NANCY GOES TO RIO
US, 1950, 99 minutes, Colour.
Jane Powell, Ann Sothern, Carmen Miranda, Barry Sullivan, Louis Calhern, Fortunio Bonanova, Hans Conried.
Directed by Robert Z. Leonard.
Nancy Goes to Rio is a pleasant M.G.M. musical of 1950, a star vehicle for Jane Powell who was emerging as the screen's successor to Deanna Durbin. (In fact, this film is a remake of the Deanna Durbin 1940 vehicle It's A Date, with Kay Francis and Walter Pidgeon.)
Ann Sothern has a pleasing starring role as Jane Powell's mother. Louis Calhern does some singing and dancing as the roving eye grandfather. Carmen Miranda also does some acting as well as some typical singing (with her expected gaudily elaborate dresses and turbans).
The film is a frothy story of the theatre, misunderstandings - with the farcical touch about concern for a pregnant girl. The songs are pleasant, especially 'Magic in the Moonlight'. Jane Powell also sings Gershwin's 'Embraceable You'. Typical of its time and of any time.
1. An entertaining M.G.M. musical? The conventions (and unreality) of the musical which audiences happily accept?
2. M.G.M. production values: colour, the world of the theatre, luxury liner life, affluent restaurants and hotels in Rio? A Never-Never? Land of high society? The musical score, Ann Sothern's and Jane Powell's singing? 'Magic in the Moonlight' and its place in the play? Jane Powell's singing ? from 'Embraceable You' to operatic arias? Louis Calhern and Ann Sothern joining in the songs and dances? The youngster's 'Rio' song?
3. The focus on Nancy? a precocious young girl, her emergence as a Broadway star? The competition with her mother? The romantic complications with the same man? The complications about pregnancy? The importance of the exotic Brazilian touch?
4. Jane Powell as Nancy - forthright heroine, love for her mother, for Scotty, her superiority about her age, her getting the part and the audition, the trip to Rio, her melodramatics, being misunderstood by Paul and Marina, the passengers' concern, the complications in Rio with her mother and grandfather, with Paul, the touristic attractions of Rio (the carnival)? The resolution after her feeling hurt? Her Broadway success?
5. Ann Sothern as the Broadway star, singing and dancing? Concern for her daughter? The play? The complications about the pregnancy? The interrogation of Paul, falling in love? The happy resolution?
6. Louis Calhern and the comic touches as the roving eye grandfather? Song and dance? Boxing with the valet?
7. Barry Sullivan as a pleasing hero? Concern about Nancy? Caught up in her world and romance? Falling in love with Frances? Happy resolution? Marina as his friend and partner and Carmen Miranda's comic style, her personal concern, her exotic songs and dances?
8. The youngsters of 1950 - Summer Stock, rehearsals, plays, Scotty and his puppy love for Nancy? The Rio song and dance?
9. The world of the theatre - Arthur as a producer, the Brazilian playwright, auditions, deals?
10. The comedy of ambiguity about the pregnancy and the humour of misunderstanding?
11. A pleasant story of family relationships, career - all in the glossy musical style?
