This week’s mystery movie was the 1960 Columbia picture “Pepe,” with (hold on to your hats):
Cantinflas, Dan Dailey, Shirley Jones, Carlos Montalban, Vicki Trickett, Matt Mattox, Hank Henry, Suzanne Lloyd, Carlos Rivas, Maurice Chevalier, Bing Crosby, Michael Callan, Richard Conte, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis Jr., Jimmy Durante, Zsa Zsa Gabor, the singing voice of Judy Garland, Greer Garson, Hedda Hopper, Joey Bishop, Ernie Kovacs, Peter Lawford, Janet Leigh, Jack Lemmon, Jay “Dennis the Menace” North, Kim Novak, Andre Previn, Donna Reed, Debbie Reynolds, Edward G. Robinson, Cesar Romero, Frank Sinatra. Billie Burke, Ann B. “Schultzy” Davis, Col. E.E. Fogelson, William Demarest, Jane Robinson, “Big” Jack Entratter, Bunny Waters and Charles Coburn. “And ? ?”
Introducing Don Juan.
Art direction by Ted Haworth, photography by Joe Mac Donald.
Photographic lenses by Panavision, Eastman Color by Pathe, special sequences photographed in CinemaScope. Edited by Viola Lawrence and Al Clark, set decoration by William Kiernan.
Assistant director David Silver, associate art director Gunther Gerszo.
Pepi and Mimi special material and routines by Roger Edens. Makeup by Ben Lane. Hairstyles by Larry Germain and Myrl Stoltz. Script supervisor Marshall Wolins. Recording supervisor Charles J. Rice. Music editor Maury Winetrobe. Sound by James Z. Flaster.
Las Vegas sequences photographed at the Sands Hotel, the Tropicana Hotel.
With grateful appreciation to the members of the Motion Picture Production Workers’ Union of the Republic of Mexico for their splendid cooperation.
G.S.-Posa Films International production.
Songs: “Faraway Part of Town,” “That’s How It Went, All Right” music by Andre Previn, lyrics by Dory Langdon, conducted by Andre Previn. “Pepe” music by Hans Wittstatt, special instrumental by Johnny Green. Lyrics by Dory Langdon. “The Rumble,” instrumental piece by Andre Previn. “Lovely Day” (“Concha Nacar”) music by Augustin Lara. Spanish lyrics by Maria Teresa Lara. Special English lyrics by Dory Langdon. Maurice Chevalier recordings of “September Song” and “Mimi” courtesy of MGM records.
Choreography: “The Rumble” and “Faraway Part of Town” by Eugene Loring. Additional choreography by Alex Romero.
General music supervision and background score by Johnny Green.
Associate producer Jacques Gelman.
Screenplay by Dorothy Kingsley. Screen story by Leonard Spigelgass and Sonya Levien. Based on a play by L. Bush-Fekete.
Produced and directed by George Sidney.
“Pepe” has not been commercially released on DVD, but it is available in graymarket copies.
Note: The original reviews refer to a running time of three hours and 15 minutes without intermission. The TCM print had a running time of two hours and 37 minutes.
I was looking for a change of pace after “The Girl From 10th Avenue,” “Confession” and “False Faces,” so I went to the trades and found this comment from Boxoffice (Nov. 19, 1962):
The salesman said he’d eat the print (all 13 reels of it) if we didn’t do good business with this one. Well he didn’t have to, this was our best grosser since we opened in the spring. And a nearby drive-in followed us with it on a double bill. So we’re happy. A. Madril, La Plaza Theatre, Antonio, Colo. Pop. 1,255.
Motion Picture Daily (Dec. 21, 1960) wrote an unusually long review, starting on the cover and jumping twice.
Although Catinflas has been Mexico’s most popular motion picture star for years, he was not well known to the American and world public prior to his appearance in “Around the World in 80 Days.” It may be said without qualification that in this lengthy and often demanding role as Pepe, the kind-hearted Mexican comedian proves himself a real trouper, always appearing to excellent advantage in the company of some of Hollywood’s best known names.
….Columbia has a finely made, wonderfully entertaining property in “Pepe” that is sure to be an important box office factor for a long time.
Writing in the New York Times (Dec. 22, 1960), Bosley Crowther did not approve of such goings-on.
The rare and wonderful talents of Mexican comedian Cantinflas, who was nicely introduced to the general public as the valet in “Around the World in 80 Days,” are pitifully spent and dissipated amid a great mass of Hollywooden dross in the oversized, over-peopled “Pepe,” which opened at the Criterion last night.
Here is this cheery little fellow with bright eyes, a sweetly smiling face, an eternally friendly disposition and an air of sublime innocence, whose nature flows warmly from simplicity and a happy contempt for quacks and sham, made to appear a gaga fall-guy for the characters and culture of Hollywood.
