User:Stanfordkay/sandbox

Plot Summary

Set in California in 1870 on the Rancho of the Señora Moreno (Pauline Frederick) at the foothills of the San Fernando Mountains. The film opens up with Native Americans preparing food for a celebration later that night meant for the return of Felipe Moreno (Kent Taylor), son of Señora Moreno; Ramona (Loretta Young), a half-Native girl who grew up in the Moreno home; and Father Salviederra (Pedro de Cordoba), a beloved priest. It is hinted by Father Salviederra that Felipe harbors some affection for Ramona, but it may not be reciprocated. Ramona decides to get fruit for Father Salviederra, but she ends up getting stuck in the tree. Luckily, Alessandro (Don Ameche), a young chieftain, helps her down and he’s smitten by her kindness and beauty. However, one of the Morenos’ Native servants, Margarita (Katherine DeMille), has her own affection and interest in Alessandro. Felipe and Alessandro are good friends, but unaware they share the same love interest. Senora Moreno doesn’t want Ramona to take an interest in her son because she is half-Native (though Ramona doesn’t know), but she also doesn’t want her to be with Alessandro because he’s Native.

In an unfortunate accident, Felipe is severely injured and Alessandro stays with the Morenos to offer support to his friend and Ramona. Ramona and Alessandro fall in love over the period of Felipe’s recovery, and before he leaves for his tribe, Alessandro asks Ramona to marry him. Senora Moreno finds out and plans to send Ramona away to a convent. Ramona learns the truth about her heritage--she is the daughter of a Native woman, not the sister of Señora Moreno. Ramona is overjoyed by this news as it means she can be with Alessandro. Ultimately, pair of lovers run away together, wed, and have an infant daughter together.

Unfortunately due to American colonizers, they and their people lose their homes are forced to flee and live on the road. Their daughter falls ill and they are taken in by hesitant strangers (Jane Darwell and William Benedict) who warm up to them when they learn Alessandro and Ramona are Christians. Alessandro travels to find an American doctor and medicine for his daughter. Although successful, on his journey home, he decides to take a horse from an absent settler to reach Ramona and his daughter faster, and unfortunately the settler catches him ad pursues him with vengeance on his mind. Alessandro manages to get the medicine to his daughter in time, but when he is killed by the settler. Ramona mourns the loss of her husband and prepares his funeral. Felipe returns and offers his condolences and support to Ramona. The film ends on a hopeful with Ramona holding her daughter and smiling.

Reception

In a review with the Chicago Daily Tribune from October 1936, Mae Tinée asserted the usage of color as enriching the quality of the film from an aesthetic standpoint. She noted that there's significant differences in comparison to the 1916 and 1928 versions of the film that are improvements.

In a Variety film review from the 1936, Ramona was deemed a poor picture regardless of the aesthetic quality of technicolor. It was described as beautiful film wrapped in tragedy that continues to grow in sadness. The reviewer credited the film with being done well on the technical side, but the story needs more depth.