Evita (1996)

The hit musical based on the life of Evita Duarte, a B-picture Argentinian actress who eventually became the wife of Argentinian president Juan Perón, and the most beloved and hated woman in Argentina.

Director:

Alan Parker

Writers:

Tim Rice (book), Alan Parker (screenplay)

Stars:

Madonna, Jonathan Pryce, Antonio Banderas

Won 1 Oscar. Another 17 wins & 42 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Madonna	...	Eva Perón
Antonio Banderas	...	Ché
Jonathan Pryce	...	Juan Perón
Jimmy Nail	...	Agustín Magaldi
Victoria Sus	...	Doña Juana
Julian Littman	...	Brother Juan
Olga Merediz	...	Blanca
Laura Pallas	...	Elisa Duarte
Julia Worsley	...	Erminda
María Luján Hidalgo	...	Young Eva (as Maria Lujan Hidalgo)
Servando Villamil	...	Cipriano Reyes
Andrea Corr	...	Perón's Mistress
Peter Polycarpou	...	Domingo Mercante
Gary Brooker	...	Juan Bramuglia
Maite Yerro	...	Julieta (as Mayte Yerro)

Storyline

High-flying, adored! The film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical depicting the infamous real-life story of Eva "Evita" Duarte de Peron, the wife of President Juan Peron, who rose from poverty to become the most famous Argentine woman in history. Her huge political influence and constant charity works earned her scorn and fear from the military and upper classes but adoration and love from the workers and descamisados. Evita's legendary life is displayed before your eyes as the most hated and most beloved woman in Argentina.

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Plot Keywords:

argentina | actress | politics | military | singer | 

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Taglines:

The Most Anticipated Motion Picture Event of The Year

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | Musical

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements, images of violence and some mild language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ebîta

Filming Locations:

Argentina

Box Office

Budget:

$55,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$195,085, 29 December 1996, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$50,047,179, 8 May 1997

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$91,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Cinergi Pictures Entertainment, Dirty Hands Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Antonio Banderas got the role of Che by submitting a self-made audition tape and performing all the musical numbers in front of Alan Parker at a dinner meet in Miami.

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Goofs

Eva Peron's shoes change during the waltz scene with Che. Apparently Madonna began filming with higher heels, fell, and, fearing for her unborn baby, switched to lower heels with a clearly different strap set-up. Her hair also changes.

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Quotes

Army: Perón is a fool breaking every taboo, installing the girl in the army HQ. And she's an actress! The last straw. Her only good parts are between her thighs. She should stare at the ceiling, not reach for the skies, or she could be his last whore. The evidence suggests... she has other interests. If it's her whose using him... he's exceptionally dim. Bitch!

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Crazy Credits

In the closing credits: "This story is fictional. Any similarity to the names, characters or history of any person, living or dead, or any actual events is entirely coincidental and unintentional."

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Connections

Featured in The 78th Annual Academy Awards (2006)

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Soundtracks

Hello and Goodbye
(uncredited)
Written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber
Performed by Madonna, Andrea Corr, and Jonathan Pryce
Produced by Nigel Wright, Alan Parker, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and David Caddick

User Reviews

It is a musical worth seeing!

As a person who is not a big fan of movie musicals, I was thoroughly impressed by the magnificent performance of Madonna playing the title role and singing the immortal hit "Don't cry for me Argentina." Jonathan Pryce and Antonio Banderas were also spectacular in their respective roles.(p)

Andrew Lloyd Weber's musical genius is captured in this touching and historic portrayal of the life of Argentine First Lady Eva Peron. A peasant girl who used her charms and elegance as an aspiring entertainer and rises to become the wife of Argentina's most powerful politician is sequentially presented with song and dance that only a masterful musical producer such as Weber could create.(p)

I highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in learning about the life of an important poltical figure of the twentieth century and being delightfully entertained at the same.