That Night in Rio
That Night in Rio
NR | 11 April 1941 (USA)
That Night in Rio Trailers

An entertainer in Rio impersonates a wealthy aristocrat. When the aristocrat's wife asks him to carry the impersonation further, complications ensue.

Reviews
Karry Best movie of this year hands down!
Breakinger A Brilliant Conflict
Gutsycurene Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.
Roxie The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;
MartinHafer 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.
bkoganbing Poor Don Ameche must have felt like something of a doormat. In her first film Carmen Miranda stole the film from him and Betty Grable in Down Argentina Way. Now Ameche with new co-star Alice Faye got upended again by Miranda in That Night In Rio. Don Ameche if nothing else was a gentleman and one of the classiest men in Hollywood. He got his licks in That Night In Rio playing a dual role.If this plot seems familiar it was previously done as Folies Bergere with Maurice Chevalier and afterward by Danny Kaye in On The Double. Ameche is a prominent Brazilian financier who is married to Alice Faye and something of a cold fish. He's also a visiting American entertainer who is going out with Carmen Miranda and as part of his act does a dead on impersonation of the financier with a little more pizazz.Circumstances have Curt Bois and S.Z. Sakall come to the entertainer to have him impersonate the financier for 24 hours while the financier goes out of town for some really delicate business negotiations. The entertainer succeeds in arousing the sleeping woman in Faye and the sleeping tiger in Miranda with the impersonation. I think you can figure the rest out.Harry Warren and Mack Gordon wrote the score, but the songs that Faye and Ameche sing are barely noticeable. But I Yi Yi Yi I Like You Very Much and Chica-Boom-Chic became a staple of Carmen Miranda's nightclub act for the rest of her life. And the way she sings them, hey no one else has ever even tried to do those numbers, you can't possibly imitate that style.For Carmen Miranda fans who are still legion, the world over.
edwagreen 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.
ryancm 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.