''Week-End in Havana'' is a 1941 American

Technicolor Technicolor is a family of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes. The first version, Process 1, was introduced in 1916, and improved versions followed over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black-and ...

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, but in some cases, they serv ...

directed by

Walter Lang Walter Lang (August 10, 1896 – February 7, 1972) was an American film director. Early life Walter Lang was born in Tennessee. As a young man he went to New York City where he found clerical work at a film production company. The business p ...

and starring

Alice Faye Alice Faye (born Alice Jeanne Leppert; May 5, 1915 – May 9, 1998) was an American actress and singer. A musical star of 20th Century-Fox in the 1930s and 1940s, Faye starred in such films as '' On the Avenue'' (1937) and ''Alexander's Ragtime ...

, John Payne and

Carmen Miranda Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha (9 February 1909 – 5 August 1955), known professionally as Carmen Miranda (), was a Portuguese-born Brazilian singer, dancer, and actress. Nicknamed "The Brazilian Bombshell", she was known for her signature ...

. The film was produced and distributed by

Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywood ...

studio

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...

. It was the second of three pictures the two stars made together and the second Faye film to have a

Latin American Latin Americans (; ) are the citizenship, citizens of Latin American countries (or people with cultural, ancestral or national origins in Latin America). Latin American countries and their Latin American diaspora, diasporas are Metroethnicity, ...

theme, typical of Fox musicals of the early 1940s. Faye was pregnant during filming. It is also known by the

alternative title An alternative title is a media sales device most prominently used in film distribution. Books and films are commonly released under a different title when they are screened or sold in a different country. This can vary from small change to the ...

s ''A Week-End in Havana'' and ''That Week-End in Havana''.

Plot

When his cruise ship, the Cuban Queen, runs aground near Florida on its way to

Havana Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.ocean liner An ocean liner is a type of passenger ship primarily used for transportation across seas or oceans. Ocean liners may also carry cargo or mail, and may sometimes be used for other purposes (such as for pleasure cruises or as hospital ships). The ...

magnate Walter McCracken ( George Barbier) sends his vice-president, Jay Williams ( John Payne), to the site to forestall any legal action. Jay gets the passengers to sign claim waivers in exchange for future passage on another McCracken ocean liner. One passenger, Macy's hosiery salesclerk Nan Spencer (

), refuses to sign, because she has saved for years for the vacation and cannot take it at any other time. When Nan hints that she is aware of the captain's negligence in the accident, Jay accedes to her demand that the company ensure her an enjoyable vacation in Havana. Nan refuses to sign the waiver until after her vacation is completed, so McCracken orders Jay to accompany her, even though he is soon to be married to McCracken's snobbish daughter, Terry. Upon reaching Havana, Nan is delighted with the scenery but bored with Jay, who is too stodgy to provide the romance she craves. When charming fortune hunter Monte Blanca (

Cesar Romero César Julio Romero Jr. (February 15, 1907 – January 1, 1994) was an American actor. He was active in film, radio, and television for almost 60 years. His wide range of screen roles included Latin lover (stereotype), Latin lovers, historical ...

) comes across Nan, he believes that she will be the solution to his gambling debts. Monte takes Nan to a casino run by Boris, who threatens Monte upon discovering that Nan is a simple salesclerk who cannot make good on the losses she believed Monte himself was going to pay. Jay, who has followed the couple, offers to pay off Monte's debts if he will romance Nan, thereby making sure she has a good time and will sign the waiver. Monte readily agrees, despite the jealousy of his tempestuous girlfriend, Rosita Rivas (

), a singer whom Monte manages. In order to forestall Rosita's tantrums, Jay agrees to be her new manager, but regrets his decision when it becomes apparent that she wants romance as well as advice. One evening, Rosita meets Jay at a secluded inn, but Monte and Nan are already there, and during an ensuing argument, Monte reveals that he accepted Jay's proposition in order to repay Rosita money he owes her. Nan is furious at both men for the deception, and when Jay tries to follow her after she leaves, his car is accidentally wrecked. While walking back to town, Jay and Nan discover that they are genuinely attracted to each other. The next morning, happy that her vacation is going well, Nan gives Jay a signed waiver, but tears it up when Terry appears and intimates that Jay's behavior has been strictly business. Heartbroken, Nan signs another waiver and accepts from Terry a check for $1,000, which Terry says came from Jay. When Jay sends her a check for $150, however, Nan realizes that Terry was trying to bribe her without Jay's knowledge. Terry's scheming soon becomes apparent to Jay as well, and after he angrily sends her back to New York, he finds Nan in the nightclub where Rosita is performing. As Rosita and Monte dance together, Jay and Nan are reconciled, and everyone sings the praises of their weekend in Havana.

