"La Fiesta" is an early experimental sound film from Vitaphone, the branch of Warner Brothers that used its New York studio to film a wide variety of experimental sound films from the 1920s through the 30s. Unlike many which featured stark backdrops and little movement, "La Fiesta" features a nice set that looks like it's straight from Mexico and a large cast of singers, dancers and extras.
Anna Case is featured in the film and the Cansino family also is in the film. Now I have a question about this....and I could not find the answer on the internet. Is this the same Cansino family which Rita Hayworth grew up performing with as a girl? After all, her real name was Rita Cansino and she was quite the dancer before she took up acting....and was completely made over to look anything but Mexican-American by Columbia Pictures. I probably will never know.
As for what I do know for sure, compared to many of the Vitaphone films of the era, this one is a bit better at times and really stretches the sound technology with its large cast of singers. Case, sadly, comes off poorly as her singing is not nearly as loud and clear as the rest...which is odd and rather sad. Had Case been easier to hear, I would have scored this one higher.
Anna Case is featured in the film and the Cansino family also is in the film. Now I have a question about this....and I could not find the answer on the internet. Is this the same Cansino family which Rita Hayworth grew up performing with as a girl? After all, her real name was Rita Cansino and she was quite the dancer before she took up acting....and was completely made over to look anything but Mexican-American by Columbia Pictures. I probably will never know.
As for what I do know for sure, compared to many of the Vitaphone films of the era, this one is a bit better at times and really stretches the sound technology with its large cast of singers. Case, sadly, comes off poorly as her singing is not nearly as loud and clear as the rest...which is odd and rather sad. Had Case been easier to hear, I would have scored this one higher.