The greatest movie ever made..!

Better Late Then Never

I was totally surprised at how great this film.You could feel your paranoia rise as the film went on and as you gradually learned the details of the real situation.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

I have to concede that this picture had me constantly off balance. It began with the relationship between Ramona Moreno (Loretta Young) and her brother Felipe (Kent Taylor). Didn't it seem like they were just a little too lovestruck to be brother and sister before Alessandro (Don Ameche) came on the scene? Felipe was definitely looking to take the relationship to a different level before he learned of Ramona's background, but even so, they would have been raised as siblings. The whole thing didn't compute with me.Then there was the casting of Don Ameche as an Indian. That might not have been so bad but with the way his hair was restrained by the headband he looked like Andy Kaufman to me. Upon his very first meeting with Ramona hanging from the apple tree, all I could do was wonder how she got up there in the first place. Stop and think about that for a minute.So when Ramona finally confessed her love to Alessandro it just seemed like it came out of left field. They get married and with a quick scene change they already have a baby. After getting kicked off their land by the white settlers, they're taken in by a pioneer family for a time, but even there, Aunt Ri Hyar (Jane Darwell) goes through a brief moment of racist resentment before figuring the couple is OK.I guess what I'm saying is that all these situations probably needed a bit more development in the story to make sense, but instead they occurred almost as random events with no sense of continuity. On the plus side, Loretta Young made for a quite lovely leading lady with a genuinely wholesome charm for the era. Her appearance in the story is the only reason I can come up with to catch this picture, otherwise you can give it a bye.

Back in the 1930s and 40s, Hollywood was extremely insensitive (and stupid) about casting folks for minority roles. However, that was the time and you just need to keep your politically correct instincts in check when you watch this one! Imagine.....Loretta Young playing a woman who is half American Indian and half Mexican! While this sounds dumb, understand that the likes of Rock Hudson played Indians in films--or Don Ameche cast as a full-blooded native like he is in "Ramona"!! As for J. Carrol Naish--like Anthony Quinn, he played just about everything (except blacks) in films--so it isn't surprising he's in this one playing a Mexican. Plus, frankly, he's played so many nationalities, most everyone at the time had no idea what his heritage really is!! But Loretta Young and Don Ameche--with their lovely American diction (especially Ameche, who is practically the epitome of politeness and class)!!! What were the executives thinking (or smoking)?! "Ramona" must have been a prestige picture for 20th Century-Fox, as it is filmed in beautiful 1930s-style Three-Strip Technicolor--a HUGE expense at the time and something reserved only for the best films. In fact, it was the first such film made by the studio.When the film begins, Ramona is in love with a cultured man from a very good family. So does she....or so she thinks. Eventually the truth is discovered--she's a half-breed! And she's forced to leave her home by some real jerk-faces. But before she goes, her native friend (Ameche) tells her that he's loved her--and she is thrilled, as she loves him, too. So, they run away together and get married. However, their life is tough, as folks are quite prejudiced towards them--throwing them off their farm. Can they somehow find a place that will accept the strangely cultured couple--and their new baby?! Overall, I'd say the writing isn't bad (but it is a bit schmaltzy) and the film manages to be watchable in spite of some terrible casting.By the way, if you want to see other films with equally ridiculous casting, try finding "The Conquerer" (with John Wayne as Genghis Khan and red-headed Susan Hayward as his bride, Bortai)--or most any Charlie Chan film.

This is an oldie but goodie. I can't locate a copy anywhere, which may be understandable. I have to find it, becausewant my wife to see it.When I last saw it, black and white TV was the norm; so it's dated. Came to find out it was in Technicolor all the time! I'd read the famous novel as young and innocent teen, soon to be ravished by Loretta Young. (Listen; NOBODY was more beautiful than Loretta Young.) She was a fine Hollywood actress. The story of Ramona is a frontier tragedy, but nevertheless lovely. Loretta acted her part not only sweetly. She was really perfect as Ramona. None of the settings were extraordinary; just adequate.The plot is a little too mushy. Yet it's very romantic; you can't help being swept up in it, owing to both Loretta and young Don Ameche, at the peak of his stardom. He was what we'd call a hunk these days; with uncommon screen presence. Ameche could act; I don't think I ever saw him do any part poorly. Why hasn't this 1936 classic been re-mastered and saved on DVD? I'll keep on looking for a video. I'd rate "Ramona" easily a 6. --Ciao, movie fans!

Ramona (1936) ** 1/2 (out of 4) A young half Indian woman (Loretta Young) marries an Indian (Don Ameche) but their lives take a turn for the worse when white folks run them off their land. This is an extremely depressing and somewhat shocking film that actually shows the Indians as the good people and the white's as savages, which wasn't common back in the day. The two stars do their usual great work but the direction is all over the place. The Indians aren't well written considering most are talking with Spanish accents. John Carradine has a small role. From what I gathered, this was the forth feature to use 3-strip Technicolor.