Cast

as Nan Spencer *

as Rosita Rivas * John Payne as Jay Williams *

as Monte Blanca * Cobina Wright as Terry McCracken * George Barbier as Walter McCracken *

Sheldon Leonard Sheldon Leonard Bershad (February 22, 1907 – January 11, 1997) was an American film and television actor, producer, director, and screenwriter. Early life Sheldon Leonard Bershad was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of middle-class ...

as Boris *

Leonid Kinskey Leonid Kinskey (18 April 1903 – September 8, 1998) was a Russian-born American film and television actor, best known for his role as Sascha in the film ''Casablanca'' (1942). His last name was sometimes spelled Kinsky. Life and career Kinskey ...

as Rafael, a bellhop *

Chris-Pin Martin Chris-Pin Martin (born Ysabel Ponciana Chris-Pin Martin Paiz, November 19, 1893 – June 27, 1953) was an American character actor whose specialty lay in portraying comical Mexicans, particularly sidekicks in ''The Cisco Kid'' film series. ...

as Driver *

Billy Gilbert William Gilbert Barron (September 12, 1894 – September 23, 1971), known professionally as Billy Gilbert, was an American actor and comedian. He was known for his comic sneeze routines. He appeared in over 200 feature films, short subjects a ...

as Arbolado * Hal K. Dawson as Mr. Marks * William B. Davidson as Captain Moss *

Maurice Cass Maurice Cass (October 12, 1884 – June 8, 1954) was a character actor on stage and in films and television shows. Early life Born in Vilna, Russian Empire (modern day Vilnius, Lithuania) he moved to America at six years of age.New York, U. ...

as Tailor *

Leona Roberts Leona Roberts (born Leona Celinda Doty; July 26, 1879 – January 29, 1954) was an American stage and film actress. Life and career Roberts was born in Monroe Center, Ashtabula County, Ohio. She made her debut on Broadway in 1926 and appeare ...

as Passenger *

Harry Hayden Harry Hayden (8 November 1882 – 24 July 1955) was a Canadian-American actor. He was a highly prolific actor, with more than 280 screen credits. Career Born in Canada in 1882, Hayden was slight, greying at the temples and wore glasses, an ...

as Passenger *

Gino Corrado Gino Corrado (born Gino Liserani; 9 February 1893 – 23 December 1982) was an Italian-born film actor."Obituaries." '' Variety'' (Archive: 1905–2000); Los Angeles. Vol. 309, Iss. 10, (5 January 1983): 78–79. He appeared in more than 400 ...

as Baccarat Croupier *

Fred Malatesta Fred Malatesta (April 18, 1889 – April 8, 1952) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 110 films between 1915 and 1941. He was born in Naples, Italy, and died in Burbank, California. Selected filmography * ''Sherlock Holme ...

as Flores, Roulette Croupier * Mary Stuart as Dancer *

Virginia Davis Virginia Davis (December 31, 1918 – August 15, 2009) was an American child actress in films. She is best known for working with Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks on the animated short series ''Alice Comedies'', in which she portrayed the protagonist ...

as Dancer * Bonnie Bannon as Girl in Nightclub Image:Alice Faye in Week-End in Havana, 1941.jpg, Alice Faye Image:Carmen Miranda in Week-End in Havana, 1941.jpg, Carmen Miranda Image:John Payne in Week-End in Havana, 1941.jpg, John Payne Image:Cesar Romero in Week-End in Havana, 1941.jpg, Cesar Romero

Production

The film was a follow-up to ''

Down Argentine Way ''Down Argentine Way'' is a 1940 American musical film made in Technicolor by Twentieth Century Fox. It made a star of Betty Grable in her first leading role for the studio although she had already appeared in 31 films, and it introduced America ...

