it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

One of those movie experiences that is so good it makes you realize you've been grading everything else on a curve.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

As a lifelong fan of musicals, and who tries to find merit in even the lesser/worst ones, 'That Night in Rio' is a more than worthwhile one. No classic, hardly a stinker, instead very entertaining.Its weak point is the story, which is not much of one and is more an excuse to string along the songs and production numbers together. When there is signs of a story, there is a constant recycled feel and plausibility is cast to the wind and thrown out the window. People always argue about whether one should see musicals for the story, there are numerous times where it doesn't but it does depend on how well done everything else is.There is actually very little to dislike about 'That Night in Rio' and everything else is done very well indeed, and more, but with so much effort put into everything else it was a shame that the effort doesn't really translate in the story and it sticks out like a sore thumb. SZ Sakall and J Carroll Naish, while still good, deserved more to do in quite limited and clichéd roles, Sakall especially is very close to wasted.However, 'That Night in Rio' looks great, with beautiful production values and costumes, luminous photography and lavish colour. The sets are obviously back lot-bound and the lack of evocative Rio locations to lust after is somewhat of a disappointment, the good news is that the sets are still very handsomely constructed, colourful and pleasing. The songs are lively, full of energy and truly lovely to listen to, "Boa Nite" is a beautiful romantic song but Carmen Miranda's exuberant and riotous "I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Like You Very Much)" and "Chica Chica Boom Chic" stand out the most.Script-wise, 'That Night in Rio' is witty and the romantic aspects are adorable and charming, always on the right side of charm and sweetness without laying it on too thick with the sugar and sentiment. The film never loses its energy thanks to the songs, production numbers and the cast, despite the story threatening to grind things to a halt which luckily it never quite does.Don Ameche plays his two roles with dashing charm, elegance and witty bravado, and Alice Faye has energy and substance. Shining brightest is none other than "The Brazilian Bombshell" or "The Chiquita Banana Girl" (the one and only) Carmen Miranda, whose delightful presence is the bees knees and makes the jaw drop.All in all, a very worthwhile night in Rio especially for Miranda. 8/10 Bethany Cox

The 2nd of 3 films, all by Fox, of the same basic story, over a 16 year period. Originally conceived as 2 distinct films: one an impersonation farce, based on the play "The Red Cat", and the other a musical romance, it was ingeniously decided to combine them. The screen plays were more or less similar for the 3 films, but the musical numbers were completely different. Given the top lead personalities in the 3 films, probably all 3 are worth seeing, although I've only seen a compendium of the musical numbers in the 1st version, starring Maurice Chevalier. Some definitely prefer the 3rd version because of the talents of Danny Kaye and choreographer Jack Cole. Both are among my favorite musicals. Reportedly(not surprisingly), Don Ameche's favorite film role, despite his more remembered portrayal of the invention of the telephone.This version benefits form the interactions of 3 top musical comedy performers in Ameche, Carmen Miranda, and Alice Faye. In contrast, the 3rd version("On the Riviera") depends heavy on the charisma of Danny Kaye, in Ameche's role. In contrast to Alice's several solos, Gene Tierney in her role in the final version does not sing. Also, Corinne Calvert, in Carmen's role, can't begin to compete with Carmen's outlandish charisma. On the whole, the songs in this version are more memorable, whereas the 3rd version excels in imaginative song & dance and comedic productions. Most of the songs were composed by Harry Warren & Mack Gordon, who collaborated on a number of high profile Fox musicals in the early '40s, including another favorite of mine: "Sun Valley Serenade", unfortunately shot in B&W, rather than the gorgeous Technicolor of this film. They composed what became Carmen's signature song: "I, Yi, Yi, Yi, Yi, Like you Very Much", which she sambas to , following "Cai, Cai", in the same performance. Ameche and Alice both sing, independently, two memorable romantic ballads: "They Met in Rio" and "Boa Noite". Suave Ameche had quite a good singing voice for such musicals. He was also the featured male soloist in the prior "Alexander's Ragtime Band", also costarring Alice Faye, introducing "Easter Parade", for example, to film audiences.Unlike the 1st and 3ed versions, this version supposedly takes place in Rio(actually a sound stage). The others took place in France, as intended, and involve all French main characters. The change in location, no doubt, was partly to accommodate Fox's new sensation: Portuguese-Brazilian Carmen, and partly to fulfill their obligation to promote FDR's 'good neighbor ' policy: a propaganda campaign to dissuade Latin American countries from siding with the Fascist block in WWII. The latter purpose is clearly articulated in Ameche's dialogue, as he arrives on stage in a US naval officer's uniform, to take part in the lavish opening musical production, initiated by a spectacularly costumed Carmen, and finished by a very colorful backup chorus, to "Chica, Chica, Boom, Chic". Both Ameche, in the role of stage performer Larry Martin, and Alice Faye, as the wife of Baron Manuel Duarte, are characterized as displaced Americans. Carmen tries to keep Martin on a short leash, and displays periodic jealous rages by animated tongue lashings in Portuguese or mangled English, or by throwing things. This is very similar to her screen persona in her next film: "Weekend in Havana", in which Cesar Romero takes Ameche's place.You will have to pay very close attention much of the time not to get lost whether you are watching Martin impersonating Duarte or vice versa, or whether they are being themselves, and whether the women know or are pretending not to know which they are dealing with at a given time. That makes for a very fun screen play! Then, there are various secondary characters these 2 main characters interact with, as relates to the two women, and to Duarte's big financial problem with his airline business. These include S.Z. Sakall, as Penna, and veteran Curt Bois, as Salles: two clown-like Duarte associates, who often are in the thick of the romantic and financial intrigues. J.Carroll Naish, is Machado: monocled investment banker, trying to take over Duarte's airplane business at an engineered deep discount price. As expected in a true comedy, things end on an up note. Duarte(actually Martin) sells his risky airplane business for a good profit, and he learns his lesson to cut out his philandering and concentrate on making his wife(Alice) happy. The latter theme was more emphasized in the 3rd version, where Tierney lacked a musical role.The finale begins with Duarte carrying a resisting Cecilia(Alice) (thinking him Martin) up a long spiral staircase of their bedroom, in "Gone with the Wind" fashion. Then , bongo drums and brief reprises of the major songs, with Ameche in both his guises included.Alice and Carmen are both dressed in a variety of very glamorous wardrobes, and Ameche is, as usual, impeccably dressed in formal wear off stage. Alice and Carmen would be reteamed for 2 more musicals, while Carmen and Ameche would costar without the pregnant Alice in the less fun "Greenwich Village", a few year later.

