Una notte a rio

MGM musicals may have been more extravagant, but 20th Century Fox musicals are the most fun. In "That Night in Rio," in order to save a business deal, a look-alike actor (Don Ameche) is hired to impersonate a baron (Don Ameche) who is out of town trying to raise money. The Baron is married to Cecilia (Alice Faye) but in name only; they go their separate ways. When the actor takes over, with Faye's knowledge, he is extremely attentive, to the consternation of his girlfriend (Carmen Miranda).

This is a cute story, nothing new about it, but it is done in an amusing way. At one point, the Baron returns from his trip early, and the two Barons are in a room at the same time. They keep switching back and forth while talking to a businessman. The businessman, convinced someone else is in the room after hearing noises behind a screen and seeing the screen move, decides to continue the conversation in French. The actor, of course, can't speak it, so has to say oui, oui throughout. It's very funny. Also, the businessman searches behind the screen - the actor walks from behind the screen and into the room while the Baron goes the opposite way meets the businessman behind the screen and says, "See?" indicating there is no one there.

The cast is the typical Fox musical cast - by 1941, Tyrone Power was no longer doing musicals, so it's Ameche, Faye, and Carmen Miranda. Miranda is very funny and outlandishly dressed as usual; Faye sings well and looks lovely, although she seems stuffed into a gold gown.

There is plenty of music - in fact, the whole beginning is one number after another. Miranda sings a couple of her standards: "I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Like You Very Much)," and "Chica Chica Boom Chic." Ameche and Faye sing "Boa Noite" and "They Met in Rio" - and there are plenty of production numbers.

Wonderfully entertaining.

The one thing that has stood the test of time for "That Night In Rio" is the great Technicolor - it is quite outstanding. The story has been done to death many times, but probably not much better than this, and the cast are a lot of fun - Carmen Miranda was really the Brazilian Bombshell as the ads said, and had the best lines, and the best songs of the time (pretty terrible to listen to now!), Don Ameche was a charmer and his "Boa Noite" was very good, while Alice Faye looked decidedly overweight, but it may have been caused by all the jewellery she had to wear!! The supporting cast were as usual excellent, with all the old stagers in it - a quick glimpse of Maria Montez came as a bit of a surprise. All in all , very light entertainment, but harmless.

Don Ameche is wonderful in this surprisingly fun dual role as both American entertainer and impersonator Larry Martin and the Latin Baron Manuel Duarte. As Larry he has a fiery sweetheart, his fellow entertainer Carmen (played by Carmen Miranda) whose English seems to disappear when her temper is in charge...which happens a lot as she is very jealous. As The Baron, he has a lovely but somewhat estranged wife the Baroness Cecilia Duarte.

This is a bit of a mad farce...but it's story, actors and romance really hold it together and in the end brought me pleasure and take this from a watch and delete to a fun must see. The story involves the Baron and his two business partners seeing Larry's impersonation of the Barron and coming up with the inspired idea to have him impersonate the Barron for real as he desperately tries to save his airline business. Inadvertently, Larry ends up providing more that one kind of help to the Barron and everything ends as it should.

This is a wonderful feel good movie that was a bit of a surprise to me. Initially, I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy this film but the romantic storyline really won me over. I recommend this to all those romantics out there like me and to classic film fans this is a colorful and real look at a time period when Americans and Hollywood had an interest in the "exotic" or Latin. Oh! And did I mention it also has S. Z. Sakall?

"That Night in Rio" is a good comedy musical with Don Ameche as an American entertainer who is a look-alike for a prominent Brazilian. When he does an impersonation of Baron Manuel Duarte at the nightclub, he sets the stage for a later engagement when the baron's associates will require a stand-in while the baron is away.

That's the gist of this story, but much of the film is filled with song and dance numbers, with Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda, and Ameche singing. Miranda's numbers often include short but elaborate choreographed routines with several dancers in costume. The comedy occurs on two fronts, but there isn't much of it. The first is in the lover's feuding between Ameche's Larry Martin and Carmen. The second is in Ameche's substitute role as the baron, with Alice Faye, the Baroness Cecilia Duarte, and a business rival of the baron's, Machado (played by J. Carrol Naish).

This may be a familiar theme to movie buffs - it was in "Folies Bergere de Paris" of 1935 with Maurice Chevalier and Merle Oberon, "On the Riviera" of 1951 with Danny Kaye and Gene Tierney, and "Let's Make Love" of 1960 with Yves Montand and Marilyn Monroe. The plot is essentially identical for all of these films but the last. And, the original was the best one going into 1951 when "On the Riviera" was made. That is by far and away the best of all of these. It received two Academy Award nominations, and Danny Kaye won the best actor Golden Globe for his performance.

While this film can't hold a candle to either the 1935 or 1951 versions, it is entertaining. Those who especially like the beat and rhythm of South American music should enjoy this film. That overpowers the comedy and takes up much of the story.

Here's the best line in this film. Arthur Penna (S. Z. Sakall) is watching Larry Martin as he's impersonating the baron with the baron's wife, played by Alice Faye. Penna says to Felicio (played by Curt Bois), "It's hard to tell when he leaves off and she begins."

This one is one of Foxs' best of this type of musical. While the plot is totally implausible, it's still lots of fun with the beautiful Alice Faye and the funny Carmem Miranda doing her best Carmen Miranda. Don Ameche acquits himself well in a double role. Lavish production numbers in a night club that could never really fit or be done in even the biggest night club in the world, are nice to see. Since this is "fantasy" all works well here, even the inane plot line. A little risqué for it's day with Faye not sure who she has slept with. All comes out well in the end, which is no surprise in any of the Fox musicals. The DVD transfer here is great. If you enjoy this little confection, be sure to rent ON THE RIVIERA with Danny Kaye. It's a very close remake of this with some of the dialog exactly the same. Danny Kaye is brilliant in this one and I enjoyed it more than THAT NIGHT IN RIO, but both have their charms. See them both, back to back.