In Gay Madrid is a 1930 American pre-Code musical comedy film directed by Robert Z. Leonard and starring Ramón Novarro, Dorothy Jordan, and Lottice Howell. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer on May 17, 1930.
Plot A carefree Madrid law student named Ricardo is sent to a rural school in Santiago in hopes of curbing his playboy lifestyle. There, he continues flirting, serenading, and ultimately courting his guardian’s daughter, Carmina—until his former lover Goyita arrives and complicates everything.
Cast Ramón Novarro as Ricardo Dorothy Jordan as Carmina Rivas Lottice Howell as Goytia Claude King as Marques de Castelar Eugenie Besserer as Dona Generosa William V. Mong as Rivas Beryl Mercer as Dona Concha Nanci Price as Jacinta Herbert Clark as Octavio David Scott as Ernesto George Chandler as Enrique Bruce Coleman as Corpulento Nicholas Caruso as Carlos
Songs The film features two songs by Fred E Ahlert and Roy Turk ('Smile While We May' and 'Into My Heart'), and two by Clifford Grey, Herbert Stothart and Xavier Cugat ('Santiago' and 'Dark Night'). All are sung by Ramon Novarro. A fifth song is performed at the start of the film by Lottice Howell. Its title is not certain, but is probably 'Let Me Give You Love,' by Ahlert and Turk.
Production Under the working title The House of Troy, filming of In Gay Madrid began on November 14, 1929 and concluded on December 21.In Gay Madrid, imdb.com; accessed August 8, 2015. Some retakes were directed by Robert Ober in January 1930.
Release In Gay Madrid was released on May 17, 1930, and was moderately successful at the box office.IMDB entry though it was critically panned.Soares, André. Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramón Novarro (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002) p. 156 The film's financial under-performance could, in part, be attributed to American audiences growing tired of musicals.Soares, André. Beyond Paradise: The Life of Ramón Novarro (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002) p. 157 It was paired with the comedy short, The Home Edition, starring Jay C. Flippen, in some U.S. theaters.Lodi Sentinel. August 5, 1930. p 2; February 26, 2014 It was released in Ottawa on June 23, 1930, along with the short Memories, a Musical Fantasy.Ottawa Citizen. June 23, 1930. pg. 14; February 26, 2014. In Gay Madrid has had a DVD release from Warner Archive in November 2015.
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