE seemed like I already saw it... talk about beating a dead horse. Lupe Valez is comic as can be as Carmelitta, and teaming her up with Leon Errol makes for a great comedy team. It is a shame that the Lord Epping theme was over worked or this entire series would rate an 8 with me. If you've seen one, You've seen them all.