Rebellion (1936)

 

Rita Hayworth was one of Hollywood's biggest stars in the 1940s. But the road to get there was long and arduous. By the time she received her first co-starring role, in October 1936 "Rebellion," the 18-year-older was already a veteran of the screen, appearing in 12 movies, mostly in uncredited or small parts. The young actress, whose birth name Rita Cansino is listed in the credits, appeared largely in dance numbers or playing exotic roles with heavy accents.

The head executive of Fox Film, Winfield Sheehan, spotted Cansino dancing in a Los Angeles nightclub in 1935, and screen-tested her with positive reviews. A year later Rita got her first large speaking part alongside veteran actor Tom Keene in "Rebellion." She plays Paula Castillo, whose family's ranch in Southern California is being overwhelmed by American arrivals who recognize the former Mexican territory is now a new state. Her plea to President Zachary Taylor (Allan Cavan) at the White House to enforce the treaty the government signed with Mexico sends Army Captain John Carroll (Tom Keene) to enforce the law in the area and to make things safe for Paula and her former Mexican family.

The executive Sheehan no longer had a say in the picture after his position was eliminated by the merger of Fox with 20th Century. As an independent producer, he did press the new studio to place Cansino's in the lead in 1936's "Ramona," but the studio went with Loretta Young instead and didn't renew Cansino's contract. Edward Judson, a rich oilman twice Rita's age, swooped in as her acting manager, sensing there was something special in her. He lined up several pictures at low budget studios for the freelancing teenage actress. Cresent Pictures gave her the female lead in "Rebellion." Four movies later, Judson was able to swing a deal with Columbia Pictures in 1937, launching her big-studio career with her new stage name Rita Hayworth. The actress fell in love with Judson, marrying him on May 22, 1937, upsetting her father, who didn't speak to her until she received a divorce for cruelty in 1942. "He helped me with my career," Hayworth said after the divorce about her ex, "and helped himself to my money." She was flat broke after separating from Judson, who kept the secret from her that he was married twice before, and had sapped all her finances.

Co-star Tom Keene, known as George Duryea when he broke into silent movies in 1928, had his biggest role before "Rebellion" as John Sims in King Vidor's 1934 classic "Our Daily Bread." He mainly played in Westerns throughout his long career, and was in the 1957 cult sci-fi classic "Plan 9 From Outer Space." "Rebellion" allowed Keene to witness a young actress hone her acting skills, and could claim he was in her first lead picture before she hit the big-time.