Directed by:
Charles BartonCinematography:
Charles Van EngerComposer:
Walter ScharfCast:
Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Virginia Grey, John Hubbard, Pedro de Cordoba, Fritz Feld, Frank Fenton, Chris-Pin Martin, Bobby Barber, Alex Montoya, Cosmo Sardo (more)Plots(1)
Cole Porter's Broadway musical Mexican Hayride was optioned by Universal in the mid-1940s, then remained in "development hell" until 1948. By the time the property made it to the screen, the entire Porter score had been removed, and the play's original star Bobby Clark was replaced by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. The story takes place South of the Border, where American fugitive from justice Joe Bascom (Costello) searches for con man Harry Lambert (Abbott), for whom Bascom had been a fall guy. Also in Mexico is Joe's hometown-sweetheart Mary (Virginia Grey), now known as Montana, the country's foremost female bullfighter. Joe catches up with Harry at the bull arena, where Montana is about to choose the "Amigo Americano" in a publicity scheme cooked up by Harry. When she spots Joe in the crowd, Montana (angry at our tubby hero for bilking her out of her life savings -- it was actually Harry's doing), furiously throws her hat at him. When Joe catches the hat, he's elected Amigo Americano and extended every hospitality that Mexico can afford. Sensing yet another opportunity to make a dishonest dollar, Harry exploits Joe's newfound celebrity to promote a phony gold-mining scheme. The gorgeous Dagmar (Luba Malina), Harry's partner in crime, romances Joe to secure his cooperation. Somehow all of this ends up back in the bull ring, with poor Joe facing a very belligerent "el toro." A bit too plot-heavy for Abbott & Costello, Mexican Hayride still has several choice moments, including a priceless verbal exchange involving gold ore ("gold or what?") and a "Mother Lode." (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Bud Abbott](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/109/309/109309575_d8ede2.jpg)
Bud Abbott
USA
Best movies:
![Lou Costello](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/496/496943_aac15d.jpg)
Lou Costello
USA
Best movies:
![Virginia Grey](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/505/505180_500edb.jpg)
Virginia Grey
USA
Best movies:
Airport (1970)
Test Pilot (1938)
The Rose Tattoo (1955)
![John Hubbard](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/935/159935041_97de6d.jpg)
John Hubbard
USA
Best movies:
You'll Never Get Rich (1941)
The Cimarron Kid (1952)
Duel at Diablo (1966)
![Pedro de Cordoba](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/922/159922843_295878.jpg)
Pedro de Cordoba
USA
Best movies:
The Keys of the Kingdom (1944)
The Song of Bernadette (1943)
The Sea Hawk (1940)
![Fritz Feld](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/506/161506945_395633.jpg)
Fritz Feld
German Empire
Best movies:
Barefoot in the Park (1967)
You Gotta Stay Happy (1948)
Hello, Dolly! (1969)
![Frank Fenton](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/011/160011761_f1cfd5.jpg)
Frank Fenton
USA
Best movies:
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
A Foreign Affair (1948)
The Clay Pigeon (1949)
![Chris-Pin Martin](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/582/166582991_882fac.jpg)
Chris-Pin Martin
USA
Best movies:
The Gold Rush (1925)
Captain Blood (1935)
The Crowd (1928)
![Bobby Barber](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/346/159346293_d4aa43.jpg)
Bobby Barber
USA
Best movies:
Modern Times (1936)
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
History Is Made at Night (1937)
![Alex Montoya](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/877/159877866_ba9587.gif)
Alex Montoya
USA
Best movies:
The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima (1952)
The Magnificent Seven (1960)
Viva Zapata! (1952)
![Cosmo Sardo](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/159/937/159937729_e3cbea.jpg)
Cosmo Sardo
USA
Best movies:
Some Like It Hot (1959)
Singin' in the Rain (1952)
North by Northwest (1959)
![Reed Howes](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/011/160011764_683018.jpg)
Reed Howes
USA
Best movies:
Judgment at Nuremberg (1961)
Dodge City (1939)
Virginia City (1940)
![Mary Castle](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/193/160193992_a0ba29.jpg)
Mary Castle
USA
Best movies:
Gunsmoke (1953)
The Lawless Breed (1953)
Argentina Brunetti
Argentina
Best movies:
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Gilda (1946)
Tycoon (1947)
![Donna Martell](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/333/160333071_b4931c.gif)
Donna Martell
USA
Best movies:
Secret Beyond the Door (1948)
The Egyptian (1954)
Ten Wanted Men (1955)
Joe Dominguez
Mexico
Best movies:
Anchors Aweigh (1945)
The Chase (1966)
Samson and Delilah (1949)
![Eddie Kane](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/160/883/160883327_9faa18.jpg)
Eddie Kane
USA
Best movies:
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
![Tom Powers](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/283/161283042_6a7ac0.jpg)
Tom Powers
USA
Best movies:
Double Indemnity (1944)
Julius Caesar (1953)
The Tall Target (1951)
Suzanne Ridgway
USA
Best movies:
It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
Martin Richards
USA