Voyage à Rio

Can't help liking a musical that features silly lyrics like: "Nancy goes to Rio - Me-oh, my-oh, me-oh" and "Keep the Latins guessing!". How crude - sometimes enjoyably crude - Hollywood's image of foreign lands and sounds! I lived in Sao Paulo for a year (1962), and I don't remember seeing any Latins. Instead, there were a lot of fellow human beings. The best song in the movie was written by a "Latin": Mexican genius Maria Grever, so sadly forgotten. She wrote American standards like "What a Difference a Day Makes". Jane Powell is great, as usual, and so is Scotty Beckett. His life was one of the saddest Hollywood tragedies, probably a case of undiagnosed depression. Yet he looks so happy and confident on screen, more so than most major stars. This silly musical is not as good as "A DATE WITH JUDY", but it will do just fine. Enchantment guaranteed.

This is a delightful early Jane Powell film. It reminds me a bit of Holiday in Mexico with the crush on the much older man not stopping spunky Jane! She's also as precious as she is in A Date with Judy. Young Jane couldn't help but light up the screen with her fun performances.

It's Ann Sothern month on TCM and I'm not sure I'd have had the chance to see how delightful she is otherwise and am so grateful they have honored her. This is one of my favorites I've seen. Jane and Ann look very much like mother and daughter and both have lovely singing voices. I have to confess I skipped through the Carmen Miranda numbers (I think you either love her or you don't as a singer, but I liked her acting role) but I loved all the others. I particularly loved the chemistry with the tall, dark and handsome Barry Sullivan as a rare lead and Louis Calhern as the witty and fun grandfather.

Lovely Technicolor and costuming, fine acting, good chemistry, the Brazilian influence on many of the musical numbers, and the precious romantic comedy script made a rainy afternoon just perfect!

A so-so musical comedy, chipper and competently shot on the studio back lot far, far away from Rio. If there's any reason to watch this corny confection, it would be for the show-stopping number by Carmen Miranda in the nightclub. The hues alone are incredible! Everything is dripping in rich, over-saturated color - the costumes, the set - it's like an explosion at the Technicolor factory. The production designer and director were surely using the process to "wow" the audience used to common, flatter black and white films for so long, similar to the 3D process that would come along later. Inside this gem of a scene is Miranda's dance performance, which is really energetic and quite imaginative. If you ever wanted to test your TV screen color and balance, this scene from this piece of 50s flash might be the one to do that with. The rest of the film? Meh... hokum, but quaint.

Great production values highlight this musical comedy that revolves around a pair of misunderstandings that blossom to full effect.

With her Debbie Reynolds looks and her operatic voice, Jane Powell is wonderful as 17-year-old Nancy Barklay, a budding actress. Her mother, Frances--also an actress--is played by Ann Sothern. The two of them are wonderful together. In fact the entire cast fits together nicely in this light-hearted story that deals with music more than romance. Barry Sullivan plays Paul Berten, the man who sort of comes between them. Louis Calhern is Frances' father, an old song and dance man himself. Carmen Miranda goes full fruit basket with a couple of catchy tunes. Hans Conreid is underused as the family butler.

Technicolor brightens the screen and shows off some great sets, especially the family home in Rio. The wardrobe is striking.

Jane Powell gets to display her classical credentials with a solo from La Boheme.

"Nancy Goes to Rio" is an enjoyable excursion designed to put a smile on the face of viewers. And it does just that.

Frances Elliott (Ann Sothern) is an established stage star and her daughter, Nancy (Jane Powell) is an aspiring actress. However, some potential hurt feelings might be in store for them, as Frances assumes that the lead in an upcoming play will be hers...but the producer and author see someone much younger....and want Nancy instead. Could this get any worse? Well, later it appears that they are vying for the same man (Barry Sullivan)!

Despite the plot sounding a bit scandalous, it really isn't. In fact, it's just a nice old fashioned musical and makes for decent viewing. Far from a must see but enjoyable. My only reservation is for someone who has a fear of clowns...they should NOT watch the picture as some mega-creepy clowns do a song and dance number with Carmen Miranda near the end...and it will most likely unnerve you.