Week-End in Havana A ship company employee, Jay Williams, is sent to Florida where one of the company cruise ships is stuck on a reef off of the coast. He obtains waivers from all of the passengers with the exception of Nan Spencer, a department store salesgirl who wants her vacation NOW, not later. Jay is instructed to take Nan to Havana and set her up in the best hotel and keep her entertained. She visits a night club where the star attraction is Rosita Rivas, and meets Rosita’s worthless manager, Monte Blanca, who makes a play for her. Trouble also comes in the form of Jay’s fiancée, Terry McCracken, when a romance develops between Nan and Jay.
Horoughly enjoyable escapist pre-World War II fare
Romance and Rhumba
Although “Week-End in Havana” is not as totally rapturous and frivolous as “Down Argentine Way” & “That Night in Rio”, I was thoroughly entertained. The plot is kind of unremarkable but it offers subtantial showcase for its stars. Faye is the showgirl and tourist named Nan who gets a taste of Havana after her ship wrecks off the coast of Florida. Payne is Jay, the ship company representative who guides Nan in Havana and persuades the gambler Monte Blanca (Romero) to romance her in order to avoid legal battles. The gambler’s girlfriend is the feisty Rosita Rivas (Miranda) who gets jealous of her man’s coy romancing with the American tourist. Ultimately a romance blooms between Nan and Jay and the rest is history.
All of this romantic nonsense is enlivened by the some catchy, entertaining musical numbers and dances, including “Romance and Rhumba”, “Tropical Magic”, “The Man with the Lollypop”, and “Week End in Havana”.
Worth catching if you love this sort of fluff.