'' and ''

That Night in Rio ''That Night in Rio'' is a 1941 American Technicolor musical comedy film directed by Irving Cummings and starring Alice Faye, Don Ameche (in a dual role as an American entertainer and an aristocratic businessman he is asked to impersonate tempo ...

''. The working titles of the film were ''Caribbean Cruise'' and ''Honeymoon in Havana''. In early March 1941,

Betty Grable Elizabeth Ruth Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, model, and singer. Her 42 films during the 1930s and 1940s grossed more than $100 million, and for 10 consecutive years (1942–1951) she p ...

was scheduled to play Nan Spencer, and executive producer

Darryl F. Zanuck Darryl Francis Zanuck (; September 5, 1902December 22, 1979) was an American film producer and studio executive; he earlier contributed stories for films starting in the silent era. Best known as a co-founder of 20th Century Fox, he played a ...

suggested that

Henry Fonda Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor whose career spanned five decades on Broadway theatre, Broadway and in Hollywood. On screen and stage, he often portrayed characters who embodied an everyman image. Bo ...

play Jay Williams. The March 17, 1941 ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'' also noted that Grable and Fonda were set for the lead roles, while the May 2, 1941 ''The Hollywood Reporter'' stated that

Don Ameche Don Ameche (; born Dominic Felix Amici; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an American actor, comedian and vaudevillian. After playing in college shows, repertory theatre, and vaudeville, he became a major radio star in the early 19 ...

would have a lead role. The same publication reported in late 1940 that Jack Andrews and

George Seaton George Seaton (April 17, 1911 – July 28, 1979) was an American screenwriter, playwright, film director and producer, and theater director. Seaton led several industry organizations, serving as a three-time president of the Motion Picture Aca ...

were to work on the film's screenplay. Although the extent of Seaton's contribution to the completed picture has not been confirmed, the Twentieth Century-Fox Records of the Legal Department, indicate that Andrews' material was not used. The legal records also indicate that an original story outline entitled ''Caribbean Cruise'', written by

Frank S. Nugent Frank Stanley Nugent (May 27, 1908 – December 29, 1965) was an American screenwriter, journalist, and film reviewer. He wrote 21 film scripts, 11 for director John Ford. He wrote almost a thousand reviews for ''The New York Times'' before lea ...

, was not used. The story files and ''The Hollywood Reporter'' articles reveal that first

Harry Joe Brown Harry Joe Brown (September 22, 1890 – April 28, 1972) was an American film producer, and earlier a theatre direction, theatre and film director. Biography Harry Joe Brown was born in 1890 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As a producer, he had a p ...

and then Fred Kohlmar were set to produce the picture. When Kohlmar left to work at

Paramount Paramount (from the word ''paramount'' meaning "above all others") may refer to: Entertainment and music companies * Paramount Global, also known simply as Paramount, an American mass media company formerly known as ViacomCBS. **Paramount Picture ...

William LeBaron William LeBaron (February 16, 1883February 9, 1958) was an American film producer, lyricist, librettist, playwright, and screenwriter. LeBaron authored several plays for Broadway; including the books and lyrics for several musicals in addit ...

assumed production responsibilities. This was the first film produced by LeBaron for Twentieth Century-Fox. ''The Hollywood Reporter'' reported that the studio had tested

Phillip Reed Phillip Reed (born Milton LeRoy; March 25, 1908 – December 7, 1996) was an American actor. He played Steve Wilson in a series of four films (1947–1948) based on the '' Big Town'' radio series. Early years Reed was a star athlete at Er ...

for a role and were considering casting him in the picture, and that Mal St. Clair had been signed to direct the musical sequences. Their participation in the released picture has not been confirmed, however. According to studio records and ''The Hollywood Reporter'', "long shots with doubles, atmospheric shots and process plates" were filmed on location in

Havana Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.Alice Faye Alice Faye (born Alice Jeanne Leppert; May 5, 1915 – May 9, 1998) was an American actress and singer. A musical star of 20th Century-Fox in the 1930s and 1940s, Faye starred in such films as '' On the Avenue'' (1937) and ''Alexander's Ragtime ...

was going to retire from the screen temporarily while awaiting the birth of her first child. Faye returned from retirement for ''

Hello Frisco, Hello ''Hello, Frisco, Hello'' is a 1943 American musical film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring Alice Faye, John Payne, Lynn Bari, and Jack Oakie. The film was made in Technicolor and released by 20th Century-Fox. This was one of the las ...

