'Week-End in Havana' couldn't be missed due to the anticipation of seeing Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda, Cesar Romero and John Payne in the same film and being a fan of musicals. It didn't disappoint me at all, getting more or less what was expected and wanted, and anybody who likes films of this type or musicals from this era are likely to find it very difficult to resist.
Pretty much the only not so good thing about 'Week-End in Havana' is the story, which is as thin, predictable and nonsensical as one would expect from particularly a WW2-era musical. Also wouldn't have said no to Alice Faye having more to do than she did, and even the presence of Charlotte Greenwood, Edward Everett Horton or both may have enlivened things even more.
However, as far as escapist entertainment goes and for anybody wanting a fun, delightful hour and a half diversion to blow any troubles away, 'Week-End in Havana' regardless of any reservations with the story delivers one hundred percent. The film looks gorgeous, with lavish set and costume design, big, bold, rich colours that leap out at the screen that always dazzle rather than nauseate and photographed in a way that shows a lot of love and care.
The music is both infectious and beautiful, Carmen Miranda's numbers "Rebola a Bola" and "When I Love I Love" are uproarious, "Tropical Magic" is melodious magic beautifully sung in all its reprises (especially with Faye and Payne) and "Romance and Rhumba" benefits from particularly clever and nostalgic choreography in a film full of it.
Furthermore the script is filled with snappy lines that crackle in energy and wit, the whole film is breezily directed with a clear love for the content and while a long way from perfect the story is never dull and has its charms.
Miranda comes very close often to stealing the show in a hilarious performance, while Romero is the epitome of confident charisma and suavity and Faye is charmingly luminous and sings with beauty and heartfelt emotion. Payne is more at ease than he can be and is a suitably attractive leading man. Billy Gilbert, Georges Barbier and Leonid Kinskey are fun in supporting roles.
All in all, one fun, delightful weekend indeed. 8/10 Bethany Cox
Pretty much the only not so good thing about 'Week-End in Havana' is the story, which is as thin, predictable and nonsensical as one would expect from particularly a WW2-era musical. Also wouldn't have said no to Alice Faye having more to do than she did, and even the presence of Charlotte Greenwood, Edward Everett Horton or both may have enlivened things even more.
However, as far as escapist entertainment goes and for anybody wanting a fun, delightful hour and a half diversion to blow any troubles away, 'Week-End in Havana' regardless of any reservations with the story delivers one hundred percent. The film looks gorgeous, with lavish set and costume design, big, bold, rich colours that leap out at the screen that always dazzle rather than nauseate and photographed in a way that shows a lot of love and care.
The music is both infectious and beautiful, Carmen Miranda's numbers "Rebola a Bola" and "When I Love I Love" are uproarious, "Tropical Magic" is melodious magic beautifully sung in all its reprises (especially with Faye and Payne) and "Romance and Rhumba" benefits from particularly clever and nostalgic choreography in a film full of it.
Furthermore the script is filled with snappy lines that crackle in energy and wit, the whole film is breezily directed with a clear love for the content and while a long way from perfect the story is never dull and has its charms.
Miranda comes very close often to stealing the show in a hilarious performance, while Romero is the epitome of confident charisma and suavity and Faye is charmingly luminous and sings with beauty and heartfelt emotion. Payne is more at ease than he can be and is a suitably attractive leading man. Billy Gilbert, Georges Barbier and Leonid Kinskey are fun in supporting roles.
All in all, one fun, delightful weekend indeed. 8/10 Bethany Cox