User Reviews

It's really hard to rate this movie. On the one hand, it's a true time capsule of 1960..every mega star is here..including practically the whole rat pack. On the other hand , this is a an extremely corny movie about a man and his donkey.

What is really painful to watch is what the movie does to the Cantinflas persona. In his Mexican movies, he is street smart but with a sentimental side. Sort of a Mexican Little Tramp. In his Mexican movies this persona became more and more sentimental and less street smart as years went by. But nothing can prepare you for this movie. In it, the Cantinflas persona becomes a virtual moron. He is such an ignorant fool it is almost painful to watch.

I remember seeing this movie with my grandmother and mother at the old Radio City theater in Santurce. I was a boy expecting a Cantinflas movie and was surprised to see a movie like this.

Still I have fond memories and I feel that the movie deserves a DVD release. In fact this movie doesn't even show up on AMC or TCM. And its a shame because this movie is an interesting way to go back to 1960.

Although loosely based on a play by Leslie Bush-Fekete, "Pepe" is really a Hollywood showcase for Mexico's reigning comedy clown Cantinflas, who had been so good in "Around the World In Eighty Days" four years prior. However, Cantinflas doesn't have the chops to carry a lengthy movie all on his own, and nothing (not even an eye-popping art direction) can save the floundering results. Director and co-producer George Sidney appears to be trying to top "Eighty Days" in the star-cameos department; unfortunately, whereas that earlier film dropped in celebrity faces in the guise of different story characters, Sidney utilizes this group of celebrities as themselves in and around Hollywood. Sometimes this works (Jack Lemmon, Janet Leigh, Kim Novak) and sometimes it backfires (Judy Garland, who sings but doesn't even appear; Debbie Reynolds, who dances but only in long-shot; Bobby Darin, who sings but doesn't even get properly introduced). Edward G. Robinson, playing himself as a tough sonuvabitch one minute and an old softie the next, looks completely unsure of himself, and with good reason: this script is a mess. Cantinflas opens the picture with some fancy footwork in a Mexican bullring, but once he lands in Los Angeles (in search of the horse he brought up from a colt) he turns into a comical dummy. The team of screenwriters are not sure who they want Pepe to be: gallant hero, bighearted animal lover, or clueless flunky who keeps getting in the way (even interrupting a dramatic dance sequence because he actually thinks someone might get hurt!). The Las Vegas sequence is simply there to show off the Sands and Sinatra's Clan, but it gets the film nowhere. Shirley Jones tries her best with a ridiculous role of a waitress/dancer with a grudge against Hollywood, while Dan Dailey looks and acts sour as a director on the comeback trail. Worst of all is Cantinflas, who has Sidney to blame for what amounts to a disastrous starring performance. Acting stupid for a laugh doesn't create a character--and it doesn't create laughs for long--yet Cantinflas keeps milking the same, dumb one-note: the ignorant peasant who doesn't even know Americans say "Cheers" when they toast drinks. This is a picture so blind to the real world that even the fantasy bits are bummers. *1/2 from ****

It seems as if the 195-minute print of this all-star oddity has forever been pulled from circulation. However the remaining 157-minute version is quite long enough. This movie has always been made fun of, but as misguided as it is, it is still entertaining, if only because it is so crammed full of guest appearances.

