CelluloidDog 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).

wellsortof 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.

andovales 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?

ronnmullen 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!!!