Never having seen "Ride the Pink Horse", we decided to take a look at it, based mainly, on the strong writers credited with the adaptation, Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer, two of the best men in the business. One wonders if it was the studio's art people that decided to give the film a phony Mexican look, or did it come from the screen play itself. Not having read the novel, we can't comment if the book had the same basic faults one finds in the finished product. The direction by Robert Montgomery doesn't help matters.
First of all, San Pablo is obviously one of the towns in Northern Mexico close to California. The first thing one sees are the local women, dressed in costumes from another century; even the trio that meets Lucky's bus, is seen in long Indian costumes, sorry, but even for 1947, it seems to be completely out of place. One wonders if the production company thought they were filming something out of Pancho Villa's times and decided San Pablo's women were still living in the XIX century.
The fatal casting mistake of having a blue eyed Wanda Hendrix playing the mysterious Pilar makes the viewer do a double take. This is a role that screams for a sultry senorita, someone of the stature of a Katy Jurado, or another sultry star, not this beautiful actress that seemed to be lost playing the Mexican girl! One thing that doesn't come across in the film is what might have made Pilar fall heads over heels with this Americano at first sight!
Even in the fiesta scenes one sees a lot of Americans marching as part of the parade. It would have made more sense to have seen local folks from San Pablo, but not from L.A. Then there is Pancho, a stereotype, if ever there was one! Thomas Gomez was an American actor born in New York, who had an impeccable diction, but he is made to speak Spanish with the heavy English accent. Talk about the things that were given to audiences of that era in the way of realism!
Lucky Gagin, during the first part of the film seems a man out of place. Mr. Montgomery's take on this man cried for perhaps another tough actor to play it. Mr. Montgomery, as a comedian, or in light fare was an excellent actor, but in heavier parts, seemed to be out of place.
The best thing going for the film is the fabulous performance of Art Smith, who at times reminded us of an old Robin Williams, as Bill Retz, the government agent looking to bring Frank Hugo to justice. Mr. Smith shines in the film every time one sees him. Also Andrea King, seen as Marjorie Lundeen, the bad girl friendly with Hugo and his group. Fred Ward as the deaf gangster has some good moments.
The film, while not a total dud, seems to be confused in what it's trying to show. Perhaps with a different treatment and better casting for the two principal roles, this film would have fared better, even with the perplexing atmosphere of the Mexican locale.
First of all, San Pablo is obviously one of the towns in Northern Mexico close to California. The first thing one sees are the local women, dressed in costumes from another century; even the trio that meets Lucky's bus, is seen in long Indian costumes, sorry, but even for 1947, it seems to be completely out of place. One wonders if the production company thought they were filming something out of Pancho Villa's times and decided San Pablo's women were still living in the XIX century.
The fatal casting mistake of having a blue eyed Wanda Hendrix playing the mysterious Pilar makes the viewer do a double take. This is a role that screams for a sultry senorita, someone of the stature of a Katy Jurado, or another sultry star, not this beautiful actress that seemed to be lost playing the Mexican girl! One thing that doesn't come across in the film is what might have made Pilar fall heads over heels with this Americano at first sight!
Even in the fiesta scenes one sees a lot of Americans marching as part of the parade. It would have made more sense to have seen local folks from San Pablo, but not from L.A. Then there is Pancho, a stereotype, if ever there was one! Thomas Gomez was an American actor born in New York, who had an impeccable diction, but he is made to speak Spanish with the heavy English accent. Talk about the things that were given to audiences of that era in the way of realism!
Lucky Gagin, during the first part of the film seems a man out of place. Mr. Montgomery's take on this man cried for perhaps another tough actor to play it. Mr. Montgomery, as a comedian, or in light fare was an excellent actor, but in heavier parts, seemed to be out of place.
The best thing going for the film is the fabulous performance of Art Smith, who at times reminded us of an old Robin Williams, as Bill Retz, the government agent looking to bring Frank Hugo to justice. Mr. Smith shines in the film every time one sees him. Also Andrea King, seen as Marjorie Lundeen, the bad girl friendly with Hugo and his group. Fred Ward as the deaf gangster has some good moments.
The film, while not a total dud, seems to be confused in what it's trying to show. Perhaps with a different treatment and better casting for the two principal roles, this film would have fared better, even with the perplexing atmosphere of the Mexican locale.