La Fiesta de Santa Barbara: A Bizarre Trip Through 1935 Technicolor

Is this worth your time?

If you're a fan of old-school Hollywood curiosities, sure. It’s short, it’s vibrant, and it’s deeply weird. But if you’re looking for an actual movie with a story, skip this. It's really just a variety show wearing a sombrero. 💃

Seeing Judy Garland pop up on screen is always a treat, even when she's stuck in the middle of these odd, staged revue numbers. The whole thing feels like the studio execs just threw a dart at a map, picked 'Santa Barbara,' and said, 'Let's film some dancing there.'

The oddness of it all

There’s this moment where Jim Thorpe shows up, and honestly, you just sit there wondering how he ended up in this specific project. It’s not that he’s bad, it’s just... why? The whole thing has that hyper-staged feeling where everyone is smiling way too hard at the camera.

It reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Pals in Paradise, where you can tell everyone is trying to make a vibe happen that just isn't quite there. The colors in this thing are loud. I mean, really loud. It’s like they discovered Technicolor and decided to use every single drop of paint in the bucket at once.

• The singing is actually pretty solid, if you're into that 1930s style.
• The 'fiesta' theme feels about as authentic as a cardboard taco.
• Some of the editing is just... jarring. One minute you're here, the next you're somewhere else entirely.

It’s not a film you analyze. It’s a film you just sort of let happen to you for twenty minutes. It lacks the grounded feeling of something like The Valley of Decision, but then again, it’s not trying to be a drama. It’s just trying to be a party that feels slightly like a commercial for the state of California. ☀️

I found myself staring at the background extras more than the actual leads. Some of them look like they’re having a great time, while others look like they’re just waiting for their lunch break to start. It’s those little, unpolished human moments that make it worth the watch. Don't expect to walk away having learned anything, though. Just enjoy the bright lights and the weirdly specific 1930s charm.