The Gay Desperado - VCI Entertainment (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1936
Director: Rouben Mamoulian
Writers: Wallace Smith, Leo Birinsky
Cast: Nino Martini, Ida Lupino, Leo Carrillo, Harold Huber, James Blakeley, Stanley Fields, Mischa Auer

Release Date: June 9th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 87 Minutes 9 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"As a reluctant member of Leo Carrillo's bandit gang, Martini is called on to guard the lovely and recently kidnapped Ida Lupino, with the expected romantic results—plus interference from a bunch of American gangsters moving their operation south of the border.” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, “a new restoration of The Gay Desperado, made possible with the support of the Mary Pickford Foundation."

The Gay Desperado comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31.7 GB

Feature: 23.3 GB

The source is clean and free of any debris. Flesh tones look healthy, image clarity and compression are strong, black levels fare well, and any digital noise reduction is never too intrusive.

Audio: 3.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in English with removable English SDH. Although the audio sounds clear and balanced, it is limited range-wise.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a collection of clips for movies also released by VCI Entertainment, a poster & photo gallery with music from the film playing in the background, and an interview with film historian David Wilt (24 minutes 29 seconds, LPCM stereo English subtitles).

Other extras include a 12-page booklet with cast & crew information, an essay about the film written by Richard Barrios, and press quotes.

Included with this release is a DVD that has the same content as the Blu-ray included as part of this combo release.

Summary:

Rouben Mamoulian directed The Gay Desperado. He’s most known for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931), Love Me Tonight, Queen Christina, Blood and Sand (1941), and Silk Stockings.

A Mexican bandit named Braganza, who greatly admires Chivo, a singer who provides live entertainment in between movies, convinces Chivo to join his gang. Not satisfied with just being a bandit, Braganza tries to emulate the American gangsters he sees in the movies.

Considering the talent involved, Rouben Mamoulian, producer Mary Pickford, and actress Ida Lupino (The Hitch-Hiker), it's surprising that The Gay Desperado is relatively unknown. Critics and audiences universally praised The Gay Desperado upon its initial release. That said, most of what might have initially worked for critics and audiences back then has not aged well.

The Gay Desperado opens with a clever moment of deception. The scene initially seems to show mafia gangsters fleeing the police amidst a hail of bullets, but as the camera pulls back, it reveals that the action is actually a moment from a film being watched by a crowd. While there are no mafia gangsters in the narrative proper, the presence looms large as a Mexican bandit tries to emulate them throughout. From there, what unfolds is not a crime film, but a parody of the 1930s American crime film.

What makes The Gay Desperado so enjoyable are its performances, especially Leo Carrillo's (Phantom of the Opera-1943 version) portrayal of the Mexican bandit Braganza. He delivers a delirious exaggeration of the Mexican bandit character. The other two leads deliver solid performances: Nino Martini, known for his role in One Night with You, plays Chivo, while Ida Lupino portrays Jane, a woman kidnapped by Braganza's gang who becomes Chivo's love interest.

From its opening moments it's clear that there are going to be a lot of laughs and a few well-placed twists that ensure there’s rarely a moment that falls flat. Besides being a parody of the 1930s American crime film, The Gay Desperado is also a romantic comedy and a musical. When it comes to blending these three genres, The Gay Desperado is very effective. Another reason why The Gay Desperado works as well as it does is Rouben Mamoulian’s exemplary direction. Ultimately, The Gay Desperado is a well-crafted film that often exceeds the sum of its parts.

The Gay Desperado gets a first-rate release from VCI Entertainment that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and an excellent interview with David Wilt. Recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer