That Night in Rio (1941)

As I read the synopsis of "That Night in Rio", I immediately realized it was the same plot as the Danny Kaye film "On the Riviera"--which I've already seen. And, originally (back in 1935) it was "Folies Bergère de Paris"--which I've also seen! Apparently, the studio REALLY liked the plot and all these were filmed within 15 years! Carmen Miranda was an odd phenomenon of the 1940s. Seen today, I am sure many folks wonder HOW she got to be a big star with 20th Century-Fox. She was, like Disco, something that made sense at the time. Today, you wonder how this odd rubber-faced Brazilian lady with fruit salad on her head got to be one of the highest paid ladies at the studio! This isn't meant as an insult--I liked her in some films (especially "Copacabana"). But she is a totally odd and unique personality that I just don't quite understand--and I am sure I'm not alone on this one! Miss Miranda was in this film--which makes sense as it's set in Brazil--though her presence in other Latin American locales did seem a bit more difficult to believe (such as Argentina and Cuba).Don Ameche is the star of this film--and he's supported by both Miranda and Alice Faye. He plays dual roles--that of a nightclub entertainer (Larry Martin) and the Baron Duarte. Larry is called to impersonate the Baron--and this creates two problems. First, he's falling in love with the Baron's wife (Faye) and his girlfriend (Miranda) has gotten wind of this. You have to just go with this and accept the cliché of the identical stranger that was VERY common in Hollywood films--because if you think about it too much it will make your head explode! Although the film is a remake, it does have a few things going for it. First, the color print is very nice and the film obviously had a rahter high budget--so it LOOKS good. Second, Don Ameche does a great job in both roles--with a credible accent and it was great seeing him switch from a South American to an American so quickly. But, regardless, it STILL is a remake--and the plot is very, very creaky! Worth seeing and enjoyable (probably a bit more so than the two other versions) but far from a must-see.

I wholeheartedly disagree with the other viewers of this wretched film. The only reason why I didn't rate it 1 for awful was due to the great talent of Carmen Miranda. The beginning and end are the best parents due to her gifted singing and dancing.The problem is with the rest of the picture. Alice Faye comes off quite hollow. Don Ameche has a great singing voice but with the wretched writing material, he comes off so terribly corny.The plot is a real stiff here with Ameche assuming two parts as a song and dance man and a baron not happily married to Faye.It seems that by playing the song and dance man, Ameche's marriage gets a second change to reignite. Some silly nonsense about the baron having to clear up business and being away allows him to play both parts.S.Z. Sakal is given little to do here and so his comedic gifts are not given the opportunity to shine. Ditto for J. Carrol Naish who actually appears uncomfortable in his role.This is a chica chica boom bomb of a film.

Charming,funny movie with Don Ameche playing two parts,a baron and a nightclub entertainer. The entertainer has Carmen Mirande for a hot-tempered girlfriend so it's fun already. Alice Faye plays the baroness looking lovely in her Travis Banton gowns. I especially liked the gold dress and magnificent ruby bib necklace she wears. Surprisingly,Alice doesn't sing much,on the DVD it shows a number that was cut. The film has a short running time so it's odd they cut it out. The numbers Carmen does are fantastic. The film is more of a romantic comedy with songs than an actual musical. I laughed out loud at scene where don Ameche carries Alice upstairs and film dissolves to hand thrusting in and out of a drum,seems Hitchcok wasn't the only one who could do suggestive scenes.

This is one of my absolute favorite Fox musicals, photographed in the studio's idiosyncratic garish Technicolor, featuring Carmen Miranda in her second American appearance; Alice Faye and Don Ameche in their last pairing. Ameche is in a double role: playing a Rio nightclub entertainer Larry Martin and a rich airline businessman Baron Duarte. "That Night in Rio" starts explosively with Miranda's entertainingly flashy number "Chicka Chicka Boom Chick" in Rio. Then Carmen's boyfriend Martin enters while riding a car. After hordes of couples dance to Carmen's colorful spectacle, Baron Duarte and his wife Baroness (Alice Faye) arrive. Martin announces he is going to impersonate the Baron. In a musical number, he does it brilliantly. The Baron is very impressed and goes off to backstage to meet him and Carmen. While he is in backstage, Martin courts the Baroness and does another fine Duarte impression. But Martin doesn't know the Baron is in real financial trouble. A few days after that night in Rio, the Baron leaves for Buenos Aires. Martin is secretly hired by the Baron's associates to replace him, so his rivals in the airline business won't notice his absence. Martin not only replaces the Baron, he again courts and romances the Baroness. Many funny and ingenious complications follow. "That Night in Rio" continues the trend started in "Down Argentine Way" - pleasant romancing in exotic Latin locales, galvanized by Technicolor and Carmen Miranda. Alice Faye was supposed to star "Down Argentine Way" but due to illness, the lead role went to Betty Grable. Now, Faye got her lead in "That Night in Rio". I don't think it is near "Hello, Frisco, Hello" (my favorite Faye musical) but there are a lot to enjoy in "That night In Rio".Miranda especially is very funny. Her quarrels with Ameche, her Brazilian accent ("You is a low down, no good ham!"), and her dance numbers (particularly "Ay, yai, yai, yai, yai, I like you very much") are entertaining & rapturous.