I recently watched Down Argentine Way (1940) starring Betty Grable and Don Ameche. It's a terribly cheesy technicolor musical about an American gal who randomly sings and tap dances in front of people in Argentina (enter Betty) who falls for a Latin lover (enter Don) who owns lots of prize-winning horses with his father, who has some issue with the dancing gal's family (a very vague, watered down feuding family thing is slipped in to create conflict between prospective lovers and horse-buying and selling). Alas none of this schism will stop the cast from singing and dancing!
My favorite bits of the movie, aside from the sheer schmalzy glamour of a Hollywoodized Argentina and a simplified story, arrive in the performances by Carmen Miranda and The Nicholas Brothers.
“I have never followed what people say it is 'fashionable'. I think that a woman must wear what fits her. That is why I created a style appropriated to my type and my artistical genre." -Carmen Miranda A woman after my heart on so many levels.
Honestly, Fred Astaire was a smooth cat, but there are tricks these guys did that I'm pretty sure he never ever went for (doing the splits in the middle of a routine and rising up like all you did was tie a shoe lace?)
P.S. I confess I only JUST learned how to do a screen capture on my Mac. So I had to try it out.
4 comments:
This movie looks ridiculous! And fun! Exclamation point!
But yes, screen captures are a pleasure.
!!!!!!! haha
betty million dollar legs grable. im gonna watch this the next time i dont have anything to do i.e. this friday. i dont think ive actually seen carmen miranda perform, but i have read about her.
i too am a college student into vintage stuffs. love the blog! stop by and say hello.
thanks for stopping by! :)
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