¡Ay Jalisco... no te rajes!

This Ranchera movie has certain recurring ingredients found in other 1940's era Mexican movies about Charros (Mexican Cowboys): rodeo contests, cock fighting, fist fights, and lots of serenading of women. I'm not a big fan of Negrete but this is a pretty good movie, although it's predictable. There are good comedic touches, courtesy of Chaflan, Negrete's sidekick, and "Mala Suerte" (Badluck), who joins them on their adventures. There's a lot of melodrama, shoot outs, and A LOT of local color and singing. I recommend this as a good introduction to the Ranchera movie genre that swept through Mexico beginning with "Allá en el Rancho Grande" in 1936. This genre celebrated Mexican rural life and customs.

What a great singer! Jorge Negrete's voice is quite thrilling, rich, potent, expressive, just perfect for this type of song. It's hard to believe that he despised this sort of music and preferred opera. These songs are far better than opera, which is stuffy, staid and dull, and lacks that verge and impudence and humor.

This movie is worth seeing mainly for the great singer and songs, but the plot and good old-fashioned cinematography are also appealing.