Themes: Opposites Attract, Americans Abroad, Fish Out of Water
Main Cast: Don Ameche, Betty Grable, Carmen Miranda, Charlotte Greenwood
Release Year: 1940
Country: US
Run Time: 90 minutes
Plot
Hollywood's handful of Technicolor cameras got a real workout on 20th Century-Fox's Down Argentine Way. Don Ameche stars as Ricardo Quintana, the charming son of a less charming Argentine horse breeder (Henry Stephenson). Betty Grable is vacationing American heiress Glenda Crawford, who "collects" horses as a hobby. Separated by a family feud, Ricard and Glenda must endure all sorts of setbacks and misunderstandings before crossing the romantic finish line. Filmed on location, Down Argentine Way served to introduce Brazilian bombshell Carmen Miranda, performing a variety of sizzling South American numbers with her own band. Also on hand are the Nicholas Brothers, whose show-stopping dance number has been spotlighted innumerable times in various "best of Hollywood musicals" compilations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Down Argentine Way may not get anywhere near a list of great movie musicals, but it's good silly fun for viewers looking for an unchallenging way to spend an hour and a half. While the plot won't win any awards, it has a few nice touches which surprise in a gentle way, and the horse breeding and racing background makes for a nice change of pace. Betty Grable is her usual pleasing self, although playing someone with a bit more sophistication than usual. She's in fine voice and top dancing form, and though neither she nor Don Ameche are taxed by their roles, they bring a relaxed commitment to them that is effective. The supporting cast is very lively, especially the droll Charlotte Greenwood, the effervescent Nicholas Brothers and the one-of-a-kind Carmen Miranda, seen here in a much more subdued visual setting which allows her talent to come through free of the later entertaining but campy trappings. The Harry Warren-Mack Gordon score is breezy and tuneful, the vocal arrangements are enchanting, and the photography is quite beautiful; the colors are captured and displayed magnificently. Grable would follow Argentine with a change-of-pace performance in I Wake Up Screaming. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