Here's who you get: Greer Garson trying to buy a prize horse; Edward G. Robinson playing himself though he is seen here as a famous film producer; Ernie Kovacs as an immigration inspector; William Demarest as a studio gate keeper; Zsa Zsa Gabor reading a copy of "The Interns" to promote Columbia's upcoming film version; Bing Crosby signing Cantinflas's tortilla and joining him in a few lines of "South of the Border"; Jay North playing Dennis the Menace; Billie Burke hitting Charles Coburn with a slingshot; Jack Lemmon dressed as Daphne from "Some Like It Hot" in a bizarre sequence involving a parking lot; Andre Previn at the piano while Bobby Darin sings a terrific number called "That's How It Went, All Right"; Michael Callan, Shirley Jones, and Matt Mattox doing a sizzling dance called "The Rumble"; Judy Garland (heard but not seen) singing "The Faraway Part of Town" on the radio; Ann B. Davis playing her "Shultzy" character from "The Bob Cummings Show" but here assigned to working as Edward G. Robinson's secretary; Donna Reed making cutesy banter with Dan Dailey about her then-current TV series; a trip to the Sands Casino in Las Vegas where we see Peter Lawford and Richard Conte standing around in the lobby, Sammy Davis Jr. doing impressions to "Hooray for Hollywood", Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin gambling, Cesar Romero hanging out at the slot machines, a dejected Jimmy Durante losing at cards, and Joey Bishop saying "son of a gun"; Hedda Hopper boarding a plane; a ghastly sequence in which a miniature Debbie Reynolds drunkenly dancing with Cantinflas on Dan Dailey's desktop to "Tequila"; a delightful moment when Dailey and Cantinflas join Maurice Chevalier in dancing to "Mimi"; Janet Leigh being surprised in the bathtub the same year as her "Psycho" shower; Tony Curtis getting pushed into an indoor pool; and Kim Novak giving advice on buying a wedding ring.

Somehow I find this hodgepodge strangely irresistible.

"Pepe" is an odd film. It stars Cantinflas--a very, very famous comic from Mexico but a person rather unknown to most Americans. Some might have remembered him from "Around the World in 80 Days" but nearly all of Cantinflas' films were Mexican. Having him star in a film chock full of famous American actors of the day is very surprising. It's also a mistake simply because the mixture is poor. I love Cantinflas' films--they are sweet, charming and simple. Combining this with a bazillion guest appearances by Hollywood stars is a disservice to Cantinflas and it disrupts him from doing what he does best--entertaining us and making us laugh.

The film begins in Mexico. There's a horse auction and Pepe (Cantinflas) is upset, as the horse he helped raise, Don Juan, is about to be auctioned. He tries in several clever ways to prevent rich Americans from bidding on this prize horse but one of them (Dan Dailey) realizes that Pepe is lying about the horse. So he buys the animal and moves it to Hollywood. Unable to live without the horse, Pepe goes to America to try to get the animal back...if possible..or at least be with him. Along the way (as well as in Mexico) he meets one movie star after another after another. Most of these cameos are really unnecessary (such as Bobby Darin singing in a crazy production number) and their appearances a waste of time and money. A few, such as Shirley Jones, have more substantial roles in this movie.

If you ignore all the cameos, the plot is just okay but a bit weird. Throughout the film, Cantinflas plays a guy who is a bit too childlike--almost stupid. It's a difficult balance, as in some of his films he was a bit naive and certainly uneducated (though never dumb). Having him constantly refer to himself as the horse's 'father' is rather dumb and conjures up some unseemly images! And, the film seems a bit patronizing when they show simple Pepe dealing with life in America and they make him a bit pathetic. Plus, it's tough when a comic is saddled (so to speak) with an animal as a sidekick--as most of the comedies I can think of with animal co-stars are pretty poor (such as "Mr. Ed", "The Chimp" and "The Cat From Outer Space"). If the film had instead allowed Cantinflas to be THE star and allow his natural charming persona not to be obscured with guest stars and an animal, it would have been so much better. Overall, an obvious misfire. My advice is to see his Mexican films--they are full of charm and style--whereas "Pepe" is just terrible at times.

Lavish sets, thousands of extras, and cameos by virtually every big star in 1960 Hollywood can't save this disaster, done in by its stupid story, witless script, and endless running time -- originally 3 hours and 15 minutes! What were they thinking?!! I turned on TCM and discovered Shirley Jones, of all people, playing a sexy, bitter, beatnik hoofer. Huh??? I was hooked. I had to watch it to the bitter end.

They made several super-duper "cavalcade of stars" films like this around the same time: IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD, AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS, and so on. None of them were great, but this may be the worst of the pack.

