Pepe is a 1960 film starring Mario Moreno ("Cantinflas") in the title role, directed by George Sidney. A multitude of cameo appearances attempted to replicate the success of Mario Moreno's American debut, notably Around the World in Eighty Days, produced by Mike Todd in 1956.
The film failed to achieve the success of Cantinflas' previous American film and was roundly criticized by film critics. A VHS tape of the film was released on December 7, 1998.
§Plot
Mario Moreno ("Cantinflas") is Pepe, a hired hand, employed on a ranch. A boozing Hollywood director buys a white stallion that belongs to Pepe's boss. Pepe, determined to get the horse back (as he considers it his family), decides to take off to Hollywood. There he meets film stars including Jimmy Durante, Frank Sinatra, Zsa Zsa Gabór, Bing Crosby, Maurice Chevalier and Jack Lemmon in drag as Daphne from Some Like It Hot. He is also surprised by things that were new in America at the time, such as automatic swinging doors. When he finally reaches the man who bought the horse, he is led to believe there is no hope of getting it back. However, the last scene shows both him and the stallion back at the ranch with several foals.
§Cast
- Mario Moreno ("Cantinflas") as Pepe
- Dan Dailey as Ted Holt
- Shirley Jones as Suzie Murphy
- Carlos Montalbán as RodrÃguez (auctioneer)
- Vicki Trickett as Lupita
- Matt Mattox as Dancer
- Hank Henry as Manager
- Suzanne Lloyd as Carmen
- William Demarest as Movie Studio Gateman
§Cameos
- Maurice Chevalier
- Bing Crosby
- Richard Conte
- Tony Curtis
- Bobby Darin
- Ann B. Davis as her TV character Schultzy
- Sammy Davis Jr.
- Jimmy Durante
- Zsa Zsa Gabór
- Judy Garland (voice only)
- Greer Garson
- Hedda Hopper
- Joey Bishop
- Ernie Kovacs
- Peter Lawford
- Janet Leigh
- Jack Lemmon
- Jay North as his TV character Dennis the Menace
- Kim Novak
- André Previn
- Donna Reed
- Debbie Reynolds
- Edward G. Robinson
- Cesar Romero
- Frank Sinatra
- Dean Martin
- Charles Coburn
- Billie Burke
§Awards
The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards:
- Best Art Direction (Ted Haworth, William Kiernan)
- Best Cinematography (Joseph MacDonald)
- Best Costume Design (Edith Head)
- Film Editing (Viola Lawrence, Al Clark)
- Best Original Song ("Faraway Part of Town")
- Best Scoring
- Best Sound (Charles Rice)
§References
§External links
- Pepe at the Internet Movie Database
- Pepe at the TCM Movie Database
- Review on the New York Times
