"Week-End in Havana was the third American film for Carmen Miranda after she went from Brazil to the States in 1939 to appear on Broadway. 20th Century Fox did much to spread the popularity of Latin music at the time, with Miranda in several films. The earlier two, "Down Argentine Way" of 1940 and "That Night in Rio" of 1941 had slightly more prominent casts, but this film is a notch of above them for its much better comedy.
Alice Faye has the lead, and was very popular at the time, with her low, sultry singing voice. And John Payne was a very good second leading man. Their roles - as Nan Spencer and Jay Williams, are very good and set the plot for all of these people to come together. And while they have some very funny lines, it is Miranda and Cesar Romero who push the comedy to the top as Rosita Rivas and Monte Blanco. Three supporting cast members, Leonid Kinskey as Rafael, Billy Gilbert as Abolardo, and Sheldon Leonard as Boris add many laughs.
This was one of the last comedy musicals (or musical comedies) that Americans got to enjoy before going to war in 1941. Less than two months after its release, the U. S. A. Was engulfed, with much of the rest of the globe, in World War II. And somewhat ironically, the scenes of Havana shot for this movie are some of the last scenic portrayals of the once glittering Caribbean playground and tourist attraction. After the Cuban revolution in the 1950s, and rise of the communist dictatorship of Fidel Castro, Havana was no longer a prime vacationland, or Cuba a welcoming tourist country.
The comedy includes a little satire of the wealthy, and of their resort haunts, and of some of the preying clientele that may be found there. Miranda, Romero and Billy Gilbert are especially funny with their lines that are plays on words - malapropisms and spoonerisms. Miranda and Romero, dominate any scene they are in, especially with their dialog. And they have the expressions and body postures that go with each line perfectly. That adds more to their humor.
Here are some favorite lines of many very good ones in this film.
Nan Spencer, "Well, how do I know I'll have a good time?" Jay Williams, "Well, that we can't guarantee. All we can do is expose you having a good time."
Jay Williams, "It's the, uh, presidential suite, you know." Nan Spencer, "Well, the whole cabinet could use the bathtub. They ought a have lifeguards."
Monte Blanca, "You, uh, are sure she is wealthy?" Rafael, "It's the surest thing in the whole world. She has the most expensive suite in the hotel. Her clothes - they are the most luxurious and the thinnest I have ever seen. And if this is not proof enough, she tipped me only 10 cents." Monte Blanca, "She must be very wealthy."
Jay Williams, dictates a telegram to Rafael, "Walter McCracken, McCracken Building, New York City. Human element hard at work. Girl getting happier by the minute. Read that back to me." Rafael, "Walt McCrack, Cincinnati. Humane elephant hardly works." Williams, "Give me that! I'll write it myself." Rafael, "Senor, it is not so easy to write standing up."
Rosita Rivas, "Come on." Let's go away from this eaves dripper." (sic)
Boris, "So she was a wealthy girl?" Monte Blanca, "No, listen, Boris." Boris, "She owns half of America?" Monte, "I can explain." Boris, "She loses thousands every night." Monte, "Boris, please. My information - there was a slip."
Monte Blanca, "I, uh, suppose you have some way in mind I can repay you?" Boris, "That, too, has been arranged." Monte, "Oh, fine, fine. But killing is out. I will not kill."
Arbolado, "This room down here is only for those who can't pay for anything better. Tight-skates and cheap-wads."
Rosita Rivas, "For me, you are chase with that little blondie floogie?" Nan Spencer, "Hey, you can't call me a floozy." Rosita, "Oh, can't I? Floogie, floogie." (sic)
Nan Spencer, rummaging through the wastebasket for the cashier's check she had thrown away, "There's a thousand dollars in here." Monte Blanca, "Oh, senorita, you are clever. What a place to hide money."
Monte Blanca, "Rosita, please. No matter what this appears like to you, it is the opposite."
Rosita Rivas, "Ah hah! Now I have got you where you want me."
Jay Williams, "I'm looking for a young lady." Arbolado, "I know a redhead. I could get her here in ten minutes." Williams, "No, no. I'm supposed to meet this young lady here - Senorita Rivas."
Rosita Rivas, "You are big and strong." Jay Williams, "Wellll, I've had the usual childhood diseases... but I think I'm well enough to handle any deals that come up."
Jay Williams, "Now, what kind of a contract did you have with Monte?" Rosita Rivas, "It was a verbal contract, but I tear it up."
Monte Blanca, "No no! Please, Rosita, listen to me. I have spent your money. I have lost at gambling. I have lied to you. But never have I been untrue to you."
Nan Spencer, "Help me up... Oh, take your hands off me."
Rosita Rivas, "And what did you think of your blonde?" Monte Blanca, "Uh, the blonde?" Rosita, "Yeah, yeah. I am told you are upstairs with a blonde." Monte, "But there are many blondes upstairs. If you stand next to a women, it is 35 to one she is a blonde." Rosita, "If was not 35 blondes, it was one blonde."
Nan Spencer, "I'm never gonna see Senor Williams again. Never." Monte Blanca, slaps his forehead. "Then I die. When you leave, my body will be floating in the harbor."