For Monday, we have a mystery horse, which I think is a first.
For Tuesday, our mystery horse is taking a nap on a billiard table, and I’m fairly certain that is a first.
Update: This is King Cotton the Horse as Don Juan. He was also in “Snowfire” (1957).
And you thought a horse sleeping on a pool table was strange.
Update: This is Cantinflas and Debbie Reynolds.
For “Hmm Wednesday,” we have two mystery dancers who are fighting over our mystery leading lady. This is good view of Dancer No. 1.
Update: Dancer No. 1 is Michael Callan.
And here’s a better view of Dancer No. 2.
Update: This is Matt Mattox.
We also have this mystery guest and Back of the Head Guy.
Update: This is Jack Lemmon with Cantinflas as Back of the Head Guy.
And finally, these mystery gents.
Update: This is “Big” Jack Entratter, left, towering over Richard Conte and Peter Lawford.
Brain Trust roll call: Jenny M. (mystery movie, mystery horse and mystery dancers), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie, mystery horse and mystery dancers), Sylvia E. (mystery movie, mystery horse and mystery dancers) and Mary Mallory (mystery movie and mystery horse).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have this mysterious piano player.
Update: This is Andre Previn.
We have this mystery woman. Also Back of the Head Guy. Bonus points if you can identify the owner of the slingshot.
Update: This is Billie Burke in her last film appearance, with Cantinflas as Back of the Head Guy. The slingshot is from Jay “Dennis the Menace” North.
And this mystery gentleman.
Update: This is Charles Coburn in his last film.
This mystery woman does not approve of such goings-on. (Love those pastels).
Update: This is Janet Leigh.
And this mystery gentleman. Also Back of the Head Guy.
Update: This is Ernie Kovacs with Cantinflas as Back of the Head Guy eating an onion.
Brain Trust roll call: Blackwing Jenny (mystery movie, mystery horse and mystery immigration officer who said he wouldn’t play any more captains), Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mystery dancers, mystery actor in drag, Back of the Head Guy and mystery casino gents Nos. 2 and 3), Tucson Barbara (mystery movie, mystery horse, Tuesday’s mystery dancers, Wednesday’s mystery dancers, mystery actor in drag, Back of the Head Guy and all mystery casino gents), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery dancers, mystery actor in drag and Back of the Head Guy, mystery casino gents Nos. 2 and 3), Chrisbo (Wednesday’s mystery actor in drag), Gary (mystery movie, mystery horse, Back of the Head Guy and mystery casino gent No. 3), Earl Boebert (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery actor in drag, Back of the Head Guy, mystery casino gents Nos. 2 and 3), Charles Kjelland (mystery casino gent No. 3), Mike Hawks (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery dancer No. 1, mystery actor in drag, Back of the Head Guy, mystery casino gents Nos. 2 and 3), Beachgal (mystery movie, mystery horse, Tuesday’s mystery dancers, Wednesday’s mystery dancers, actor in drag and all three mystery casino gents), Sarah (mystery movie), David Inman (mystery movie, Back of the Head Guy, mystery actor in drag, mystery casino gent No. 2), FunkyPhD (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery dancers and mystery actor in drag, Back of the Head Guy and mystery casino gents Nos. 2 and 3), Patrick (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery actor in drag and Back of the Head Guy), Megan and Thom (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery dancers, mystery actor in drag and mystery casino gents Nos. 2 and 3), Sylvia E. (all of Wednesday’s mystery guests), Bruce Reznick (mystery movie, Wednesday’s mystery actor in drag and mystery casino gent No. 3), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast) and Suzanne A. Stone (mystery movie and Back of the Head Guy).
Allie Francis: Right actor, but another movie.
Remember our mystery tequila dancers? Friday’s mystery gent will put them in perspective.
Update: This is Dan Dailey hallucinating in the “Tequila” number with Cantinflas and Debbie Reynolds.
And our mysterious sleeping horse? Here are two mystery gents to go along.
Update: This is Don Juan (King Cotton), with Cantinflas and Edward G. Robinson.
And here’s our mystery leading lady and mysterious leading man.
Update: This is Shirley Jones and Cantinflas.
Brain Trust roll call: Beach Gal (Wednesday’s Back of the Head Guy, Thursday’s mystery guests), Chrisbo (Thursday’s mystery immigration officer, mystery cigar smoker and mysterious woman in a bathtub), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Funky PhD (Thursday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy), Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery guests), Charles Kjelland (mystery movie, Thursday’s mysterious immigration officer and Wednesday’s mystery casino gent. No. 2), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (mystery movie), Benito (mystery movie, Thursday’s mysterious immigration officer and Back of the Head Guy, plus mystery leading lady), Sylvia E. (Thursday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy), Sue Slutzky (mystery movie and all mystery guests and various appearances of Back of the Head Guy) and Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s mystery guests and Back of the Head Guy).
ladailymirror.com 
“Equus”?
