Sombrero (1953) User Reviews

has its good parts

[wellsortof · 6/10 · 21 February 2005]

This was an interesting movie.

The good: plenty of good looking people in the cast. Hard to argue against Pier Angeli, Cyd Charisse, Yvonne De Carlo, Ricardo Montalban, Jose Greco etc. The photography is beautiful, with full and lively colors. The two major dance sequences are quite good (although, as for the Charisse dance, bizarrely placed). And for what I believe is an American production, doesn't push the insensitive envelope too much.

The not-so-good: I'll go back to the Charisse dance. I sure didn't see that one coming. It literally seemed like the producers said, "Hey, Cyd Charisse is in the picture, let's make sure she dances, even if there's no reason why she really should." The pace of the film died off considerably over the second half (a couple of dramatic scenes just took too long). And it's really weird, as always, to watch fight sequences from back in the day. I believe one man literally jumped up and was caught by another guy on his "attack". Something that could only be pulled off in a spoof.

Personally, though, I'm not going to pass up a movie with Cyd Charisse in it, 'cause she's dreamy, and a hell of a dancer. I vote 6.

An Utter Waste of Talent

[jromanbaker · 4/10 · 23 November 2020]

What were MGM thinking of in making this film ? The opening proudly proclaims how thankful the studio is in letting them make it in Mexico, but what on earth did the Mexicans make of the end product ? Hysteria runs throughout the film culminating with a completely mad dance on the top of a mountain. Three interlinking love stories try to make sense of this nonsense and despite a cast of fine actors no one really has a chance to shine. Only Rick Jason ( see him preferably if you can in ' The Wayward Bus ' ) gives what I call a performance, and poor Vittorio Gassmann lags a little behind. As for the women it is a total waste. Cyd Charisse dances one of her worst dances ( in choreographic terms ) and fights with bad dialogue. Pier Angeli is underused and so is Yvonne de Carlo. Nina Foch has a truly nasty scene with a blind man who is dying and melodrama of the worst sort comes to the fore. I am not surprised it was a flop. I hope the Mexicans asked for their money back at the cinemas. A disgrace to film making. A 4 for the actors who presumably had to attend the premiere.

Hats off to the lovely ladies.

[copper1963 · 7/10 · 14 April 2006]

Somewhat of an oddity, really. Wake-up from your afternoon siesta and enjoy this movie. And not to be missed. Made in Mexico with guts, gusto and gringos. While South-of-the-Border, Hollywood worships at the altar of the magical and(sometimes) hokey movie musical. And wins. The picture may cause some viewers to fall into a world of confusion. Whirlpool effect: three bachelors fall in-and-out of love with four beautiful girls. The odd lady out in this game of musical chairs: Yvonne Decarlo. Why? Jeolousy. The other women feel threatened by the sexy creature("Maria") down by the river. Decarlo's character does provide an unusual story wrinkle: she informs her ailing suitor, who loves and wishes to marry her, that she will not marry him. Her noble gesture is a selfless act. But not practical. The film's photography of the Mexican countryside reveals streams of priceless visuals. A modern hospital pops up to great effect. Ricardo Montalban has top billing and delivers an amiable and confident performance. But the other two male leads more than hold their own against the studio's choice. One fellow has a strange prop, a tray of trinkets, which he hauls from the village to the city. In addition, he has an uncanny feel for the opposite sex. Cyd Charise falls under his influence. She sings and dances up a storm in a rainfall. Miss Decarlo's song, "You Belong to My Heart," was cut from the finished print and can only be seen at TCM's web site. A good movie to catch late at night. Trust me. Health!

Beautiful film

[ronnmullen · 25 October 2002]

This film is based on short stories by Josefina Niggli, whom I met when she was teaching at the Univeristy of North Carolina in Chapel Hill -- the plot outlined by the previous contributor is quite thorough, but does not mention the fine performance of Yvonne DeCarlo as Maria, of the River Road, and most especially does not mention the magnificent dance number performed by Cyd Charisse on a mountaintop in the rain -- unforgetable!!!

Beautiful People in a Small Town

[CelluloidDog · 7/10 · 10 December 2011]

Perhaps the most beautiful casting in classic cinema in almost a fantasy-like small Mexican town, this movie reads like short stories similar to a fairy tale (or folk tale) background. There's little subplots intertwining Cyd Charisse, Yvonne De Carlo, Pier Angeli, Ricardo Montalban and Vittorio Gassman. It's quite entertaining if not a bit odd with Cyd Charisse's climax dance on the mountain. She also danced with Ricardo Montalban in several movies (Mark of the Renegade, On An Island With You, The Kissing Bandit, and Fiesta) and they make a gorgeous pairing. Surprisingly and sadly after their success, the director/producers for this film didn't put them together for this film. Still it's a happy, charming tale. Objectively I rate it a 6 but due to the wonderful casting and Cyd dancing, it's a 7.

This movie is really hard to find since there's no DVD out there so you have to view it on an old videotape (that may be converted to DVD) or wait until TCM shows it (maybe once a year if at all).

Three romances south of the border

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 15 August 2017]

Paying mind to the ever growing South American market MGM made this trilogy of love stories in Mexico of the romances of three guys from the same small village. Sombrero is kind of like Three On A Match or if you will a film from a rival studio that came out around the same time, 20th Century Fox's Three Coins In The Fountain.

