Memorable, crazy movie

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Paying mind to the ever growing South American market MGM made this trilogy of love stories in Mexico of the romances of three guys from the same small village. Sombrero is kind of like Three On A Match or if you will a film from a rival studio that came out around the same time, 20th Century Fox's Three Coins In The Fountain.Vittorio Gassman is the son of Walter Hampden the local Ben Cartwright of the area and he's married to Nina Foch in a loveless union. It was one of those arranged deals, Gassman really loves Yvonne DeCarlo a poor peasant girl, they've had a thing going since they were kids. He's got himself some bad news, one of those unnamed Hollywood diseases that might make him go any time. Sounds awfully like an aneurysm.Incidentally Foch got a career role in this one and the best performance in the film. The woman really spits fire in this part.Rick Jason falls for Cyd Charisse the sister of matador Jose Greco who treats her like a possession. Some serious hints of unrequited incest here. Charisse longs to break free and love the guy who's a happy go lucky sort who sells candy at the Corrida. The gypsies provide a solution.The comedy comes from Ricardo Montalban and his pursuit of Thomas Gomez's pride and joy Pier Angeli. Gomez is from a neighboring village and they've got a feud with where Montalban comes from. Nobody from that place is marrying his little sugarplum. There are some chase scenes rivaling the Keystone Cops.A nice trilogy of romances from Mexico with a great ensemble cast for Sombrero.

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).

Somewhat of an oddity, really. Wake-up from your afternoon siesta and enjoy this movie. And not to be missed. Made in Mexico with guts, gusto and gringos. While South-of-the-Border, Hollywood worships at the altar of the magical and(sometimes) hokey movie musical. And wins. The picture may cause some viewers to fall into a world of confusion. Whirlpool effect: three bachelors fall in-and-out of love with four beautiful girls. The odd lady out in this game of musical chairs: Yvonne Decarlo. Why? Jeolousy. The other women feel threatened by the sexy creature("Maria") down by the river. Decarlo's character does provide an unusual story wrinkle: she informs her ailing suitor, who loves and wishes to marry her, that she will not marry him. Her noble gesture is a selfless act. But not practical. The film's photography of the Mexican countryside reveals streams of priceless visuals. A modern hospital pops up to great effect. Ricardo Montalban has top billing and delivers an amiable and confident performance. But the other two male leads more than hold their own against the studio's choice. One fellow has a strange prop, a tray of trinkets, which he hauls from the village to the city. In addition, he has an uncanny feel for the opposite sex. Cyd Charise falls under his influence. She sings and dances up a storm in a rainfall. Miss Decarlo's song, "You Belong to My Heart," was cut from the finished print and can only be seen at TCM's web site. A good movie to catch late at night. Trust me. Health!

A bizarre but thoroughly entertaining tamale pie of a movie focusing on the lives of various peasants in a Mexican village. Typical of Hollywood films in the '50s, there are several anglo actors playing Mexicans, but at least Ricardo Montalban (playing Pepe Gonzales!) is the real thing. And he's got charm TO BURN! As difficult as it is to believe, Rick Jason is possibly more handsome than Montalban - and certainly taller at 6'4". In his autobiography, Jason mentions that Montalban became concerned during the filming when Jason seemed to be stealing the scenes in the rushes.I don't recall seeing so many beautiful stars assembled for a single film: Pier Angeli, Yvonne De Carlo, Cyd Charisse, Vittorio Gassman. Wow! That's reason enough for tuning in, but there's other stuff to treasure as well, such as the flamenco dance by Jose Greco, which is as spectacularly good as the dance number with Cyd Charisse is spectacularly bad.