LikeLike
No Richard Burton in our mystery movie…
LikeLike
“Miracle of the White Stallions”?
LikeLike
Interesting guess. Right decade but the wrong studio.
LikeLike
Reflections in a Golden Eye.
LikeLike
Interesting guess…. right decade, but the wrong studio.
LikeLike
Sterling Holloway
LikeLike
The horse is not named in the credits but this shot is from Reflections in a Golden Eye.
LikeLike
Alas, I’m afraid not.
LikeLike
Aw! I was hoping it was Trigger, in honor of Olivia de Havilland, but wrong color.
LikeLike
Looks like Trigger, but cannot spot whether or not he is stuffed.
LikeLike
Just because…”thunderhead son of flicka” (1945)
I’m sure that’s not it by the way.
LikeLike
An interesting guess. But alas, a different decade and a different studio.
LikeLike
THE MAGIC SWORD.
LikeLike
The movie is Pepe. Monday and Tuesday’s horse is King Cotten. The dancing couple is Debbie Reynolds and Cantinflas.
LikeLike
Monday: King Cotton the Horse in PEPE (1960); Tuesday: Debbie Reynolds & Cantinflas.
LikeLike
Just because…again…
I’m going to guess “Pepe”. Tuesday’s image#2 looks like the ‘tequila’ number with Debbie Reynolds and Cantinflas.
A wild guess though.
LikeLike
Debbie Reynolds & Matt Mattox.
LikeLike
IMDb indicates that King Cotton the Horse is the name of this talented horse. It looks like he won the P.A.T.S.Y. award for his performance. He also apparently appeared (without credit) in Diamond Head (1962.)
LikeLike
Pepe.
LikeLike
Don Juan, or King Cotton doing some acting Monday and Tuesday.
LikeLike
It’s an Ernie Kovacs film-Pepe! The horse is King Cotton.
LikeLike
Pepe! A Kovacs film!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Michael Calland and Matt Maddox, Jack Lemmon in drag and Cantiflas as BOTH guy, Hank Henry, Richard Conte, and Peter Lawford.
LikeLike
“Pepe”
King Cotton
Debbie Reynolds, Cantinflas
Michael Callan, Matt Mattox
Jack Lemmon, Cantinflas
Jack Entratter (?), Richard Conte, Peter Lawford
LikeLike
Michael Callan, Matt Mattox; Jack Lemmon, Cantinflas; Boyd Cabeen, Richard Conte, Peter Lawford.
LikeLike
Wednesdays mystery guest reminds me of Jack Lemmon in drag.
LikeLike
Peter Lawford? A mystery guest? A white horse, beloved of Cantinflas? Must be Pepe.
LikeLike
Jack Lemmon, Richard Conte and Peter Lawford Wednesday. “Pepe,” in which Cantinflas comes looking for his horse in Hollywood and meets *everybody.*
LikeLike
Peter Lawford today, don’t know the others!
LikeLike
PEPE w/Michael Callan, Jack Lemmon, Cantinflas, Richard Conte and Peter Lawford.
LikeLike
Ah! It’s Pepe. Wen – Peter Lawford, Richard Conte, Dancer #1 is Michael Callen.
LikeLike
Dancer #2 is Matt Mattox. Our horse is Don Juan. Actor in drag is Jack Lemmon.
LikeLike
I think our big guy next to Richard Conte is Jack Entratter.
LikeLike
It’s “Pepe” (1960).
LikeLike
April Fools 1969?
LikeLike
“Pepe”! With Cantinflas and Jack Lemmon and Richard Conte and everyone else who was under contract to Columbia at the time!
LikeLike
Film: Pepe. Aha Wednesday mystery guest: Jack Lemmon. Dancer in the green sweater: Michael Callan. Red sweater dancer: Matt Mattox. Mystery gents, left to right: ?, Richard Conte, Peter Lawford.
LikeLike
Jack Lemon, Cantinflas and an all star cast too numerous to mention in Pepe from 1960.
LikeLike
This week’s movie is “Pepe” with King Cotton the Horse on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday’s dancers are Michael Callan and Matt Mattox. Also on Wednesday are Jack Lemmon in drag and in the next shot Richard Conti and Peter Lawford.
LikeLike
Weds – images 1 and 2 – Michael Callan and Matt Maddox (the O.S. leading lady is Shirley Jones)
Image 3 – Jack Lemmon and BOTHG is Cantinflas. Image 4 – ‘Big’ Jack Entratter, Richard Conte and Peter Lawford.