This one is one of Foxs' best of this type of musical. While the plot is totally implausible, it's still lots of fun with the beautiful Alice Faye and the funny Carmem Miranda doing her best Carmen Miranda. Don Ameche acquits himself well in a double role. Lavish production numbers in a night club that could never really fit or be done in even the biggest night club in the world, are nice to see. Since this is "fantasy" all works well here, even the inane plot line. A little risqué for it's day with Faye not sure who she has slept with. All comes out well in the end, which is no surprise in any of the Fox musicals. The DVD transfer here is great. If you enjoy this little confection, be sure to rent ON THE RIVIERA with Danny Kaye. It's a very close remake of this with some of the dialog exactly the same. Danny Kaye is brilliant in this one and I enjoyed it more than THAT NIGHT IN RIO, but both have their charms. See them both, back to back.

During a nice night out with his wife, Cecilia (Alice Faye), Baron Manuel Duarte (Don Ameche) watches a performance by entertainer, Larry Martin (also played by Don Ameche), who impersonates him...and he does it very well. Impressed by the performance, the baron goes backstage to meet the young actor. Little does the baron know that the actor chats with is wife. When the baron is missing for work, his associates hire Larry to impersonate the baron (and has no idea what he's doing either). And the rest is history.A comical 1940's film this is, also starring the one and only Carmen Miranda, who plays Larry's hot-tempered girlfriend, Carmen, who of course is also a singer at the club where Larry performs.What I love about the old films from the 1940's is the old fashion Hollywood glamour with the fancy dresses and evening gowns, etc., and not to mention, the fine jewelry the women wear (i.e. the baronesses anniversary gift from her husband). But it's a far cry from what you see today: Lack of long term kissing, sex, violence, and of course, swearing. Lots of music and ditsy characters.I found "That Night In Rio" quite delightful when I watched it on AMC. It was bubbly with a lot of really lighthearted music and comedy, and sophisticated fashions worn by Carmen Miranda and Alice Faye. I got a kick out of Carmen's hot-tempered character, who kept on throwing her shoes at Larry when he made her angry. Not to mention, Don Ameche was a brilliant actor who could play two different characters quite well, and can compare each of them onscreen. :)Good film...enjoyable for anyone who likes old movies! :)