Unusual for a young woman in her mid-20s, Bette Grable was experiencing job burnout. But she received a boast in her acting career as a substitute for the ailing Alice Faye posing as a horse owner in October 1940 "Down Argentina Way." The 20th Century Fox musical re-energized the actress singer/dancer, serving as a launching pad which saw her become Hollywood's top box office star three years later.
Grable plays opposite Don Ameche in "Down Argentina Way," highlighted by her singing the title song. Observed film reviewers Constance and Diana Metzinger, "Bedecked in eye-popping Travis Banton costumes, Betty Grable is a veritable feast for the eyes in this picture. She jiggles her way through the samba-inspired 'Down Argentine Way' dance number wearing a gorgeous two-piece ensemble adorned with blue beads." The film jump-started a long line of successful box-office Technicolor musicals Grable excelled in for the next fifteen years.
Grable's movie career began at the tender age of thirteen (her mother added a couple of years so she would be eligible for work) beginning in 1929's 'Happy Days' as a chorus girl. One of the original Goldwyn Girls for producer Samuel Goldwyn, she followed up in Busby Berkeley's 1930's "Whoopie!" Contracted by several studios throughout the decade, Grable was limited to small roles, although 1939's 'Million Dollar Legs,' with her husband actor Jackie Coogan gave her the famous nickname on those stunning legs of hers. But Paramount terminated Grable's contract, prompting her to seriously consider retiring from Hollywood, stating she was "sick and tired" of the film business. An offer to star in a Broadway musical with Ethel Merman gave Grable the opportunity to show off her performing talents to New York City critics, who unanimously raved about her. Head of 20th Century Fox Darryl F. Zanuck saw the newly-confident singer/dancer on the stage and inked her to a long-term contract. Grable said after the signing, "If that's not luck, I don't know what you'd call it."
"Down Argentina Way" was the Hollywood debut for singer/actress Carmen Miranda, the Brazilian superstar who was on Broadway when Zanuck signed her. While she was obligated to remain in New York City, a studio crew filmed her singing three of her patented Brazilian samba songs and spliced them into the movie. And the Nicholas Brothers, Harold (named after Lloyd the comedian) and Fayard, thrilled viewers with their dancing and singing, one of the many pictures from the early 1930s they had performed.
"Down Argentina Way" was the first movie emerging from the United States government's Good Neighbor Policy, enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to familiarize Latin American culture to North Americans, and vice versa. FDR's concern was the large German population in Argentina had the potential to swing many South American governments towards the Nazi alliance. Also, Hollywood was looking at the Central and South American markets when World War Two shut off most of the lucrative European cinemas to American films. But "Down Argentina Way" had the opposite effect in Argentina, appalling many in the country by its content. Viewers there felt the movie was saturated with Caribbean (especially Cuban) and Brazilian performers and songs, little resembling their country except for the establishing shots. Because of this, the Argentinian government banned the film, negating the purpose in producing the movie.
Back in the states, however, "Down Argentina Way" was a big hit, earning three Academy Award nominations: Best Color Cinematography, Best Original Song (the title song), and Best Color Art Direction. The American Film Institute also nominated it for the Greatest Movie Musical.
Grable plays opposite Don Ameche in "Down Argentina Way," highlighted by her singing the title song. Observed film reviewers Constance and Diana Metzinger, "Bedecked in eye-popping Travis Banton costumes, Betty Grable is a veritable feast for the eyes in this picture. She jiggles her way through the samba-inspired 'Down Argentine Way' dance number wearing a gorgeous two-piece ensemble adorned with blue beads." The film jump-started a long line of successful box-office Technicolor musicals Grable excelled in for the next fifteen years.
Grable's movie career began at the tender age of thirteen (her mother added a couple of years so she would be eligible for work) beginning in 1929's 'Happy Days' as a chorus girl. One of the original Goldwyn Girls for producer Samuel Goldwyn, she followed up in Busby Berkeley's 1930's "Whoopie!" Contracted by several studios throughout the decade, Grable was limited to small roles, although 1939's 'Million Dollar Legs,' with her husband actor Jackie Coogan gave her the famous nickname on those stunning legs of hers. But Paramount terminated Grable's contract, prompting her to seriously consider retiring from Hollywood, stating she was "sick and tired" of the film business. An offer to star in a Broadway musical with Ethel Merman gave Grable the opportunity to show off her performing talents to New York City critics, who unanimously raved about her. Head of 20th Century Fox Darryl F. Zanuck saw the newly-confident singer/dancer on the stage and inked her to a long-term contract. Grable said after the signing, "If that's not luck, I don't know what you'd call it."
"Down Argentina Way" was the Hollywood debut for singer/actress Carmen Miranda, the Brazilian superstar who was on Broadway when Zanuck signed her. While she was obligated to remain in New York City, a studio crew filmed her singing three of her patented Brazilian samba songs and spliced them into the movie. And the Nicholas Brothers, Harold (named after Lloyd the comedian) and Fayard, thrilled viewers with their dancing and singing, one of the many pictures from the early 1930s they had performed.
"Down Argentina Way" was the first movie emerging from the United States government's Good Neighbor Policy, enacted by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to familiarize Latin American culture to North Americans, and vice versa. FDR's concern was the large German population in Argentina had the potential to swing many South American governments towards the Nazi alliance. Also, Hollywood was looking at the Central and South American markets when World War Two shut off most of the lucrative European cinemas to American films. But "Down Argentina Way" had the opposite effect in Argentina, appalling many in the country by its content. Viewers there felt the movie was saturated with Caribbean (especially Cuban) and Brazilian performers and songs, little resembling their country except for the establishing shots. Because of this, the Argentinian government banned the film, negating the purpose in producing the movie.
Back in the states, however, "Down Argentina Way" was a big hit, earning three Academy Award nominations: Best Color Cinematography, Best Original Song (the title song), and Best Color Art Direction. The American Film Institute also nominated it for the Greatest Movie Musical.
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