Conheceram-se na Argentina

Had this been done over at 20th Century Fox which was at this time doing a lot of Latin American based musicals we'd have seen technicolor the better to show off Maureen O'Hara's fiery red tresses. Darryl Zanuck would have gotten a better score out of Rodgers&Hart than what was written for RKO.

The threadbare plot consists of a couple of American cowboys in Argentina who are played by James Ellison and Buddy Ebsen. Ellison fails to get some oil leases from Don Robert Barrat. But he might be able to get both daughter Maureen O'Hara and a prize race horse from Barrat if he learns the customs of the gaucho culture and plays his cards right.

Sadly Maureen doesn't sing and Ellison doesn't try. Ebsen has some nice numbers with Diosa Costello and there are a few ensemble numbers. Why didn't they get a singing leading man God only knows.

They Met In Argentina doesn't stack up to what was being done with the same material over at 20th Century Fox.

A forgettable story about an American businessman's (Ellison) attempts to purchase a racehorse from a rich Irish/South American , and his lovely daughter's (O'Hara) attempt to hook him at the same time, is merely an excuse for a top-notch musical comedy show. Buddy Ebsen is particularly funny as Ellison's Texan companion, and he gets to show off some snappy dancing, too. The bits that have been written here make Ebsen sort of a low-budget Will Rogers, but he makes the most of the opportunities and comes out shining. The script comes loaded with good jokes, and Ebsen has some of the best delivery (in classic vaudeville style) in the business.

Rodgers and Hart contribute one of their least impressive scores -- only one or two good songs. They gave Ebsen a humorous cowboy ditty to sing (and he sings it poorly deliberately, let's hope), but their theme song ("North America.... meet South America" is but one of its blistering rhymes) is truly atrocious. There are also one or two more or less forgettable attempts by the songwriters to imitate the style of Jerome Kern in light operetta, sung by Ellison's rival for O'Hara's love. Since Ellison can't sing at all, SOMETHING must have swung the thing in his favor.....

A likeable film emerges from the somewhat messy stew thanks to good comedy writing and playing.

American Tim Kelly (James Ellison) is in Argentina to work out an oil deal for his Texan tycoon boss. At a horse race in Buenos Aires, he has a bad first meet with local Lolita O'Shea (Maureen O'Hara). He takes a liking to the race horse Lucero. After Lucero beats his bosses' horse, he is ordered to buy it at all cost. Lucero is owned by Argentinian Don Enrique de los Santos O'Shea who happens to be Lolita's father. He befriends Texas cowboy Duke Ferrell (Buddy Ebsen). With the oil deal going bad, he needs the horse to appease his boss.

Nobody seems to have liked this movie. If this was meant to please the Latin American neighbors, it was a tone-deaf effort. The Americans are there to buy up Argentinian assets, talk American, and whisk away their women. I don't know why they didn't like this. The movie was scored by Rodgers and Hart. I'm sure that this is not their best effort. There are no hits to be had here. I love Maureen O'Hara, but she is suppressed in this movie. As hard as she tries, I don't see any chemistry with Ellison. I don't hate this, but it is falling flat.

James Ellison and pal Buddy Ebsen head down to Argentina to buy a famous racehorse from Robert Barrat. He won't sell, but Ellison begins to romance Barrat's daughter, Maureen O'Hara.

It's one of those movies made out of snips and snails and puppy dog tails; not everything works, but enough. Part of the reason seems to be that director Leslie Goodwins came down with pneumonia and Jack Hively took over for him. This resulted in things like the worst set of lyrics to Rodgers & Hart songs I've ever heard, Veloz doing mass Veloz-and-Yolanda dancing for the big dance number, Miss O'Hara not even trying to do a Hispanic accent. Still there's the deliberate comic mismatch of Ebsen and tiny Diosa Costello, and the well-shot and stunt laden game played by Ellison and the gauchos at the end. Even so, I doubt this movie contributed much to Pan-American relations.

This musical is a real snore. How could the famous songwriting team of Rodgers and Hart write such insipid music? One would expect at least one song to rise to the level of American standard, but nothing here even comes close. The entire score isn't even tuneful—just blah.

The love story never gets developed. How do the lead characters fall in love when they spend so little time with each other in the film? No love scenes, only one short kiss at the end of the movie.

James Ellison sings one song, but Maureen O'Hara isn't used once. She actually could sing herself. She is used briefly in the production number, dancing with a partner, but she could actually dance. Her talents were wasted in this film.

The entire production suffers from lack of Technicolor. The sets, costumes, and even the horses would have benefited. Yes, I know it was very expensive then. Oh well, even if it had been used, it couldn't have saved the dismal scriptwriting and lousy music.