The truth (or the
closest account to what actually happened)
The short version of the account is that on
November 20, 1933 during filming of 'Viva Villa' in Mexico, Tracy got heavily
intoxicated; appeared on the balcony of his hotel room; and made some kind of
obscene gesture to a crowd of people below. This included a parade of cadets,
which was taken as a massive insult to the Mexican people. He was arrested,
then let go and then rearrested the following day. Authorities then gave Tracy
permission to return to the US. According to media reports, Tracy was initially
charged with "violation of public
morals and insulting the government, the result of a personal appearance,
informal and undraped on a hotel balcony". These charges were dropped.
Despite media reports, all up Tracy spent seven hours in jail.
Tracy's own account after the event
substantiated this view:
"Tracy
freely admitted that he was 'feeling the drinks' after a cabaret party when he
hailed a Mexican parade from his hotel balcony. He denied he was unclothed. 'The whole thing started with a grand cabaret
party when I came off location Saturday, celebrating the finish of the picture
Viva Villa ' Tracy told United Press correspondent in El Paso. 'I heard a parade going by. I ran out on the
balcony, waved and shouted 'via la parade. I had on pajama pants. Some of the
guys in the parade saw me waving my arms and shouting and they hollered back at
me to shut up. I was feeling pretty high so I shouted back as loud as I could,
'Why don't you go to hell'. But I was just helping them celebrate."
Charles Clark, who also worked on the film as a
cinematographer, made this comment about the event in his autobiography titled Highlights
and Shadows: The Memoirs of a Hollywood Cameraman. His view of the event is
even more complimentary of Tracy's actions than the actors own story:
"As
in all parades, there were frequent holdups, and during these many of the
paraders would shout for 'Wally Bee-ery'. He and Lee Tracy eventually came out
on the balcony of their room and responded to the cheers of their fans. All of
the paraders were not ardent fans, however, and some of them would make obscene
gestures… Our boys, in innocence, may have laughingly returned a gesture or
two, but if so, I did not witness it. I thought it was nice of them to make an
appearance and that they must have thrilled many of the country boys…In a short
time, our government liaison connections rushed down to the hotel and stated
Lee Tracy had to be gotten out of the country immediately. They said that the
papers were coming out that afternoon with a story to the effect that Tracy had
insulted the Mexican flag, Mexican motherhood and the nation in general."
It was not until November 21 after Tracy was
released for the first time that reports surfaced alleging Tracy was in fact
naked on the balcony. A newspaper article printed on November 21 by a Mexican
paper brought forward the eye witness account of a local man and his daughter:
"Heraclio
Rodriguez, acting prosecutor of the federal district, said Tuesday that he was
ordering the police of all border towns to arrest Lee Tracy, American movie
actor, who left here some hours earlier by train for Laredo, Tex. The American
actor had departed by permission of the police after being held in custody
twice since Sunday and questioned on a complaint that he had "offended
public morals". No explanation was made of the apparent divergence of
opinion on the action. The case passed to Rodriguez when Tracy was arrested for
the second time Monday on the complaint of a lawyer, Alfonzo Esparza, who said
he and his 12-years-old daughter saw Tracy standing unclothed on a balcony of
his hotel. Tracy was told that he had to remain in the city after he was
released on his own recognisance following the arrest, but he left Tuesday
morning, apparently with permission…A delegation requested Present Rodriguez to
refuse to allow the film, already made, to be taken from Mexico."
A memo was later sent to the US authorities
from the US ambassador to Mexico which mentions Tracy as being 'unclad':
"A
memo sent to the State Department by the American ambassador to Mexico,
Josephus Daniels…: Tracy appeared on a balcony of the Hotel Regis, unclad and
using very profane and insulting language at the moment when the military
cadets marching in the parade of November 20 were passing in front of the
hotel."
It was also reported:
"Mexican
officials declared he wore only a robe that slipped from his shoulders during
his outburst."
The aftermath
The outburst from Mexican authorities and media
was enough pressure to make MGM boss, Louis B. Mayer to sack the actor from
both the film and the studio. On November 23, he made a public and private
apology to Mexico:
"The
insult offered by this actor to the Mexican cadet corps has embarrassed and
shocked the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer organisation fully as deeply as it has the
Mexican people. As a result of this actors deplorable behaviour,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has removed him not only from the film 'Viva Villa' but has
dismissed him entirely from its employ and cancelled his long term contract."
