Tia Pascuas
In 1935, former Hollywood silent film star Ramón Novarro (of Durango, Mexico) joined the ranks of adventurous Spanish-speaking, risk-taking producers by writing, directing and producing through his R.N.S. Productions this romantic comedy set in Los Angeles. The film, shot in collaboration with members of his extensive family—brothers Antonio (assistant director) and Eduardo Samaniego (art director), sister Carmen Samaniego (actress), and uncle Ramón Guerrero (actor)—centers on the romance of the rich Rosalía (Luana Alcañiz) and the poor Alberto, a swimmer played by real life Argentinian swimmer José A. Caraballo, who, like the character in the film, had competed in the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games.
The magazine "Paintings of the People" initiates a contest to select the best watercolor painting of ethnic peoples and customs. A hungry bohemian painter invokes his muse to help him to produce the winning painting, and when he experiments with scenes set in Mexico, Argentina and Spain, his paintings come to life. In Xochimilco, Mexico, a young bachelor has a drunken dream that his girl friend is performing Josephine Baker's famous banana dance in a Parisian nightclub. In Buenos Aires, an Italian and a Galician are rivals for the affections of a Creole girl. At the other side of the Hispanic world, a Sevillian girl tells of her tragic romance with a matador, who obstinately continues to appear in the ring despite having been injured.