'' (1943). According to information in the

Motion Picture Production Code The Motion Picture Production Code was a set of industry guidelines for the self-censorship of content that was applied to most motion pictures released by major studios in the Cinema of the United States, United States from 1934 to 1968. It ...

, the PCA rejected a May 14, 1941, version of the script because of "the inference of an illicit sex relationship" between Rosita and Monte, and Jay and Nan, and the indication that Rosita wished to enter into such a relationship with Jay. The PCA especially objected to the use of the words "manage" and "manager" in respect to the relationships between Rosita, Monte and Jay. In June 1941, the PCA informed the studio: "We still get the impression that the word 'manage' is so used, or over-used, that one gets the feeling that it is intended to mean something which is sex suggestive." The problems were eventually resolved and the script approved.

Reception

In its release week, the film went to the top of the box office (at $25,000) and topped ''

Citizen Kane ''Citizen Kane'' is a 1941 American Drama (film and television), drama film directed by, produced by and starring Orson Welles and co-written by Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz. It was Welles's List of directorial debuts, first feature film. ...

'', which was in its second week of release ($9,000; $10,015 in the first week). In his review of the film for ''The New York Times'',

Bosley Crowther Francis Bosley Crowther Jr. (July 13, 1905 – March 7, 1981) was an American journalist, writer, and film critic for ''The New York Times'' for 27 years. His work helped shape the careers of many actors, directors and screenwriters, though some ...

wrote "a slight improvement is noted in the simple plot this time...and as usual, Fox has filled it with color and rhythm and songs. Of the latter the final number, ''The Nango'', sung by Miss Miranda and danced by dozens of flashy girls and boys, is far and away the best."

Soundtrack

* "A Week-End in Havana" ** Music by Harry Warren ** Lyrics by Mack Gordon ** Sung by Carmen Miranda in the opening number with chorus and band ** Reprised by an offscreen chorus during the montage in Havana ** Played as background music often * "Rebola a Bola (Embolada)" ** Music by Aloysio De Oliveira and Nestor Amaral ** Lyrics by Francisco Eugenio Brant Horta ** Sung in Portuguese by Carmen Miranda in a nightclub * "When I Love, I Love" ** Music by Harry Warren ** Lyrics by Mack Gordon ** Sung by Carmen Miranda at a nightclub * "Tropical Magic" ** Music by Harry Warren ** Lyrics by Mack Gordon ** Spanish lyrics by Ernesto Piedra ** Sung in Spanish by an unidentified trio in a nightclub. Many historians agree that this trio consisted of Lamberto Leyva, Francisco Mayorga, Luis Santos, and Joseph Garcia. (The Guadalajara Trio.) ** Reprised by Alice Faye ** Reprised by Alice Faye and John Payne on a hay wagon ** Reprised a cappella by Leonid Kinskey ** Played as background music often * "Romance and Rhumba" ** Music by James V. Monaco ** Lyrics by Mack Gordon ** Sung by Alice Faye and Cesar Romero while dancing, the other dancers * "The Man with the Lollypop Song" ** Music by Harry Warren ** Lyrics by Mack Gordon ** Sung by lollipop vendor Nacho Galindo outside Arbolado's * "The Nango (Nyango)" ** Music by Harry Warren ** Lyrics by Mack Gordon ** Sung by Carmen Miranda at the nightclub ** Sung and danced to by the chorus ** Danced to by Alice Faye and John Payne * "The World Is Waiting to Waltz Again" ** Music by Harry Warren ** Lyrics by Mack Gordon ** Cut from the movie

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Week-End In Havana 1941 films 1941 musical films Films directed by Walter Lang 20th Century Fox films Films shot in Cuba American musical films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films English-language musical films