LikeLike
This is Pepe (1960): I recognized Jack Lemmon in drag and Peter Lawford.
Do you consider it cheating to use iMDb cheating?
LikeLike
Please edit out that second “cheating”. I’m teaching online, and it’s been a long day.
LikeLike
It’s “Pepe” (1960) with Jack Lemmon in drag and Peter Lawford. I used IMDb. Is that cheating?
LikeLike
Pepe (1960) w/ Richard Conte, Peter Lawford, Jack Lemmon, Cantinflas, Shirley Jones, Dan Dailey, Don Juan (horse)…Matt Mattox & Michael Callan (rumble)
LikeLike
The 1960 film “Pepe” with Cantinflas… an all star cameo extravaganza I saw as a kid and the only thing I recall is that dance scene on the desktop!
LikeLike
Back of the head guy with Jack Lemmon is Cantinflas.
LikeLike
Piano player – Andre Previn. Billie Burke with our bothg, Cantinflas. Charles Coburn, Janet Leigh, Ernie Kovacs and bothg Cantinflas.
LikeLike
That’s a lot of “aha”‘s. I see Charles Coburn, Janet Leigh and Ernie Kovacs in Pepe
LikeLike
Andre Previn; Billie Burke; Charles Coburn; Janet Leigh; Ernie Kovacs.
LikeLike
This is fun. Thursday’s mystery women: Billie Burke and Janet Leigh. Mystery men: Charles Coburn and Ernie Kovacs. Back of the head guy: Cantinflas.
LikeLike
So that’s Bobby Darin not looking well amn bloated WEdnesday? Andre Previn at the pinao, Billie Burke with Cantiflas (BOTH) (horse’s slingshot?), Charles Coburn, Janet Leigh, Ernie Kovacs and Cantiflas.
LikeLike
Ernie Kovacs today! Was that Richard Conte next Lawford yesterday!
LikeLike
Oscar Levant playing the piano?
LikeLike
Billie Burke, Charles Coburn, Andre Previn, Janet Leigh and Ernie Kovacs.
LikeLike
Oh heavens. Is it Pepe? We watched that in the cafeteria at St. Jerome’s elementary school in El Cerrito, CA
LikeLike
Cantinflas and Ernie Kovacs in PEPE. Shirley Jones next up!
LikeLike
Thurs – #1 Andre Previn at the piano; #2 At first I thought Hedda Hopper, though that hat seemed too demure for her, so instead I’m going with a note I saw on Rotten Tomatoes, that it’s Billie Burke with her slingshot and BOTHG Cantinflas; #3 Charles Coburn (victim of the slingshot attack) ; #4 Janet Leigh; #5 Ernie Kovacs and BOTHG Cantinflas.
LikeLike
Has to be Pepe. fro the movie!
LikeLike
Movie: Pepe
Monday & Tuesday: The horse is Don Juan
Wed: Dancer 1 is Michael Callan, Dancer 2 is Matt Mattox
Next: Jack Lemmon in drag with Cantinflas
Next: Jack Entratter, Richard Conte and Peter Lawford
Thurs: Andre Previn at the piano, Hedda Hopper with Jay North’s slingshot,
Charles Coburn, Janet Leigh, and Ernie Kovacs with Cantinflas
LikeLike
Andre Previn, Cantinflas, Billie Burke, Charles Coburn, Janet Leigh, Ernie Kovacs, Cantinflas
LikeLike
Dan Dailey w/Cantinflas and Shirley Jones, King Cotton, Cantinflas, Edward G. Robinson, Shirley Jones, and (surprise) Cantinflas
LikeLike
Dan Dailey, Don Juan with Cantiflas and Edward G. Robinson, Shirley Jones and Cantiflas.
LikeLike
Dan Dailey; Cantinflas & Edward G. Robinson; & Shirley Jones.
LikeLike
Fri Cantinflas, Shirley Jones, Edward G Robinson, Dan Dailey
LikeLike
Dan Dailey, Cantinflas, Edward G. Robinson and Shirley Jones in the truly awful film PEPE.
LikeLike
Pepe – Cantinflas and Edward G. today
LikeLike
Pepe from Columbia Pictures, 1960, featuring Mexican star Cantinflas and everybody who was anybody in Hollywood.
LikeLike
Friday: Dan Dailey watching tiny Cantinflas and Debbie Reynolds dance,
Cantinflas and Edward G. Robinson, and last: Shirley Jones with Cantinflas
I think everyone in Hollywood was in this movie!
LikeLike
Is Wednesday’s mystery gent on the right Peter Lawford?
LikeLike
CBS Columbia Square is across the street from Charles Coburn in his image.
LikeLike