Jones looks radiant and Cantinflas's charm and talent are obvious, but both are done in by the stupidity of their roles and of the story. Jones, one of the finest singers in movies, cast as a DANCER who hardly gets to sing? Dailey, a great dancer, cast in a downbeat dramatic role where he barely gets to dance? Casting doesn't get much more perverse.

Don't miss the WEST SIDE STORY rip-off, a lengthy Apache-dance sequence featuring a comely, half-naked Jones trying to make like Cyd Charisse without being given a single note to sing ... all of this with loud faux-Bernstein music on the soundtrack.

Even weirder is Judy Garland's "appearance" -- actually she doesn't appear, but the characters hear her voice singing a song, supposedly on the radio. As Alice would say, PEPE just gets "curiouser and curiouser ..." This must have been one of the overblown, elephantine messes that helped kill the Movie Musical in the 1960s.

While this film doesn't especially take advantage of Mexican actor Cantinflas's talent, it's not nearly the bomb that other IMDB reviewers might indicate. True, the plotline isn't particularly compelling (in fact, it's a bit absurd), there are many memorable moments in the film. Shirley Jones is particularly appealing, and we get vocal performances by Bobby Darrin AND Judy Garland (what's not to like there), as well as a rare screen performance by jazz pianist/composer/conductor Andre Previn. Together with cameo appearances by Edward G. Robinson, Billy Burke, and tons of other 30s/40s/50s luminaries, this film is well worth the 2-1/2 hours or so to watch.

This id not a good movie, but it has a few good moments, usually involving song and dance numbers that interrupt the plot (to the relief of the audience) and more cameos than Around the World in 80 days.

Yet I watch it (or at least fast forward through most of it) every tune it's on for one reason -Maurice Chevalier.. it's appropriate that TCM ran this recently as part of a Chevalier marathon because his brief night club performamce is a true joy to behold, especially his rendition of September Song. Well worth the slog through the film.

Cantinflas meets every star in Hollywood, in an attempt to recapture the 80 Days magic. No such luck. Cantinflas was asked to carry Pepe and simply wasn't up to the task, though it's perfectly acceptable all-star entertainment. Cameos by Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, Dean Martin, Ernie Kovacs, and particularly Kim Novak, help make it more than watchable. In a way it's better than 80 Days, since Kim wasn't in that one. I stayed around for the next show to see Kim's cameo again. In those days you could remain in the theatre on one paid admission for as long as you wished.

In San Francisco, PEPE played at advanced prices, on continuous showings, no reserved seats. On March 14, 1961 I spent nearly seven hours in the St. Francis Theatre on Market Street. PEPE runs 195 minutes. Us Kim Novak fans are durable, and loyal - she's still one of my favorite stars. Wow.

In Mexico, ranch hand Pepe (Cantinflas) is desperate to buy a beloved white stallion who he treats like a son. He gets outbid by Hollywood star Ted Holt. He decides to go to Hollywood to find his horse and encounters many Hollywood stars.

Cantinflas does this 4 years after Around the World in 80 Days. More than anything, this is Hollywood doing a self-congratulation with itself. As with most self-love, it's ultimately unsatisfying and a bit shameful. It's curious to some extent but that curiosity wears out eventually. If this has any chance, this should be a comedy with Cantinflas being a fish out of water trying to find his horse. It's a small part of this movie. This is two and a half hours long. It has no chance. He should be a lot funnier. He finds his horse way too soon and it turns into West Side Story for some reason. I don't think I've seen Shirley Jones dance a lot. There is also a reversal with her and sadly, the Mexican can't get the white girl. It's Hollywood doing their song and dance. It's star-watching and watching them do their little bits. The casino with the Rat Pack has some fun. It just keeps going on and on and at some point, I simply want it to stop.

Now any film with as many stars as they gathered together for bit parts as Pepe will automatically get me watching it in any event. There's no way I'd give this a bad review.

But in terms of the film itself, it might well have been oversold back then. Cantinflas got rave notices for his performance as Passepartout in Around the World in 80 Days, but failed to win audiences in the English speaking world. So this time Cantinflas played the title role and Columbia Pictures gathered together just about every star who had a free minute or so to appear in this. When you consider that Around the World in 80 Days was also such an all star extravaganza, did any other performer in history ever command such support?

