A Message to Garcia

Plot

In 1898, Andrew S. Rowan is a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army. The United States had just declared war on Spain, starting the Spanish-American War. At this time, Cuba is a Spanish colony. President McKinley personally sends Rowan on a secret mission to Cuba. He wants him to deliver a letter to General Calixto García, the leader of the Cuban resistance to Spain.

Traveling undercover, Rowan first sails to British Jamaica. Posing as a Canadian merchant sailor, he joins the crew of a neutral British ship that is sailing to Cuba. However, the Spanish have already learned about the McKinley letter. They hire Dr. Ivan Krug to identify the American carrying it and stop him before he can reach Garcia. Krug takes passage on Rowan's ship and starts questioning everyone on board. Fearful of being uncovered, Rowan jumps ship at night off the Cuban coast and takes a row boat to shore.

Now in Cuba, Rowan meets a Sergeant Dory, a conniving deserter from the U.S. Marine Corps. Dory guides Rowan to the home of a Cuban patriot who knows Garcia's Location. However, Spanish soldiers arrive and kill the man. Rowan and Dory escape, accompanied by Raphaelita Maderos, the patriot's daughter.

Aided by villages of Cuban patriots, Rowan, Dory and Maderos make their way to Garcia. Spanish troops led by Krug remain constantly on their trail, forcing the group to hide in the swamp. While there, they encounter Henry Piper, a British merchant from Sheffield, England, who has become lost. The Spanish catch up with the group and wound Maderos as they run away.

Dory removes the bullet from Maderos. Rowan wants Dory to stay behind with her to provide care and protection. However, she says that Dory must guide Rowan, believing that his letter is more important than any one of their lives.

Dory successfully guides Rowan across an alligator-infested river and past Spanish patrols, delivering him to what he believes is Garcia's camp. Dory then departs. However, it was a trap; the Spanish had recently captured the camp. Before being apprehended, Rowan stuffs the Mckinley letter into the barrel of his handgun. Krug begins to torture Rowan to get the letter.

Meanwhile, Garcia and the rebels have captured Dory. He previously cheated them on an ammunition sale and Garcia wants to execute him. Dory's appeals to Garcia for help to rescue Rowan. Garcia refuses. At that point, Piper arrives in the new rebel camp and verifies Dory's story. Garcia and Dory then organize a rescue attempt for Rowan.

Krug has tortured Rowan, he has refused to give them the location of the message. The Spanish bring in Maderos; she tries to persuade Rowan to end his suffering and reveal the message. Rowan still refuses. At that point, Garcia and Dory attack the Spanish camp. During the battle, Rowan and Maderos are freed, but Dory is killed. At the end of the film, Rowan removes the McKinley letter from his handgun and gives it to Garcia. After reading it, Garcia tells Rowan and Mederos"This message means the liberation of our people."

Production

A Message to Garcia was inspired by the 1899 essay "A Message to Garcia" by Elbert Hubbard. The essay was loosely based on an incident happening during the ramp up to the Spanish–American War. The essay had previously been adapted into a 1916 silent film of the same name. In the story, U.S. Army Lieutenant Rowan, under cover, carries a secret message from President McKinley to General García, the leader of a rebellion against Spanish rule on the island of Cuba.

The 1936 A Message to Garcia was produced by Twentieth Century Pictures, but was distributed by 20th Century Fox following the merger between the two studios. The final day of filming was November 16, 1935. Twentieth Century Pictures had developed a reputation for producing high-budget prestige films, and A Message to Garcia was one of the company's final efforts. The parts of Dory and Raphaelita are fictional and were created for Beery and Stanwyck, both well-established box office stars. The British comedian Herbert Mundin appeared as Piper to add comic relief. Dell Henderson plays President William McKinley, but the character's stentorian voice was dubbed by John Carradine.