Tortilla Flat (1942)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Victor Fleming

Writers:

John Steinbeck (novel)
John Lee Mahin (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

28 August 1942 (Portugal)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

OH, THE THINGS THEY DO IN TORTILLA FLAT! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Danny inherits two houses so Pilon and his lazy, impoverished friends move in. One of them, Pirate,...

Plot Keywords:

House | Pug Dog | Guitar | Beans | House Fire

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Spencer Tracy	...	Pilon
Hedy Lamarr	...	Dolores Ramirez
John Garfield	...	Daniel Alvarez
Frank Morgan	...	The Pirate
Akim Tamiroff	...	Pablo
Sheldon Leonard	...	Tito Ralph
John Qualen	...	Jose Maria Corcoran
Donald Meek	...	Paul D. Cummings
Connie Gilchrist	...	Mrs. Torrelli
Allen Jenkins	...	Portagee Joe
Henry O'Neill	...	Father Juan Ramon
Mercedes Ruffino	...	Mrs. Marellis
Nina Campana	...	Señora Teresina Cortez
Arthur Space	...	Mr. Brown
Betty Wells	...	Cesca

Runtime:

105 min | 99 min (Turner Library Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G (TV rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #8103)

Filming Locations:

Monterey, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The AFI Catalogue lists Sammy Fong in the role of "Squid Owner". This may have been a typographical error in studio records, since Willie Fung, who was not listed, had a very similar role.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Miracle of Sound (1940)

Soundtrack:

Varsoviana

Its only a movie and a very good one and Hedy

I've been reading some of the negatives of some of the reviewers here about the authenticity of the actors involved. Its only a movie and brought out by a studio that had to use their top actors that were available at the time. It goes way back to the early 30's on how actors were used for certain roles. Recall Edward G. Robinson a Jew, as Rico an Italian mobster, Paul Muni another Jew, as a Mexican, Meryl Streep, Polish as an Italian and etc. and etc. If this bothers you, then don't go to the movies. Its called "make believe"...remember? Most commend Frank Morgan's role here as a big highlight for his performance, but he was definitely not a Mexican. But the only ones that I thought pulled it off was Akin Tamiroff and Hedy Lamarr...maybe because they actually have accents..and speaking of Hedy, she looked terrific as usual and was very sexy. Somehow I wished Cecil B. DeMille made "Samson & Delilah" then. Worth to watch this movie for her alone.