Fluentiama Perfect cast and a good story

Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

Lachlan Coulson This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

Haven Kaycee It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

TheLittleSongbird When there is a cast like Esther Williams, Ricardo Montalban, Cyd Charisse and Mary Astor, the film in question promises much. Because all four of these people are very talented at what they do and have been rarely less than watchable in their films.'Fiesta' is a long way from a bad film, it's colourful and it does have several good things about it. It is however a very uneven and heavily problematic film that considering the calibre of talent should have been much better than it was.Starting with 'Fiesta's' strengths, it's very handsomely mounted and is shot in glorious Technicolor. The music is full of liveliness and makes one want to tap their toes and get up and dance, a kind of energy that the rest of the film doesn't match. Love the use of Copland's 'El Salon Mexico'.The dance choreography is even better, the fiery dance routines with Montalban and Charisse are electrifying and 'Fiesta' is worth seeing for them alone. Montalban is as suave, dashing and charismatic as ever, while Charisse is charming and dances a dream. Astor is touching, though she deserved a bigger role and better material.On the other hand, as radiant as Williams looks and her brief swimming scene is nice (though nowhere near one of her best routines) she does look ill at ease and any drama never rings true, her character being somehow related to Montalban severely strains credibility. John Carroll is rather bland, and there are somewhat hammy turns from Akim Tamiroff and Fortunio Bonanova.Scripting-wise, 'Fiesta' is pretty pedestrian and contrived, not much wit here, while the story does lack momentum, is as thin as ice and credibility-straining nonsense. As for the bull scenes, for such a brutal "sport" they are pretty tame. Richard Thorpe's direction is undistinguished at best and the most energetic 'Fiesta' gets is in the scenes with Montalban and Charisse and the music.In summary, colourful but uneven. Good for a one-time watch, but not good enough for repeat viewings. 5/10 Bethany Cox

bkoganbing Twins who grow up to be Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban are born to Mexico's top matador Fortunio Bonanova and wife Mary Astor. Of course it's the father's dream that Montalban succeed him in the ring, but Ricardo is interested in music and is a pianist and composer. But Esther's something of a tomboy and she likes showing off in the bull ring every now and then. That is the basis for the plot of Fiesta which introduced Ricardo Montalban to the American cinema.Though Esther takes only a small dip in the water and barely gets wet, Fiesta is a decent enough film for her even though her specialty is not really promoted. What's really promoted is Cyd Charisse who plays Montalban's girlfriend and who does some fine dancing. Also promoted is a piano concerto by Aaron Copland, Montalban's masterpiece which convinces music maestro Hugo Haas that Montalban belongs behind a piano not in front of a bull. When he's in the latter position his head's just not in the game and that can be fatal for a matador.Since Fiesta is classified as a musical I was disappointed that John Carroll who plays a scientist and is courting Williams was not given a song in the film. Doubly disappointed because in another Latin role in Rio Rita Carroll did get to sing in that opposite Kathryn Grayson. He had a good baritone and should have sang more often in films. Possibly a number for him was cut.Though it's hardly in the front rank of Esther Williams films, Fiesta is a good programmer for MGM and for her as well.

Chris Vosburg As an add to a review above which wondered whether Ricardo Montalban had any actual experience as a pianist or was just faking it, I think I can definitively answer, as a pianist myself, yes, he's a pianist (having just seen Fiesta, and the barroom scene where his character Mario Morales takes to the house upright to accompany himself, his composition having just come up on the radio).That's not him on the soundtrack, probably, but he's most definitely fingering the quite complex piece correctly (con mucho gusto!), and this means that yes, Senor Montalban has a talent many of us were previously unaware of.Discovered to my surprise the same thing about Gary Oldman, as I watched him as Ludwig Van Beethoven in Immortal Beloved, and Kyle McLachlan as Ray Manzarek in The Doors.

dol-lin John Carroll has always been one of my favorite actors, but Hollywood just didn't seem to notice his appeal. He was a very good looking and talented actor. I saw many of his movies and really enjoyed seeing him on the screen.