Movies

That Night in Rio (1941) Another episode in the U.S.'s war-era courtship of Latin America. Don Ameche plays identical strangers impersonating each other and themselves in the trivial plot to this intensely Technicolored musical. Alice Faye comes in a poor third to Ameche and Carmen Miranda, and it's the latter who has all the best musical numbers. Kudos to Travis Banton for the dozens of fabulous gowns (the feather skirts in the opening number are incredible), though Faye's form-fitting golden formal was a bit ill-advised. It always seems a bit pathetic to see these jokers acting like they can't resist Alice Faye's incredible charms - she was a cute kid once but never a great beauty - again it's Miranda who has all the pep here, despite her stereotypical jealous latina mood swings. 7/10