Rio Rita (1929)

John Boles plays Capt. Jim Stewart, a Texas ranger who heads south of the border to track down a bandit known as Kinkajou — or the Wildcat.

He meets the lovely Rita Ferguson and immediately falls in love with her. She’s quite taken with him too.

Problem is, her brother Roberto has gone missing, and both suspect he might be the bandit.

Complicating matters is Gen Ravinoff, who wants Rita for his own and threatens to turn over Roberto to the authorities if she doesn’t comply.

Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey provide the comic relief in this Western/comedy/love story/musical.

The former has gotten divorced and quickly remarries only to learn from the latter that the divorce didn’t go through and he’s now married to two women.

Bebe Daniels as Rita Ferguson, torn over her feelings for Capt. Jim Stewart in Rio Rita (1929)

John Boles as Capt. Jim Stewart with his fellow Texas Rangers in Rio Rita (1929)

The film was based on a successful 1927 stage show by Florenz Ziegfeld and is unlikely to appeal to anyone who doesn’t want to see the main characters burst into song every few minutes.

It’ll strike modern viewers as odd in a couple of other ways. The main plot and the comic subplot never intertwine. And while most of the film is in black and white, the climax is in color.

The then-popular comedy team of Wheeler and Woolsey provide a couple of truly funny moments. But for most, one viewing, or partial viewing, will be enough to satisfy your curiosity.

The version available today runs 103 minutes long. The original was 40 minutes longer and was one of RKO’s biggest box office hits until the release of “King Kong” in 1933.

Don Alvarado as Robert Ferguson, searching for Gen. Ravinoff in Rio Rita (1929)

Georges Renavent as Gen. Ravinoff, dismissing a female friend because of his love for Rita in Rio Rita (1929)

Directed by:
Luther Reed

Cast:
Bebe Daniels … Rita Ferguson
John Boles … Capt. Jim Stewart
Bert Wheeler … Chick Bean
Robert Woolsey … Ned Lovett
Dorothy Lee .. Dolly Bean
Don Alvarado … Roberto Ferguson
Georges Renavent … Gen. Ravinoff
Helen Kaiser … Mrs. Katie Bean

Runtime: 140 min.

Bert Wheeler as Chick Dean and Dorothy Lee as his new wife Dolly in Rio Rita (1929)

Robert Woolsey as Ned Lovett, the bumbling attorney who turns his client into a bigamist in Rio Rita (1929)

Memorable lines:

Gen. Ravinoff to Rita: “How you would grace my hacienda.”
Rita: “I am afraid too many ladies have done that already.”

Capt. Jim to Rita: “Kismit. Fate. It was pre-destined.”
Rita: “Those are very big words for a small Mexican girl.”

Mrs. Katie Bean: “I’m Mrs. Bean.”
Lawyer Ned Lovett: “Oh, you’re the first Mrs. Bean. In other words, you’re the has bean.”

Bebe Daniels as Rita Ferguson, watching Jim Stewart’s reaction to a letter regarding her brother in Rio Rita (1929)

John Boles as Capt. Jim Stewart and Bebe Daniels as Rita Ferguson during a musical interlude in Rio Rita (1929)