Down Argentine Way (1940)

Down Argentine Way - 1940

How about a little vacation?  1940's "Down Argentine Way" is the perfect venue for a little getaway.  Hear we find Betty Grable and Don Ameche falling in love amidst the festive atmosphere of Buenos Aires.

The film's cast includes Don Ameche, Betty Grable, Carmen Miranda, Charlotte Greenwood, J. Carrol Naish, Henry Stephenson, Leonid Kinskey, and Frank Puglia.

We open with Carmen Miranda singing the totally apropos "South American Way".

We're also treated to some shots of a bustling Argentine metropolis.  (I love the way these travel films showcased the country/city they featured.)

And then we get right into the story.  Successful horse breeder Don Diego Quintana is ready to sell some horses.  He admonishes his son Ricardo, who is on his way to New York, not to sell to anyone with the last name of "Crawford" due to a longstanding feud.

Well, that's exactly what happens.  Ricardo meets Glenda Crawford (however she doesn't reveal her last name to him yet), and there's an instant chemistry.

When the two go out on a date later that night, there is further proof that they are made for each other.

When he discovers that Glenda's last name is Crawford, he has to back out of a horse buying deal with her.  Glenda and her aunt are pretty puzzled as to why.  Ricardo heads back to Argentina.

Glenda and her aunt Binnie head to Argentina as well.  The reason: to buy some horses.

While out night club hopping, Glenda and her escort attend a performance given by Carmen Miranda.

Glenda runs into Ricardo at this nightclub.  After some initial unpleasantness because of the horse deal in New York, the two become close again.

Aunt Binnie also finds herself a South American romance.  She's been ready to hit the town since she arrived.

When the Crawfords visit Ricardo and his father at their estate, Binnie gets thrown off the property.  "You must have told him your name," says Ricardo apologetically.  "Yes, I did," replies Binnie, "and I added a few under my breath."

Glenda and Ricardo have to find some way of getting Don Diego to accept the Crawfords.  This project includes a whole new revamping of the Quintana horse operation.

Binnie, meanwhile, doesn't stay upset for too long.  She finds a local festival and joins in the fun.

Everything ends up alright.  At the end of the film, we get a reprise of the songs.  (Check out Charlotte Greenwood as she high kicks!)

And Glenda and Ricardo fall into each other's arms, this time for good.

Cast rundown:

   Don Ameche..............................Ricardo Quintana

   Betty Grable..............................Glenda Crawford

   Carmen Miranda.........................Herself

   Charlotte Greenwood..................Binnie Crawford

   J. Carrol Naish............................Casiano

   Henry Stephenson......................Don Diego Quintana

   Leonid Kinskey............................Tito Acuna

   Frank Puglia...............................Montero

And that's it for Down Argentine Way.  This was Carmen Miranda's American film debut.  Because of her busy New York schedule, Miranda never filmed with the rest of the cast.  All of her scenes were shot separately and then added into the film.

It's a perfectly delightful and fun film.  This horse definitely agrees!

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