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Poster for Escape to Paradise (1939)

Escape to Paradise (1939)

1939 · Feature film · 60 min · dir. Erle C. Kenton

A show to make you glow...Gay adventure and romance, ringing with song.

  • Comedy
  • Romance
Watch now On the Internet Archive

Synopsis

While on a pleasure cruise to South America, Richard Fleming, an idle playboy, docks in Rosarita. There he hails a motorcycle taxi owned by Roberto, who then drives him into a canteen, where the beautiful señorita Juanita is seated. Deciding to remain in Rosarita to court Juanita, Richard hires Roberto to drive him to her father's maté plantation. There he meets Alexander Komac, a buyer who is trying to corner the maté market and force the planters to accept his low price. Pretending to be a maté buyer himself, Richard approaches Don Miguel, Juanita's father, who formally introduces the American to his beautiful daughter. Richard agrees to buy a small quantity of maté from Don Miguel, but when his father refuses to provide him with the funds to make the purchase, he arranges for friends in New York to import the maté. Meanwhile, Roberto brags to the planters that Richard intends to buy all the maté in Rosarita, and they plan a surprise dinner in his honor. At the dinner, Richard learns that he has been anointed maté king of Rosarita and is forced to confess his deception. Learning the truth, Juanita spurns Richard, and as he plans to leave the town in defeat, a cablegram arrives from New York pleading for more maté. Roberto tricks Juanita into coming with him to prevent Richard from leaving, and the three return to town to begin Richard's new career as maté importer.

Synopsis from OMDb

Details

Director
Erle C. Kenton
Writer
Ian McLellan Hunter
Studio
Bobby Breen Productions Inc., Sol Lesser Productions
Released
1939-12-22
Running time
60 minutes
Language
English
Collection
Comedy Films, Feature Films

Subjects on the Internet Archive

Cast & crew

Reviews on the Internet Archive

★★★★★ · Great Movie! · Deviki · 2025-12-28

Absolutely hilarious movie. Too bad the sound is such poor quality. Bobby's voice still as angelic as ever. Wouldn't scruple to recommend it!

★★★ · Decent · malary · 2009-01-28

This is a cute story, but it doesn't quite grab your attention well enough. It moves along OK, but the climax is a little dull. Bobby makes up for the storyline with his singing though; the songs are great but not as good as the ones in his other pictures like 'Hawaii Calls'. Bobby does a great job with the accent. It's hilarious when they recked the car at the end. Nice movie if you want to hear some great South American tunes. It almost earns 3 stars from me.

★★★ · Bobby highlights this feature. · ERD · 2007-07-31

Bobby Breen was eleven years old when this film was made. He had a charming energetic personality and a delightful boyish tenor voice. Unfortunately, Escape to Paradise had very mediocre script. Still, I found it worth watching Bobby sing his musical numbers.

★★ · Zzzzz... · Spuzz · 2013-08-24

Boring movie about a guy's trip to Latin America, and how he accidentally appears to purchase a while pile of tea when courting some lady. He annoys a competitor also wanting his hands on the tea. And there are lots of songs too! Not worth your time.

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