The second of the special films for December at the Ambassadors Theatre will start today. Last week brought the fine comedy “One Rainy Afternoon” – today will see the unspooling of “A Message To Garcia”, a good action drama of the Spanish-American war. On December 18 “The Last Of The Mohicans” will be presented and on Christmas Day “Sons of Guns” will start. The full cast of “A Message To Garcia” was:-
Sergeant Dory – Wallace Beery
Raphalita Maderos – Barbara Stanwyck
Lieut. Rowan – John Boles
Dr. Krug – Alan Hale
Henry Piper – Herbert Mundin
Spanish Spy – Mona Barrie
General Garcia – Enrique Acosta
Luis Maderos – Juan Torena
Rodriguez – Martin Garralaga
Chiquita – Blanca Vischer
Pasquale Castova – Jose Luis Tortosa
Commandant – Lucio Villegas
German Stoker – Frederick Vogeding
Irish Stoker – Pat Moriaty
Commandant – Octavio Giraud
The period of “A Message to Garcia” is the Spanish-American War of 1898 when President McKinley wants to send a message to General Garcia who, with his forces, is hiding somewhere in the Cuban forests. Lieut. Rowan undertakes the mission, and from then on it is a case of wading through swamps, dodging unexpected bullets, eluding Dr. Krug, the master spy, and lending aid to the charming Senorita Raphaeleita Maderos, whose father has been shot and his home burnt as he dies. it needs little imagination to realise that with the stage set in this fashion, anything may occur within its limits, and all that does happen is convincing. Lieut. Rowan, working as a stoker, closely questioned by Dr. Krug; hs escape in a boat; his landing at a small town with a dog barking in the tiny deserted street…something happens all the time. Beery is again the lurching bad man with the heart of gold and is a human figure as the thieving sergeant. Alan Hale is fine as Dr. Krug; John Boles leaves the fields of music and illicit love for action with success and Barbara Stanwyck continues her comeback as the Spanish girl.
The other attraction, “Two Against the World”, is a story of American radio. Humphrey Bogart as the networks manager and Beverley Roberts as his secretary, are the main players.