''Estudantes'' is a Brazilian musical comedy film directed by Wallace Downey and starring

Carmen Miranda Carmen Miranda, (; born Maria do Carmo Miranda da Cunha, 9 February 1909 – 5 August 1955) was a Portuguese-born Brazilian samba singer, dancer, Broadway actress and film star who was active from the late 1920s onwards. Nicknamed "The B ...

, Barbosa Júnior,

Mesquitinha Mesquitinha (born Olympio Bastos; 19 April 1902 – 10 June 1956) was a Portuguese-born Brazilian actor, comedian and director. He appeared in a number of Chanchadas during the 1930s and 1940s including '' Hello, Hello, Brazil!'' (1935) and '' ...

and Mário Reis. Initially titled Folia de Estudantes, this motion picture was shot entirely in a single week at the studios and labs of Cinédia. It premiered on July 8, 1935 at The Cine Alhambra, in Rio de Janeiro. It played in most theaters for two weeks. It was also shown in São Paulo, at Cine Odeon (Sala Vermelha), debuting on July 15 of that year. Viewed historically as a lost film, as of 2017, no prints of this motion picture are known to exist.

Plot

, in her role as a radio singer named Mimi, is seen courted by three students.

Production

The film was a co-production of Waldow Filmes and

Cinédia Cinédia (originally called the Cinearte studios) was a Brazilian film studio established on 15 March 1930 in Rio de Janeiro, and remained in continual operation until 1951. Between 1930 and 1945, Cinédia averaged two films a year, with a high o ...

studios, directed by Wallace Downey and based on a script by musicians João de Barro and Alberto Ribeiro. The setting is at a student residence within a university. The Mimi character was

's debut acting role on film. She also sings in the movie. The crooner romantically pursuing her is played by Mário Reis. Two other students, played by Mesquetinha and Bárbosa Júnior, also vie for her affections, giving rise to a wealth of comic incidents. Although the film's soundtrack featured well-known carnival "marchas" and sambas, it was not designed to tie in with any annual celebrations. The film was an example of so-called 'mid-year' productions (de meio de ano), the premieres of which were often timed to coincide with the 'festas juninas' or popular Catholic festivals held in June. Inspired by the success of this film, other vehicles for carnival music, the 'mid-year' musicals, were created as publicity tools to promote the radio and record industries. "Estudantes" featured musical numbers associated with popular religious celebrations. The song 'Cadê Mimi?' (Where's Mimi?), performed by Mário Reis as he serenades Carmen Miranda's character, subsequently became a huge hit throughout Brazil.

Cast

Carmen Miranda e Barbosa Júnior em Estudantes - 1935

... Mimi * Barbosa Júnior ... Flores *

... Ramalhete * Mário Reis ... Mário * Almirante ... