Back in 1998 when I was still working at Tower Video, there in the Movie Promo box was a video thrown in that no one seemed to want. I picked it up because it had Esai Morales in it, an actor I loved for his portrayal of Bob, Ritchie Valens’ rebellious brother in LA BAMBA.
It was The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, a movie based on a short story written by Sci-Fi master Ray Bradbury for his collection The WONDERFUL ICE CREAM SUIT AND OTHER STORIES. This was a different kind of Bradbury story - more a story about social commentary than futuristic spaceships, though! It’s a story about the way people perceive others by their physical appearances.
The story of a Mexican man named Gomez (Joe Mantegna), who wants desperately to purchase a beautifully tailored vanilla white suit, but doesn’t have the funds to acquire it- it costs $100.00 to buy, but poor Gomez has but $20.00 to his name!
He comes up with a brilliant brainstorm…If he can find FOUR more people with $20.00 to their names, they can pool their assets together and SHARE the suit amongst each other
He finds ,Villanazul (Gregory Sierra) who is a speaker. Right now he is being ignored, giving his oratory in the park, but he knows that if he had the suit to wear, people would start listening to his speeches, and he could influence people for miles around!
Dominguez(Esai Morales) is a street musician who believes if he had the suit, people would finally listen to his music, and he dreams of being able to serenade the entire block, bringing everyone out to join in his parade!
Then there’s, Martinez (Clifton Collins Jr), who would like nothing more than to be able to impress the gorgeous girl next door. But how can he impress her in his shabby clothes? Gomez convinces him the suit will help him fulfill his wishes!
He is in desperate need of a fifth and final contributor because time is of the essence…every minute they waste, someone else might buy “their” Ice Cream Suit!
Thus he breaks down and accepts the final $20 bill from Vamanos, the local street urchin (played with glee by Edward James Olmos), despite the fact that the man is covered head to toe in black sooty grime.
And so with the $100 in their possession, they march down to the Tailor and purchase the Wonderful Ice Cream suit. They make a deal that each person will get to wear the suit for ONE HOUR that first night to try it out. You get to see what each person is about as they utilize the suit to attain their dreams.
Then, and finally, Vamanos wants his turn at wearing the suit, and I cannot stress how much fun this is! I was cracking up throughout the entire scene! He does everything he has been warned against: No Sooty Cigars, No Juicy Tacos and No Ruby with her powder and rouge! They rescue the suit but JUST in Time!
Later, Vamanos regretfully apologizes, and this is what gives the movie its real heart. Instead of asking if he can ever wear the suit again, he sorrowfully asked, “Can I still be in the Gang?” It makes you smile when you realize he never really wanted the suit-he wanted friends! Everybody kind of steps back and realizes this, that the suit has done more than give them their dreams, it brought these five people who had nothing in common with each other together and become comrades!
A Movie that leaves you with a GREAT feeling!