Not that he didn't deserve it. In Latin America, especially in his native Mexico, Cantinflas was a national icon. I think that it was no accident that all these stars wanted to appear with him, it certainly would boost their market value in the Latin American area to be identified with him.

Seeing this film again 46 years after it first came out and I did see it in the theater back in the day, I was struck with how similar the Pepe character was to Forrest Gump. Tom Hanks who got an Oscar for his performance of someone as guileless as Pepe also during that film ran into as many famous folks as Pepe managed to.

Columbia cheated a little bit by going to Las Vegas for part of the story. This was the height of the Rat Pack era and a whole lot of the cast from Ocean's 11 took time from filming that to do some ring-a-ding walk-ons here.

There are some nice musical numbers. Shirley Jones is in good voice singing the title song. A real treat is Cantinflas, Dan Dailey, and Maurice Chevalier doing a reprise of Mimi. My favorite though is a star that appears only by voice, but Judy Garland's The Faraway Part of Town which is heard over a radio should rank as one of the best songs she ever sang.

Seen almost a half a century later, I'd say Pepe was undeservedly panned by the critics back then and is worth looking at whenever it gets broadcast.

Although it has been years since I have seem this film, the scene with the horse on the pool table is unforgettable.

A few years after the grand success of Around the World in 80 Days, Cantinflas made a spinoff in which he played the title character: Pepe. Pepe is a man who owns and loves his racehorse so much he calls him his son. When the horse gets bought by a movie star, he sets off on a journey to buy him back. Besides Dan Dailey and Shirley Jones, who play characters, everyone else goes by their real names. Since Cantinflas travels to Hollywood, he bumps into movie stars at every turn, so there's no need to pretend they're someone else. Charles Coburn, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Greer Garson, Cesar Romero, Debbie Reynolds, Jimmy Durante, Hedda Hopper, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Ernie Kovacs, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Curtis, Donna Reed, Billie Burke, Bobby Darin, and Judy Garland (in voice only) make appearances along the way. It's another cameo adventure!

Like many movies with a lengthy running time, there are some scenes that get a little long in the tooth - like any of the dance numbers with Shirley Jones. But there are also some great highlights that more than make up for the boring bits. Seeing 72-year-old Maurice Chevalier soft-shoe with Dan Dailey (and with equal energy) is quite a treat. Jack Lemmon's cameo is hilarious as he leaves the Some Like It Hot set in full dress - and heels. Edward G. Robinson plays a hard-nosed producer, and Frank Sinatra owns a casino frequented by all the Rat Pack members. Kim Novak can be spotted in a jewelry shop, and Janet Leigh gets frightened in her bathtub by a surprise visitor (no, not Anthony Perkins). If you like big cameo fests like this, check this movie out; just be prepared for lots of musical numbers.

Now that I have read some put downs, I need to respond.

This movie 'PEPE' (1960) George Sidney, was just what tens of thousands of other movies is, and are supposed to do, that is to give you an escape.

Give you an escape from everyday blaze. It's funny, musical, short on a fabulous plot but wonderful to watch especially if you like to dream that maybe some small unknown would be able to brush elbows with the stars of the era, and save his ('son' as he says) to boot. What's so bad about that??

I'm sorry "Mario Moreno Reyes" Cantinflas did not get a fair shake from Hollywood he had such potential. In my book this is a must see.

I saw this movie on the big screen when it was new in Australia & years later my Mum & I sat up in the wee hours after hours delivering catalogs & newspapers around our area to watch a rare TV screening. There are VHS available but these are outrageous in price. Wikipedia says there was a limited DVD release(undated) which i was unaware of & the VHS dates to 1998. I would also be in line if Columbia MOD series makes this available in the 195mins original version. The original release also had RCA 4-track stereo audio. I like the actor who appeared in films as Catinflas(Mario Moreno), a Mexican comedy actor.

