Newly-elected president Franklin Delano Roosevelt pledged, in his inaugural address on 04 March 1933, that, "In the field of world policy I would dedicate this nation to the policy of the good neighbor--the neighbor who resolutely respects himself and, because he does so, respects the rights of others." This “Good Neighbors” policy, primarily intended to safeguard American interests in Latin America, supported initiatives of Pan-Americanism, strong local leaders, the training of national guards, economic and cultural penetration, export-import bank loans, and financial supervision. Hollywood filmmakers looked south for inspiration, and created films that demonstrated a warm affection for our southern neighbors. All films are free, and are shown at the Wolfsonian-FIU, 1001 Washington Av.
Friday 16 January, 7:00 pm
Down Argentine Way
As the United States was being drawn closer into war in both Europe and Asia, Hollywood studios were encouraged to make films demonstrating a warm affection for our southern neighbors, and one of the first to appear under this plan was Twentieth Century-Fox’s Down Argentine Way, filmed on location in Argentina (although the film also contains Hollywood filming loctions.)
In this, her first leading role for Fox, Betty Grable became a nationwide sensation (and the famous WWII pinup girl with the million-dollar legs), and paired with co-star Don Ameche and a glorious Technicolor process, Down Argentine Way was a box-office success. The film also includes rousing dance numbers by the Nicholas Brothers, and introduced American audiences to a Brazilian wonder named Carmen Miranda.
Director: Irving Cummings, 1940
Running time: 88 minutes
Saturday 17 January, 2:00 pm
Saludos Amigos (presented in English)
In the summer of 1941, Walt Disney and 18 artists departed for various stops in South America, including Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. Using the thousands of sketches and miles of 16-mm film they created, four short cartoons were eventually animated that were combined with live-action footage to create Saludos Amigos.
The film’s four segments include Lake Titicaca, with Donald Duck being a pesky tourist around the elevated lake; Pedro brings a tiny airplane to life, who must fly the treacherous Chilean Andes mountains to deliver the mail; El Gaucho Goofy introduces us to the cowboys that roam the Argentine pampas; and in Aquarela do Brasil, José Carioca introduces Donald Duck to the samba rhythms of Brazil.
Director: Walt Disney, 1942
Running time: 42 minutes
Sunday 18 January, noon
Quirino Cristiani: The Mystery of the First Animated Movies
film pioneer Quirino Cristiani discovered the craft of animation on his own, far from the experimental artists of Europe or the commercial constraints and glamour of Hollywood. He created the world's first animated feature films as well as the first animated feature film with sound—two decades before Walt Disney’s first full-length animated feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfsfifires.
Quirino Cristiani: The Mystery of the First Animated Moviesfilm: a satirical sketch from 1919 and an amazing Making of ‘Peludópolis’film to chart the life and work of Cristiani, who died in Bernal, Argentina, in 1984.
Filmmaker Gabriele Zucchelli has worked as an animator since 1994, for television, musical featurettes, various commercials, and feature films such as The Magic Sword, The Tigger Movie, The Road to Eldorado, Spirit, the Stallion of the Cimmarron, Dinotopia, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azcaban, Alien vs Predator, and Batman Returns.
Director: Gabriele Zucchelli, 2007
Running time: 88 minutes
Sunday 18 January, 4:00 pm
Saludos Amigos (presented in Spanish)
In order to reach a wide pan-American audience, Saludos Amigos (see Saturday 17 January) was created with soundtracks in both English and Spanish.This performance will feature the Spanish language version.
Director: Walt Disney, 1942
Running time: 42 minutes