Estudantes

Estudantes

Mesquitinha (left) with Carmen Miranda and Barbosa Júnior in Estudantes.
Directed by Wallace Downey
Produced by Adhemar Gonzaga
Wallace Downey
Written by Alberto Ribeiro
João de Barro
Cinematography Edgar Brasil
Antonio Medeiros
Distributed by Waldow Filmes and Cinédia
Release dates
 8 July 1935
Country Brazil
Language Portuguese

Estudantes was a Brazilian musical comedy film directed by Wallace Downey and starring Carmen Miranda, Barbosa Júnior, Mesquitinha and Mário Reis.[1]

Initially titled Folia de Estudantes, was made entirely in a single week in the studios and labs Cinédia. Premiered at Cine Alhambra, in Rio de Janeiro, on July 8, 1935, staying in theaters for two weeks. It has also been shown in São Paulo, at Cine Odeon (Sala Vermelha), debuting on July 15 of that year. From what we know, there are not preserved copies of this film.

Plot

In the plot, Carmen Miranda is Mimi, a radio singer courted by three students.[2]

Production

The film is a co-production from Waldow Filmes and Cinédia studios, directed by Wallace Downey and based on a script by musicians João de Barro and Alberto Ribeiro, was set in a university student residence.[3] In this film Carmen Miranda played by the crooner Mário Reis, and for the first time she acted out a role as well as singing. Two other students, played by Mesquetinha and Bárbosa Júnior, vie for her affections, giving rise to a wealth of comic incidents. Shot in just one week, "Estudantes" premiered at Rio's Cinema Alhambra on 8 July 1935, where it was shown for a further two weeks. Although the film's soundtrack featured well-known carnival "marchas" and sambas, it was not designed to tie in with the annual celebrations, but rather was an example of so-called 'mid-year' productions (de meio de ano), the premieres of which were often timed to coincide with the 'festas juninas' or popular Catholic festivals held in June.

Inspired by the success of the film vehicles for carnival music, other 'mid-year' musicals were simply intended to promote the radio and record industries. "Estudantes" featured musical numbers associated with the popular religious celebrations, and song 'Cadê Mimi?' (Where's Mimi?), performed by Mário Reis as he serenades Carmen Miranda's character. This song subsequently became a huge hit throughout Brazil. In spite of its success at the box-office.[4]

Cast

Carmen Miranda and Barbosa Júnior in the movie scene.
Carmen Miranda (center) and sisters Jeanette and Dulce Weyting.

Critical reception

Estudantes received mixed reviews. An anonymous P. de L., writing for the Rio newspaper O Globo on 25 June 1935, called it a retrograde step in relation to "Alô, alô, Brasil!", whereas Alfredo Sade, writing in the Rio-based publication A Batalha in July 1935, argued that Estudantes was a far superior film. He praised the quality of photography and the sound in what he termed this 'very Brazilian musical comedy'. Another anonymous review by a certain A. F. in the newspaper Diário Português of July 1935 argued that Estudantes's greatest value was its spontaneity and the promise that it and its young creators represented for the future of the cinema industry in Brazil. This potential was to be more fully realised in Cinédia's next production, Alô, Alô, Carnaval!.

Musical numbers

References

  1. ↑ "Os reis da voz". Ronaldo Conde Aguiar. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  2. ↑ Eduardo Giffoni Flórido, As grandes personagens da história do cinema brasileiro, Editora Fraiha, 1999.
  3. ↑ "Estudos de cinema, Volumes 2-3".
  4. ↑ "Popular Cinema in Brazil: 1930-2001". Stephanie Dennison. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Soundtracks: Estudantes (1935)". IMDb.

External links

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