Rosita Rivas, "Aha, so you are going upstairs." (To the gambling room) Monte Blanca, "Only to test myself." Rosita, "You are through testing yourself. It is too expensive."
Alice Faye has the lead, and was very popular at the time, with her low, sultry singing voice. And John Payne was a very good second leading man. Their roles - as Nan Spencer and Jay Williams, are very good and set the plot for all of these people to come together. And while they have some very funny lines, it is Miranda and Cesar Romero who push the comedy to the top as Rosita Rivas and Monte Blanco. Three supporting cast members, Leonid Kinskey as Rafael, Billy Gilbert as Abolardo, and Sheldon Leonard as Boris add many laughs.
This was one of the last comedy musicals (or musical comedies) that Americans got to enjoy before going to war in 1941. Less than two months after its release, the U. S. A. Was engulfed, with much of the rest of the globe, in World War II. And somewhat ironically, the scenes of Havana shot for this movie are some of the last scenic portrayals of the once glittering Caribbean playground and tourist attraction. After the Cuban revolution in the 1950s, and rise of the communist dictatorship of Fidel Castro, Havana was no longer a prime vacationland, or Cuba a welcoming tourist country.
The comedy includes a little satire of the wealthy, and of their resort haunts, and of some of the preying clientele that may be found there. Miranda, Romero and Billy Gilbert are especially funny with their lines that are plays on words - malapropisms and spoonerisms. Miranda and Romero, dominate any scene they are in, especially with their dialog. And they have the expressions and body postures that go with each line perfectly. That adds more to their humor.
Here are some favorite lines of many very good ones in this film.
Nan Spencer, "Well, how do I know I'll have a good time?" Jay Williams, "Well, that we can't guarantee. All we can do is expose you having a good time."
Jay Williams, "It's the, uh, presidential suite, you know." Nan Spencer, "Well, the whole cabinet could use the bathtub. They ought a have lifeguards."
Monte Blanca, "You, uh, are sure she is wealthy?" Rafael, "It's the surest thing in the whole world. She has the most expensive suite in the hotel. Her clothes - they are the most luxurious and the thinnest I have ever seen. And if this is not proof enough, she tipped me only 10 cents." Monte Blanca, "She must be very wealthy."
Jay Williams, dictates a telegram to Rafael, "Walter McCracken, McCracken Building, New York City. Human element hard at work. Girl getting happier by the minute. Read that back to me." Rafael, "Walt McCrack, Cincinnati. Humane elephant hardly works." Williams, "Give me that! I'll write it myself." Rafael, "Senor, it is not so easy to write standing up."
Rosita Rivas, "Come on." Let's go away from this eaves dripper." (sic)
Boris, "So she was a wealthy girl?" Monte Blanca, "No, listen, Boris." Boris, "She owns half of America?" Monte, "I can explain." Boris, "She loses thousands every night." Monte, "Boris, please. My information - there was a slip."
Monte Blanca, "I, uh, suppose you have some way in mind I can repay you?" Boris, "That, too, has been arranged." Monte, "Oh, fine, fine. But killing is out. I will not kill."
Arbolado, "This room down here is only for those who can't pay for anything better. Tight-skates and cheap-wads."
Rosita Rivas, "For me, you are chase with that little blondie floogie?" Nan Spencer, "Hey, you can't call me a floozy." Rosita, "Oh, can't I? Floogie, floogie." (sic)
Nan Spencer, rummaging through the wastebasket for the cashier's check she had thrown away, "There's a thousand dollars in here." Monte Blanca, "Oh, senorita, you are clever. What a place to hide money."
Monte Blanca, "Rosita, please. No matter what this appears like to you, it is the opposite."
Rosita Rivas, "Ah hah! Now I have got you where you want me."
Jay Williams, "I'm looking for a young lady." Arbolado, "I know a redhead. I could get her here in ten minutes." Williams, "No, no. I'm supposed to meet this young lady here - Senorita Rivas."
Rosita Rivas, "You are big and strong." Jay Williams, "Wellll, I've had the usual childhood diseases... but I think I'm well enough to handle any deals that come up."
Jay Williams, "Now, what kind of a contract did you have with Monte?" Rosita Rivas, "It was a verbal contract, but I tear it up."
Monte Blanca, "No no! Please, Rosita, listen to me. I have spent your money. I have lost at gambling. I have lied to you. But never have I been untrue to you."
Nan Spencer, "Help me up... Oh, take your hands off me."
Rosita Rivas, "And what did you think of your blonde?" Monte Blanca, "Uh, the blonde?" Rosita, "Yeah, yeah. I am told you are upstairs with a blonde." Monte, "But there are many blondes upstairs. If you stand next to a women, it is 35 to one she is a blonde." Rosita, "If was not 35 blondes, it was one blonde."
Nan Spencer, "I'm never gonna see Senor Williams again. Never." Monte Blanca, slaps his forehead. "Then I die. When you leave, my body will be floating in the harbor."
Rosita Rivas, "Aha, so you are going upstairs." (To the gambling room) Monte Blanca, "Only to test myself." Rosita, "You are through testing yourself. It is too expensive."