I really want to write something good about this movie. I can't, though. I only saw it once, and once was more than enough. I was a teenager in Denver, Colorado, when "Pepe" previewed for the first time before an audience. A passel of studio bigwigs showed up at the Centre Theatre that evening, including, I believe, producer and director George Sidney. Cantinflas was a no-show; maybe he knew something.Did you ever attend a movie where the audience greets it with...dead silence? Not the kind of silence for something cerebral, such as "2001: A Space Odyssey", but the kind of silence that lets you know you are watching a very slow, very long train wreck. And there were roughly 1,200 really silent people that night fifty years ago.So why did I stick it out through the whole thing? Easy. The cameos. I would start looking for the exit when Edward G. Robinson would appear. Wow! This picture's got to get better now. Wrong. Ditto for Ernie Kovacs, and so on.Since I viewed the preview print, I believe I saw the full 195 minute version. So what did the studio cut for general release? The only thing I clearly remember departing was a long, misbegotten animated sequence.In retrospect I feel sorry for George Sidney, director of "The Harvey Girls", the 1948 "Three Musketeers", and "Kiss Me Kate". But the industry had changed a lot by 1960. He did his best to keep up, but "Pepe" has to be a nadir.Some believe "Pepe" to be excellent family fare. If I compelled a child to watch the whole thing, even the cut general release version, I could probably be arrested for child abuse. You have been warned!

I saw this movie on the big screen when it was new in Australia & years later my Mum & I sat up in the wee hours after hours delivering catalogs & newspapers around our area to watch a rare TV screening. There are VHS available but these are outrageous in price. Wikipedia says there was a limited DVD release(undated) which i was unaware of & the VHS dates to 1998. I would also be in line if Columbia MOD series makes this available in the 195mins original version. The original release also had RCA 4-track stereo audio. I like the actor who appeared in films as Catinflas(Mario Moreno), a Mexican comedy actor.The film has the audio voice of Judy Garland thru speakers in a poolside scene. There are brief appearances of Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Sammy Davis Jr & the final screen roles for Billie Burke & Charles Coborn. If it comes available to buy, it would be an entertaining buy, even at 195mins.

Now that I have read some put downs, I need to respond.This movie 'PEPE' (1960) George Sidney, was just what tens of thousands of other movies is, and are supposed to do, that is to give you an escape.Give you an escape from everyday blaze. It's funny, musical, short on a fabulous plot but wonderful to watch especially if you like to dream that maybe some small unknown would be able to brush elbows with the stars of the era, and save his ('son' as he says) to boot. What's so bad about that?? I'm sorry "Mario Moreno Reyes" Cantinflas did not get a fair shake from Hollywood he had such potential. In my book this is a must see.

No video. The great Cantinflas. One of the greatest comedians and no video. What does that tell you? Hmmm. More. Star-studded cast. Jillions of cameos...all on the heels of Mike Todd's successful Around the World in Eighty Days. Ah, could it be that our old Hollywood capitalist buddies wanted to make another killing on the heels of AtWi80D? Sure. But, they picked such a dog of a story that not even the great Cantinflas could sell it. No video. So, if it comes around on the late show, be advised that this makes maudlin look spicy. Yep. You'll be disappointed. I was. Don't watch it. Find an old I Love Lucy rerun. It has more intellectual content.