Cuban Pete
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Jean Yarbrough
Desi Arnaz
Joan Fulton
Beverly Simmons
Don Porter
Jacqueline De Wit
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Screwball perfume manufacturer Theresa Lindsay informs George Roberts of the Roberts Advertising Agency that she has decided to change the musical programming of her radio show from Russian to Cuban. Furthermore, Theresa insists that the unknown Desi Arnaz and His Cuban Rhythm Band be imported from Cuba to New York City to star on her show. When the bandleader refuses George's phone and telegram offers, the desperate advertising executive sends Ann Williams, his assistant, to Cuba to personally pursue Desi. She finds Desi and his group working on a plantation on the outskirts of Havana. Desi tells Ann that he refused the radio offer because his sister and brother-in-law were killed in New York City, and that he has been taking care of his orphaned niece Brownie ever since. With Brownie's help and a bit of romance, Ann convinces Desi to go to New York, but he soon becomes disenchanted when he learns that George paid Ann a $5,000 bonus to get him to appear on Theresa's show. Matters are further complicated when Theresa announces that she plans to perform on the radio program with Desi and his band. When Desi refuses to sing with her, Theresa attempts to enlist Brownie's aid by taking the little girl's sick parrot, José, to Alvin, her physician. Instead, Theresa is arrested when the parrot disrupts the doctor's office. Ann then agrees to arrange for Theresa's release from police custody only if the radio sponsor agrees never to sing with Desi. With Theresa at a safe distance, the radio show is a great success, and Desi and Ann are happily united.
Director
Jean Yarbrough
Cast
Desi Arnaz
Joan Fulton
Beverly Simmons
Don Porter
Jacqueline De Wit
Pedro Decordoba
Igor And Yvette
Ethel Smith
The King Sisters
Del Sharbutt
Eddie Parks
Charles Jordan
Roseanne Murray
Shirley O'hara
Rico De Montez
Ellen Corby
Ann Lawrence
Peggy Leon
Diane Carroll
Bob O'connor
Chuck Bedell
Cleo Morgan
Samuel Schultz
Peter Seal
Ruth Lee
Lizzie, A Parrot
Crew
Jack Brooks
Bernard B. Brown
Bobby Collazo
Will Cowan
Carmen Dirigo
Bill Driggs
Bernard Feins
Fred Frank
Russell A. Gausman
Maury Gertsman
Abraham Grossman
Rafael Hernandez
Ernesto Lecuona
Otto Ludwig
Jess Moulin
José Norman
Bob O'connor
T. F. Offenbecker
Jack Otterson
Jack P. Pierce
Robert Presnell Sr.
Alcides De Los Reyes
Milton Rosen
Milton Schwarzwald
M. Coates Webster
Howard Welsch
Vera West
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Cuban Pete was Desi Arnaz's first film in three years, an absence caused by his enlistment in the U.S. Army. The José Norman song "Cuban Pete" became one of the signature songs for actor-singer Arnaz and gained new popularity in 1994, when it was performed by comedic actor Jim Carrey in the New Line film The Mask.
