CUBAN PETE

Beverly Simmons and Desi Arnaz

CUBAN PETE (1946). Director: Jean Yarbrough. 

Society woman Mrs. Lindsay (Jacqueline deWit of The Damned Don't Cry), who fancies that she has a voice, wants to hire Desi Arnaz (playing himself) and his band for her radio show. Desi is caring for his little orphaned niece, Brownie (Beverly Simmons), in Cuba and has no desire to go to New York. Ad man Roberts (Don Porter of Youngblood Hawke) has his associate, Ann (Joan Shawlee), fly to Havana to importune Desi to return with her. With the help of his niece, Ann eventually gets her objective, only to learn that Mrs. Lindsay, who has a terrible voice, intends to sing on the radio with his band! Can Ann convince Desi not to return to Cuba on the first plane, and can they prevent Mrs. Lindsay from ever opening her mouth?

Don Porter and Ann Shawlee

Cuban Pete is strictly a showcase for Desi Arnaz, who is spirited and charming in the film, demonstrating that he had ability and charisma long before I Love Lucy. He does a fine rendition of the title tune (which he also sang on Lucy) and a couple of other numbers. Desi has a girl group called the King Sisters, one of whom, Consuela, sets her cap for Roberts. Brownie has a talking parrot which, in an unfunny sequence, causes foolish havoc in a doctor's office. With its weak script, Cuban Pete did nothing to establish Arnaz as a film star. Shawlee had a wide variety of credits as did Porter; both did much TV work later in their careers. Pianist Ethel Smith, playing herself, does a nifty number on the organ. From Universal Pictures. 

Verdict: A likable energetic Desi is about all that saves this. **1/4.