The film has the audio voice of Judy Garland thru speakers in a poolside scene. There are brief appearances of Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr & the final screen roles for Billie Burke & Charles Coborn. If it comes available to buy, it would be an entertaining buy, even at 195mins.

Edward G. Robinson, Dan Daily, & Cantinflas (as Pepe) were very convincing in their major rolls in this movie. The guest star list was enormous and included just about everyone who was hot in Hollywood. My favorite was Bobby Darin during his zenith. This movie is like a time capsule from 1960 and would make a great addition to a collection of family entertainment videos.

It was Easter Sunday 1960 that I saw this movie with my parents. What a treat! My grandmother use to take me to see his hilarious movies here in S. Texas. He was the "Charlie Chaplin" of Mexico, comedic, as well as a dramatic actor loved by everyone. It may not have been the commercial success as Around The World In Eighty Days, but entertaining none the less. He may have been given the stereo typical poor hapless Mexican, yet I guess he had the last laugh! When was the last time a movie was centered around a poor Mexican with the most noted stars of the era? I counted at least 37! I still remember the cheery song "Pepe". When I hear "Tequila" today I still think of the dance he did with Debbie Reynolds and that big bottle they popped out of. I wish they'd release it on DVD, I'd be the first in line to buy it!!!

I have fond memories of this movie. I remember along with my brother Alan, begging our parents to take us to the drive-in to see Pepe. I don't know anyone who did not like Cantinflas. With the advent of DVD, I don't know why this title has not surfaced.

The major recommendation on this movie is the fact that Kim Novak to me was never more beautiful than the Star was in this movie. Gorgeous. When the camera is on Kim the movie stops and one is dazzled. Kim Novak and Columbia Pictures had a magical combination: Columbia groomed Kim Novak and Kim Novak became the Number 1 female star in Hollywood with his films such as Picnic, Pal Joey, Bell Book and Candle, especially the heartbreaking Strangers When We Meet and on loan to RKO for The Man With The Golden Arm, and to Paramount for Novak's most famous film Vertigo. Joe McDonald photographs the great star well, but then Kim Novak and the Camera had a love affair. George Sidney who worked with Kim before in Pal Joey was a long time Kim Novak admirer and while many list Alfred Hitchcock and Billy Wilder as principal Kim Novak directors, Kim herself might also add George Sidney as well to the list -----as Delbert Mann, Josh Logan, and her former lover Richard Quine.

Pepe was a concoction developed by Columbia to basically plume the Latin American market and Mexico in particular with an All star fun filled film starring Cantinflas with cameos by the great stars such as beautiful Greer Garson, and Columbia stars such as Jack Lemmon and Kim Novak and up and coming Columbia contract stars such as Michael Callan and Vicki Trickett. One complaint is the minimal use of Judy Garland who was magic in front of the camera and of course sang like no one ever before or since.

A throw-anything-in all-star bloat, designed to showcase the talents of "international favorite" (as he's billed) Cantinflas, but wedded to a wispy and misconceived screenplay padded out with pointless but attention-getting guest-star appearances. You'd never know he was a great comic from his portrayal of a nearly mindless patsy in 1960 Hollywood, catering to the charmless bellowing of a miscast Dan Dailey (the more Dailey condescends and insults, the more Cantinflas seems to like it) and a tough-talking Shirley Jones as a hard-bitten beatnik-of-sorts. That she and Dailey would form the love story at the emasculated title character's expense is a given in this xenophobic mid-century climate, but both characters are so unlikeable that they're impossible to root for. Jones does more dancing (and not terribly well) than singing, while Dailey is allowed one brief soft-shoe, to "Mimi." Highlights include one seriously hep Bobby Darin number, a comic interlude with Janet Leigh at Acapulco's Las Olas resort that almost works, and a Las Vegas sequence that attempts to show what nice, regular guys the Rat Pack were. It's an almost unremittingly terrible movie, but as others have pointed out, it's a valuable time capsule -- for 1960 fashion, architecture, autos, and offensive American-imperative bossiness.