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Is a plot really necessary when a film has lavish musical numbers, gorgeous costumes, two beautiful leading ladies and a debonair leading man? Maybe not, but the plot makes the film even better, as is the case in That Night in Rio. Released in 1941, the film has been digitally restored, so the Technicolor is vivid and fresh and the leads - Alice Faye and Don Ameche - are terrific.
Don Ameche
Larry Martin (Don Ameche) is an entertainer whose specialty is an on-stage impersonation of Baron Manuel Duarte (also Ameche). When Duarte's business dealings go south, the Baron also goes south to escape his creditors, leaving his associates with a big problem on their hands. They enlist Martin to impersonate the Baron. Naturally, there are complications.
In an amusing scene, the faux Baron unknowingly buys stock. At a formal ball, he is attentive to the lovely Baroness Cecilia (Alice Faye), making his real girlfriend, the fiery Carmen Miranda, jealous and causing the Baroness to realize what her marriage has been lacking.
Don Ameche & Alice Faye
Needless to say, all the complications are ironed out by the end, but not before the film is spiced up with several entertaining musical production numbers - this is above all, a musical.
Character actors S. Z. Sakall, J. Carrol Naish, Curt Bois and Leonid Kinskey provide plenty of comic relief as backup to the three stars.
Don Ameche & Carmen Miranda
Miranda, famous for the outlandish headpieces she wore, sings and swivels her hips to catchy tunes. Ameche is handsome and croons as well as any musical comedy star, and Alice Faye lights up the screen. Her costumes, designed by Travis Banton, are eye boggling. Any of today's red carpet strollers would be happy to wear one of her gowns, especially the golden frock she wears to the ball!
The film is eye candy, suitable for all audiences, and provides a pleasant hour and a half of escape.
That Night in Rio is part of 20th Century Fox's Alice Faye Collection. Alice Faye, the acclaimed singer- actress of the 1930s and 1940s, starred in more than 30 feature films. Admired by renowned composers such as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Harry Warren and Cole Porter, Faye was a highly regarded songstress as well as a legendary actress and performer. Four of Faye's most celebrated musical classics that debut for the first time ever as part of this collection on DVD also include; Lillian Russell, in which Faye portrays the real-life musical star; On The Avenue, a satire about a Broadway show and New York high society and The Gang's All Here.
Special Features:
€¢ Alice Faye: A Life off Screen - A featurette that includes interviews with Faye's two daughters, a friend and a biographer. These people talk about Faye's life after she quit making movies to be a wife to Phil Harris and mother to their two daughters. This is an interesting glimpse into the life of one of the major stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
€¢ Deleted scene
€¢ Original Theatrical Trailer
€¢ Still Gallery
€¢ Restoration Comparison - shows how a film clip looks before and after restoration
Director: Irving Cummings
Writers: Screenplay - George Seaton, Bess Meredyth and Hal Long; Play - Rudolph Lothar and Hans Adler; Lyrics and music - Mack Gordon and Harry Warren
Cast: Alice Faye, Don Ameche, Carmen Miranda
Rating: Not Rated
Classic Movie Guide Rating: 3 ½ out of 5 stars
Original Release Date: April, 1941
DVD Release Date: 2/20/2007
Run Time: 91 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Format: Color, Full Frame
Photo credits: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
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