Tracy with H. W. Waller of El Paso upon his return to the US |
On Tracy's return to the US where he was
greeted by girlfriend and actress Isabelle Jewel, he made more statements to
the media regarding the incident. With the legal issues resolved, Tracy's focus
was now on the future of his movie career.
"…Tracy
said he had no plans but that he was mighty sorry it all happened. 'I do feel a
bit bad about the whole thing', Tracy said when he arrived by train from El
Paso, 'It seems to me I should be given a chance to tell the studio my side of
the story.' 'Why, I like the place,' he cried, waving his hands, 'I stood at
the balcony and cheered the boys. You know how those things area. Somebody
shouted up at me and I shouted back…I'll still keep on working. The whole thing
is a misunderstanding and I want most to straighten it out so everybody will be
happy again.'"
Seven days after the incident occurred film
industry magazines reported Stuart Erwin was announced as taking over Tracy's
role in the film. He was an experienced actor but by no means as famous or
talented as Tracy. As the initial shock and interest of the event died down,
speculation as to the future of Tracy's place in the film industry began. A
shock to the film industry, Tracy came out on top and almost unscathed:
Stuart Erwin with Wallace Beery |
"Despite
the fact that MGM have given Lee Tracy the proverbial spanking his fans are
still loyal. Last evening I attended a preview of Lee's most recent cinematic
effort –Advice for the Lovelorn - and the applause that greeted Mr Tracy was
breath taking." Also that the San Fran theatre is doing capacity business.
"And so you can easily understand that Lee's offers have been numerous for
both screen and stage." (December 6, 1933)
"Lee
Tracy is not through in motion pictures…If the women should turn thumbs down on
Tracy, then he'll be through. They are too powerful to combat…Tracy has lost
contracts before due to off-the-screen activities. But always there has been
another major studio ready to hire him. And there are studios ready to sign him
now."
(December 14, 1933)
The urination
situation
Claims are still circulating that instead of
making 'obscene gestures' or even appearing 'unclad', Tracy urinated on the
crowd. Although having no evidence in newspaper articles or eye witness
accounts, some articles still insinuate that this occurred. But where did it
come from? Biographers and historians seem to agree it was the films first
director, Howard Hawks, who spread the rumour. According to Bob Herzberg in his book Revolutionary
Mexico on Film: A Critical History, 1914-2014, Hawks said Tracy, "peed on the Chapultepic Cadets during the
Independence Day parade in Mexico and got in the can." Apparently,
actor Dezi Arnaz who was involved in the making of the film, also wrote in his
autobiography (admittedly I have not read it) that Tracy did indeed urinate on the
crowd.
The juries out whether Tracy in fact urinated
on the crowd. It is strange, however, that if it was the case why the Mexican
newspapers did not report it. The country was openly against the production and
would have used any and every opportunity they had to send the cast and crew
packing. I agree with Herzberg, the rumour Tracy urinated on the crow most
likely did not occur.
More troubles
Despite the Tracy incident, the film was
riddled with problems and controversies. Around the time Tracy was fired, Hawks
also left the production. There are several reported reasons for this including
the assertion that Hawks was removed for standing up for Tracy and another that
Hawks left due to unsafe working conditions.
Actress Mona Maris also began working in the lead female role but was
replaced by Fay Wray. The film also causes several controversies between US and
Mexican authorities with no Hispanic cast in the film and an actor typecast as
a villain in the main role.
"J.J.
Ingram, pilot, of Los Angeles jumped to safety today from his airplane which
crashed in flames in an El Paso residential section. The plane was carrying
films of Viva Villa in which Lee Tracy…was playing. Ingram suffered severe
burns on the face and legs before he could be extricated. What caused Ingram's
plane to burst into flames was not revealed. Howard Hawks, director, estimated
the destroyed film was worth $100,000."
Somehow the film was completed and released on
April 27, 1934 approximately three years after filming originally began. With a
budget of just over $1million the film was an expensive production for MGM and
had a poor gross taking of about $1.109 million. Despite the setbacks, the film
was a critical and popular success with three Academy Award nominations (Best
Picture, Best Writing Adaption and Best Sound Recording) and one win for John
Waters as Best Assistant Director. Viva
Villa (1934) is proof that no matter what troubles a film has during
production, it has no bearing on its future success. The same of which can be
said about actors, ie. Lee Tracy.