La Cucaracha Backdrop Blur
La Cucaracha Poster

La Cucaracha

"Melody Drama Of Dazzling Splendor In The New Technicolor"

Señor Martinez, a famous theater owner, visits a local café in Mexico because of its reputation for good food and to audition the famous dancer who performs there. Martinez tells the café owner that if the dancer is as good as he has heard, he will offer the dancer a contract to perform in his theater. The café's female singer hears about this and is determined that he won't leave the café without her.

Top Cast

  • Steffi Duna

    Steffi Duna

    Chaquita

  • Don Alvarado

    Don Alvarado

    Pancho

  • Paul Porcasi

    Paul Porcasi

    Señor Martinez

  • Eduardo Durant

    Eduardo Durant

    Orchestra Leader

  • Eduardo Durant's Rhumba Band

    Eduardo Durant's Rhumba Band

    Orchestra

  • Sam Appel

    Sam Appel

    Cafe Manager (uncredited)

  • Chris-Pin Martin

    Chris-Pin Martin

    Chiquita's Fan in Cafe (uncredited)

  • Julian Rivero

    Julian Rivero

    Esteban (uncredited)

  • Charles Stevens

    Charles Stevens

    Pancho's Valet (uncredited)

Overview

Señor Martinez, a famous theater owner, visits a local café in Mexico because of its reputation for good food and to audition the famous dancer who performs there. Martinez tells the café owner that if the dancer is as good as he has heard, he will offer the dancer a contract to perform in his theater. The café's female singer hears about this and is determined that he won't leave the café without her.

Rating

6.1 / 10
14 Reviews
1 Popular

1 Reviews

  • CinemaSerf
    CinemaSerf
    6 Jun 28, 2025

    If Technicolor was ever going to be used to good effect early on, then this scenario would seem to have been a good choice. The story is all largely predicable as impresario “Sr. Martinez” (Paul Porcasi) arrives at a café for a nice supper and to watch a dancer he hopes to sign up. The resident singer “Chaquita” (Steffi Duna) overhears his plans and sees an opportunity for stardom herself. That tees us up for some flamboyant Spanish dancing from “Pancho” (Don Alvarado) and a fine rendition of the old folk song “La Cucaracha” from Miss Duna. We get the impression that dancer and singer are a bit hung up on each other, and that “Martinez” is heading for a fall, but none of that really matters here as the whole thing is really about showing us just how bright and vital the colours and costumes are when lit properly and the dancing creatively choreographed.

Recommendations

Pepe

Mario "Cantinflas" Moreno is a hired hand, Pepe, employed on a ranch. A boozing Hollywood director buys a white stallion that belongs to Pepe's boss. Pepe, determined to get the horse back (as he considers it his family), decides to take off to Hollywood. There he meets film stars including Jimmy Durante, Frank Sinatra, Zsa Zsa Gabór, Bing Crosby, Maurice Chevalier and Jack Lemmon in drag as Daphne from Some Like It Hot. He is also surprised by things that were new in America at the time, such as automatic swinging doors. When he finally reaches the man who bought the horse, he is led to believe there is no hope of getting it back. However, the last scene shows both him and the stallion back at the ranch with several foals.

Pepe

6.3 1960