Lupe Velez (Carmelita), Leon Errol (Lord Epping/Uncle Matt), Charles "Buddy" Rogers (Dennis Lindsay), Elizabeth Risdon (Aunt Della), Donald MacBride (Percy), Minna Gombell (Edith), Don Barclay (Fingers O'Toole), John Maguire (Luders), Lilian Randolph (Hyacinth), Marten Lamont (Harcourt), Harry Tyler (Bascombe), Mantan Moreland (Lightning), Richard Martin (chauffeur), Julie Warren, Jane Woodworth (secretaries), Linda Rivas, Sally Wadsworth (bits).
Director: LESLIE GOODWINS. Screenplay: Charles E. Roberts, Monte Brice. Photography: Russell Metty. Film editor: Theron Warth. Art directors: Albert S. D'Agostino, Carroll Clark. Set decorators: Darrell Silvera. Costumes: Renié. Music directed by Constantin Bakaleinikoff. Assistant director: William Dorfman. Sound recording: John E. Tribby. RCA Sound System. Producer: Cliff Reid. Copyright 28 May 1942 by RKO-Radio Pictures, Inc. U.S. release: 26 June 1942. New York opening at the Palace: 30 July 1942. Australian release: 26 November 1942. 6,445 feet. 70 minutes.
COMMENT: Just about every series ever made has a haunted house entry. Mexican Spitfire is no exception. But, alas, instead of the surefire success we anticipated, this entry proves to be one of the weakest, despite a determined effort by Donald MacBride to jazz up his weak material with frantic mugging.
The title is a misnomer for a starter. Not only does our Mexican Spitfire NOT see a ghost, there simply aren't any ghosts in the picture, period. True, Don Barclay does don some armor and goes clanking around pretending to be a ghost in one (count it, one sequence) but otherwise the ghosts take a back number to the usual Leon Errol impersonations. In fact, Leon actually does four roles in this one. In addition to his Uncle Matt and Lord Epping, and Uncle Matt disguising himself as Epping, he also does a butler named Hubble!
Judged on its own account, however, this effort rates as at least moderate entertainment, thanks largely to the efforts of a first-rate support cast, led by the inimitable Donald MacBride, and including such friendly faces as Mantan Moreland and Harry Tyler. The only fly in the ensemble is the sullenly wooden "Buddy" Rogers who makes Donald Woods seem a positive hive of exuberance and high spirits.
Director: LESLIE GOODWINS. Screenplay: Charles E. Roberts, Monte Brice. Photography: Russell Metty. Film editor: Theron Warth. Art directors: Albert S. D'Agostino, Carroll Clark. Set decorators: Darrell Silvera. Costumes: Renié. Music directed by Constantin Bakaleinikoff. Assistant director: William Dorfman. Sound recording: John E. Tribby. RCA Sound System. Producer: Cliff Reid. Copyright 28 May 1942 by RKO-Radio Pictures, Inc. U.S. release: 26 June 1942. New York opening at the Palace: 30 July 1942. Australian release: 26 November 1942. 6,445 feet. 70 minutes.
COMMENT: Just about every series ever made has a haunted house entry. Mexican Spitfire is no exception. But, alas, instead of the surefire success we anticipated, this entry proves to be one of the weakest, despite a determined effort by Donald MacBride to jazz up his weak material with frantic mugging.
The title is a misnomer for a starter. Not only does our Mexican Spitfire NOT see a ghost, there simply aren't any ghosts in the picture, period. True, Don Barclay does don some armor and goes clanking around pretending to be a ghost in one (count it, one sequence) but otherwise the ghosts take a back number to the usual Leon Errol impersonations. In fact, Leon actually does four roles in this one. In addition to his Uncle Matt and Lord Epping, and Uncle Matt disguising himself as Epping, he also does a butler named Hubble!
Judged on its own account, however, this effort rates as at least moderate entertainment, thanks largely to the efforts of a first-rate support cast, led by the inimitable Donald MacBride, and including such friendly faces as Mantan Moreland and Harry Tyler. The only fly in the ensemble is the sullenly wooden "Buddy" Rogers who makes Donald Woods seem a positive hive of exuberance and high spirits.