A Message to Garcia *** (1936, Wallace Beery, Barbara Stanwyck, John Boles, Enrique Acosta, Alan Hale Sr, Herbert Mundin, Mona Barrie) – Classic Movie Review 7469

Director George Marshall’s 1936 A Message to Garcia tells an imaginary tale based on a real-life incident in which Lieutenant Andrew S Rowan (John Boles) takes US President William McKinley’s message of support to General Garcia (Enrique Acosta) as Cuba rebels against Spain during the Spanish-American War in the year 1898.

Wallace Beery stars as Sergeant Dory, who helps Rowan (Boles), who also meets up with Cuban patriot’s daughter, Raphaelita Maderos (Barbara Stanwyck).

It is not a tremendously appealing prospect as the subject for a movie, but the performances, the screenplay and the big, high-budget Twentieth Century Pictures prestige production get the message across surprisingly enjoyably. Though the film was made by the independent company Twentieth Century Pictures, it was distributed by 20th Century Fox after the merger of the two companies.

Dell Henderson plays President William McKinley but he is dubbed and John Carradine provides the voice of President William McKinley.

The screenplay by W P Lipscomb, Gene Fowler, Sam Hellman and Gladys Lehman is based on the book by Andrew S Rohan and inspired by the 1899 essay A Message to Garcia by Elbert Hubbard, which had been made into a 1916 silent film also called A Message to Garcia. The fictional characters of Dory and Raphaelita are added to the actual story, apparently to provide box office clout with roles for popular, well-established stars Beery and Stanwyck. Also going for the popular touch, British funny man Herbert Mundin is there for comedy relief as English merchant Henry Piper.

A Message to Garcia also features Alan Hale Sr, Herbert Mundin, Mona Barrie, Martin Garralaga, Juan Tirena, José Luis Tortosa, Lucio Villegas, Frederick Vogeding, Pat Moriarty, Octavio Giraud, Iris Adrian, Sam Appel, Josefina Betancourt, Davison Clark, David Clyde, Andre Cuyas, Art Dupuis, Juan Duval, Fred Godoy, Augustin Guzman, Rosita Harlan, Dell Henderson, Warren Hymer, George Irving, Si Jenks, Carlos Montalban, Manuel Paris, M Pelufa, Count Stefanelli, Pedro Vinas and Blanca Vischer.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7469

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