Vittorio Gassman is the son of Walter Hampden the local Ben Cartwright of the area and he's married to Nina Foch in a loveless union. It was one of those arranged deals, Gassman really loves Yvonne DeCarlo a poor peasant girl, they've had a thing going since they were kids. He's got himself some bad news, one of those unnamed Hollywood diseases that might make him go any time. Sounds awfully like an aneurysm.

Incidentally Foch got a career role in this one and the best performance in the film. The woman really spits fire in this part.

Rick Jason falls for Cyd Charisse the sister of matador Jose Greco who treats her like a possession. Some serious hints of unrequited incest here. Charisse longs to break free and love the guy who's a happy go lucky sort who sells candy at the Corrida. The gypsies provide a solution.

The comedy comes from Ricardo Montalban and his pursuit of Thomas Gomez's pride and joy Pier Angeli. Gomez is from a neighboring village and they've got a feud with where Montalban comes from. Nobody from that place is marrying his little sugarplum. There are some chase scenes rivaling the Keystone Cops.

A nice trilogy of romances from Mexico with a great ensemble cast for Sombrero.

¡ÉXELENTE!

[artzau · 9/10 · 12 April 2001]

This is a wonderful, enjoyable film with a retinue of fine actors having a lot of fun in an entertaining story set in Mexico. The tale is wonderfully Mexican with cock-fights, inter-village rivalry, tragedy and mystery: Pepe (Richardo Montalban-- Mr. Rourke of Fantasy Island) loves the Mayor's (Thomas Gomez) daughter, Eufemia (Pier Angeli) but needs some success to convince her father he's a worthy candidate for her hand. Vittorio Gassman is the local rich boy whose family want him to marry an appropriate girl from an appropriate family, Rick Jason is the third compañero in love with a gypsy girl (Cyd Charisse). Wonderful performances by the lovely Nina Foch as the set-aside sweetheart, the great Andaluzian Gypsy dancer, Jose Greco, the ever-lovely bubbly Thomas Gomez, plotting Kurt Kaszner and a bit part with one of my fav's, Alfonso Bedoya who doesn't say "We don' gotta chow you no stinkin' batches." Alas, no video for this fine, fun film, so you'll have to catch it on the late show. Check out especially, Ricardo Montalban, Rick Jason and Vittorio Gassman singing the lively, "¡Eufemia!" ¡Realmente macanudo!

You should enjoy this movie

[andovales · 27 July 2003]

About 50 years ago, I saw a movie, made in Mexico, that was a satire on an american girl's idea of life in Mexico; The movie "Sombrero" was based on stories written by an american woman and whether intentional or not is very similar to that satire; However, It is a very enjoyable movie with a great cast; I had read the stories,but went to the movie because of the flamenco dancer,Jose Greco and because a very good friend and very brave matador named Hector Saucedo, did the bullfight scenes and I could never get enough of seeing his artistry; I saw the movie in 1953 in DesMoines,Iowa,accompanied by several hispanic friends whom I know enjoyed the movie as much as I did,but couldn't help making fun of the plot.Tragically, Hector was killed in a plane crash shortly after completion of the film. I rcommend the film for the opportunity to see a young Yvonne DeCarlo,Syd Charise,Ricardo Montalban, Jose Greco and Alfonso Bedoya (Of "I don't have to show you no stinking badges"fame.)I saw it on tv recently and awaited the bullfight scene after half a century,but was disapointed,because they only showed a few seconds of the sequence; Can anyone tell me where I can obtain a tape that shows his whole bullfigjht sequence?

Great Movie

[eebayles-54355 · 9/10 · 15 December 2020]

I don't understand why it shows such a low rating of 5.4 for this movie on this page. I saw it in the movie house way back in the 1950;s when I was a teenager and I remembered it over the years. Its a adorable funny/tragic story that keeps on your mind for years to come. And so many well know actors playing great parts. I give only one movie 10 stars and I give Sombrero 9 stars. Watch it, you will be glad you did.

Basically Three Coins in a Fountain filmed in Beautiful Mexico

[Helpfan65 · 10/10 · 17 August 2020]

Gave this a a 10 just because it was worth it to see how beautiful Mexico was. And let's face it, for Hollywood to film on location in Mexico the 50s is a rarity . The fact that Metro even bankrolled a movie set in Mexico is a wonder. Also this is probably the only film to my knowledge where Mexican actor Ricardo Montalban actually portrayed a Mexican instead of the what Hollywood considered the "acceptable" Latin lover, eg. an Argentinian polo player I.e. European.

Bizarre but entertaining tamale pie of a movie

[reelguy2 · 10/10 · 21 May 2002]

A bizarre but thoroughly entertaining tamale pie of a movie focusing on the lives of various peasants in a Mexican village. Typical of Hollywood films in the '50s, there are several anglo actors playing Mexicans, but at least Ricardo Montalban (playing Pepe Gonzales!) is the real thing. And he's got charm TO BURN! As difficult as it is to believe, Rick Jason is possibly more handsome than Montalban - and certainly taller at 6'4". In his autobiography, Jason mentions that Montalban became concerned during the filming when Jason seemed to be stealing the scenes in the rushes.

I don't recall seeing so many beautiful stars assembled for a single film: Pier Angeli, Yvonne De Carlo, Cyd Charisse, Vittorio Gassman. Wow! That's reason enough for tuning in, but there's other stuff to treasure as well, such as the flamenco dance by Jose Greco, which is as spectacularly good as the dance number with Cyd Charisse is spectacularly bad.