My Man And I (1952)

A Mexican migrant worker (Ricardo Montalban) takes on a job with a mean spirited farmer (Wendell Corey) for a month. But between the farmer's sexually frustrated wife (Claire Trevor) and the Muscatel guzzling barfly (Shelley Winters) he falls in love with, his problems are only just beginning. Ricardo Montalban was one of the few Hispanic actors who managed (for the most part) to avoid stereotypical Latino roles. In films like this and BORDER INCIDENT, MYSTERY STREET and BATTLEGROUND to name just a few, he played Hispanic men with a dignity, with a purpose, providing well round characterizations rather than the usual Latino stereotype. Directed by the veteran director William Wellman from a screenplay co-written by John Fante (author of one of the quintessential L.A. novels ASK THE DUST), the film has a solid first hour until Montalban's character does something so insanely stupid that the film jumped the track for me and my interest dwindled. The mawkish title refers to the Montalban/Winters romance which doesn't come across as very believable. Much more interesting are the supporting characters played by Trevor and Corey. Stuck in a miserable marriage, each contemptuous of the other, one can't help but wonder what brought them to this point in their lives and why they still cohabit. With Jack Elam (unconvincing playing Mexican) and George Chandler.