Down Argentine Way
UW Cinematheque 821 University Ave., UW Vilas Hall, Room 4070, Madison, Wisconsin
Due to a schedule conflict, a talk by UW Madison professor Kathryn Sanchez related to her recently published book Creating Carmen Miranda has been moved from December 14 to December 7 at 6 p.m., prior to a screening of Carmen Miranda in Down Argentine Way.
press release: FRI., 12/7 (moved from 12/14), 6:30 p.m.: Kathryn Sanchez on “Creating Carmen Miranda”
This special lecture on the art of Carmen Miranda will be delivered by Kathryn Sanchez, UW Madison Professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and the author of “Creating Carmen Miranda: Race, Camp, and Transnational Stardom.”
USA | 1940 | 35mm | 90 min.
Director: Irving Cummings; Cast: Don Ameche, Betty Grable, Carmen Miranda
In her Hollywood debut, Carmen Miranda plays herself and she is a dynamic wonder singing several numbers with her original Brazilian band. Miranda also lends support to the romantic storyline between American Grable (in the role that launched her stardom) and Argentinian horse breeder Ameche. A dance sequence featuring the jaw-dropping choreography of the Nicholas Brothers is just one of the many highlights in this fun Technicolor gem.
In December, we salute one of Hollywood cinema’s most dynamic and colorful performers, the Brazilian bombshell Carmen Miranda. Our tribute consists of two screenings of Miranda classics shown on restored 35mm prints from the archives of 20th Century Fox. In Hollywood’s first vehicle for Miranda, Down Argentine Way, she plays a version of herself who serves as support for the romance between Don Ameche and Betty Grable. Then, Miranda’s “Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat” is just one of the show-stopping numbers in Busby Berkeley’s eye-popping Technicolor treat The Gang’s All Here. Plus, a special talk on Carmen Miranda from UW Madison Professor Kathryn Sanchez, author of “Creating Carmen Miranda: Race, Camp, and Transnational Stardom.”
All Cinematheque screenings are free and open to the public.