Week-End In Havana (1941)

Week-End In Havana - 1941

Let's take a trip to Cuba, shall we?  1941's "Week-End In Havana" is the perfect getaway.  When a young lady on a cruise is given the royal treatment, she must make the most of the opportunity before she heads back to her mundane existence.  Can she find love in Havana?

The film's cast includes Alice Faye, Carmen Miranda, John Payne, Cesar Romero, George Barbier, Sheldon Leonard, and Leonid Kinskey.

Right away Carmen Miranda and her band delight us with the lively title song, "Week-End In Havana".

And we get into the story.  When her cruise ships runs aground on its way to Havana, Cuba, working girl Nan Spencer is asked to sign a waiver releasing the cruise company from any liability.  She doesn't want to sign it, because she's being cheated out of the good time she was going to have.  The company representative tells her that if she'll sign the waiver, the company will pay her way to Havana, including all of her expenses.  Nan agrees.

And so we arrive in Havana.  Once again this film showcases some lovely scenes of the city and its surrounding area.  My only complaint is that many of the images were superimposed over each other, which makes for not very clear pictures.

Nan is taken to the very best hotel and given the Presidential Suite.  She's thrilled with the treatment she's getting from the cruise line.  The cruise representative, Jay Williams, volunteers to take her sightseeing, but what Nan really wants to do is hit the local nightclubs.

They head to a nightclub, where the headliner is the spicy Rosita Rivas, who entertains to the guests' delight.

Nan is looking for more than just a good time, though.  She wants a little romance thrown into the mix as well.  Jay is being very professional, so Nan decides to see if there are any guys who want what she wants.

She heads outside and sings the lovely "Tropical Magic."  Unbeknownst to Nan, she's being watched as she sings the song.

Watching her is the dashing Monte Blanca, who sweeps her off her feet.  Her escorts her back into the nightclub.

Seeing the two of them together worries Jay, who is a bit disconcerted that Nan found someone so quickly.

And he's right to be worried.  Monte is heavily in debt, and we learn that he's only paying attention to Nan because he thinks that she's rich.  Monte makes plans to spend more time with Nan the next evening.

They head to the casino, where Monte has made a deal with the casino boss that will help clear his debt.  The more Nan loses, the more Monte's debt is canceled.

Sadly for him, Nan just keeps on raking in the money.  She's thrilled, but Monte isn't exactly excited.

He's also got a jealous girlfriend.  We find out that he and Rosita are involved, and she is being ever watchful.

Rosita even comes to Nan's hotel so that she can confront Nan and "rip her hair out".  Jay is quick to defuse the situation and puts Rosita off.

Jay even offers to become Rosita's manager, and she's quick to accept.  She likes him, and he demands less in percentage than her previous manager, Monte.

Things fall apart, though, when they are out for the evening and run into Monte and Nan.  While Rosita has it out with Monte, Nan storms off.  Jay follows her.

The two bond on a moonlit walk to the hotel, and they fall in love.  Nan sings "Tropical Magic" all night long.

Of course, before everything can work out, there is one more complication.  I won't spoil that surprise for you.

A humorous moment comes at the end of the film.  Monte finally wins a lot of money (thanks to Nan) and he and Rosita make all sorts of plans.  "Maybe I could own all of Cuba!" he thinks.  "I could have two suits!"

All's well that ends well, and our cast sings about how wonderful it is to spend a "Week-End In Havana".

Cast rundown:

   Alice Faye...........................Nan Spencer

   Carmen Miranda..................Rosita Rivas

   John Payne.........................Jay Williams

   Cesar Romero......................Monte Blanca

   George Barbier.....................Walter McCracken

   Sheldon Leonard..................Boris

   Leonid Kinskey.....................Rafael

And that's all for Week-End In Havana.  Betty Grable was originally supposed to play Nan Spencer, but was replaced by Alice Faye, who was expecting a child throughout the duration of the filming.

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