Gypsy Wildcat

A king's messenger (Jon Hall) protects a Gypsy dancer (Maria Montez) from a wicked baron who knows her secret.

• Maria Montez as Carla
• Jon Hall as Michael
• Peter Coe as Tonio
• Nigel Bruce as High Sheriff
• Leo Carrillo as Anube
• Gale Sondergaard as Rhoda
• Douglass Dumbrille as Baron Tovar
• Curt Bois as Valdi
• Harry Cording as Captain Marver

After the success of Arabian Nights Universal requested a series of films starring Montez, Hall and Sabu. It was followed by White Savage and Cobra Woman. The studio then requested three more, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, a gypsy tale, Zorya, and a tale of the modernisation of Turkey.{{cite news|title=SCREEN AND STAGE|work=Los Angeles Times |date=16 May 1943|page=C3}}{{cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Joan Crawford Gets 6 Months' Leave of Absence From Metro After Casting Dispute TWO FILMS OPEN TODAY 'Next of Kin,' British Drama, at Rialto -- 'Johnny Doughboy' Will Be Seen at Palace|work=New York Times |date=5 May 1943|page=23}}

James Hogan was signed to write and direct Zorya which became Gypsy Girl then Gypsy Wildcat.{{cite news|title=Of Local Origin|work=New York Times |date=9 June 1943|page=17}} He fell ill so he was replaced by Roy William Neill.{{cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS|work=New York Times |date=29 Sep 1943|page=19}}

James M Cain was hired to work on the dialogue.{{cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Helen Walker to Be Featured With Nils Asther in 'The Man in Half Moon Street' JEANNIE' ARRIVES TODAY Comedy Will Be at Carnegie -- Selznick Pays $125,000 for Rights to 'So Little Time'|work=New York Times |date=11 Sep 1943|page=11}} He later said he agreed to do it because Universal guaranteed him two weeks work. They showed him a Maria Montez film "so I would know what kind of a creature I was writing for", he said years later. "Well, when she came on screen, I suddenly realized that I knew this girl personally. Her voice and every gesture were completely familiar to me. But I have yet to figure out where I met this girl. I think she must have checked hats some place in Hollywood."

Cain said he took and script "worked on it day and night, got order into the story and simplified it. I turned in the script and thought, "I've done something that makes sense"." When he left the studio, he walked past the office of producer George Waggner to say thanks and saw him rewriting the script. Cain said he was sorry the producer did not like it. Waggner said he was "delighted with what" Cain had done but said Montez "couldn't play your dialogue. It has to be translated into the kind of baby talk she can handle... I'm pinching myself for the wonderful thing you've done with this bad dream I threw at you. Now I can put this thing in front of a camera."

Cain said the script "was the beginning of a new phase of my picture career. After that I was a professional at the business; after that, I did all right" even though he did not have many credits.{{cite news|title=TOUGH GUY|author1=Brunette, Peter|author2=Peary, Gerald|work=Film Comment|location=New York|volume=12|issue=3 (May/Jun 1976)|pages=50–57,64.}}

Filming started October 1943.{{cite news|title=DRAMA AND FILM: Farley Granger Takes 'Purple Heart' Lead Multilingual Leo Carrillo Assigned as Romany Rye in Maria Montez Romance|author=Schallert, Edwin|work=Los Angeles Times |date=25 Sep 1943|page=7}}

The role of Tonio was meant to be played by Turhan Bey. However he was loaned at the last minute to MGM to play a role in Dragon Seed and was replaced by Peter Coe.{{cite news|title=SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD: Turhan Bey, Czech Actor, Will Appear Opposite Katharine Hepburn in 'Dragon Seed'|work=New York Times |date=2 Oct 1943|page=19}} Coe was a former swimming champion, Acquacade performer and stage actor.{{cite news|title=DRAMA AND FILM: Sacrosanct Chaplin Studio Stage Invaded Long Hiatus in Lana Turner Career Approaching End; Coe Gets Bey Role|author=Schallert, Edwin|work=Los Angeles Times |date=4 Oct 1943|page=A8}} He later claimed that he and Montez had an affair.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/CultMovies08Starbrite/page/n58?q=%22maria+montez%22|page=58|title=Peter Coe Interview|website=Cult Movies Starbrite}}

Neill reportedly was one of Maria Montez's few directors to not fight with her.{{cite news|title=DRAMA AND FILM: 'Turnip's Blood' Looms as Wood's Next Picture Lugosi, Zucco Signed for Shiver Cinema; 'Sub Buster' Announced by Columbia|author=Schallert, Edwin|work=Los Angeles Times |date=18 Dec 1943|page=7}}

"My other pictures were just corn", said Montez. "This one is more golden bantam. I'm tired of being a fairy tale princess all the time. In every picture I have royal blood. I told the studio I wanted to do something else. I thought everything was fixed when they put me in Gypsy Wildcat. But do you know what happens at the end of that picture? I turn out to be a countess."{{cite news|title=FAIR AND SULTRY: Maria Montez has changed in the last year--she says...|author=Mason, Jerry|work=Los Angeles Times |date=12 Mar 1944|page=F15}}

• List of American films of 1944

{{reflist}}

• {{AFI film|1347|Gypsy Wildcat}}
• {{IMDb title|0036890}}
• {{TCMDb title|77192}}
• [https://archive.org/stream/variety155-1944-08#page/n51/mode/1up Review of film] at Variety

{{Roy William Neill}}

Category:1944 films

Category:1944 adventure films

Category:American adventure films

Category:Universal Pictures films

Category:Films about Romani people

Category:Films with screenplays by James M. Cain

Category:Films directed by Roy William Neill

Category:1940s American films

Category:1940s English-language films

Category:English-language adventure films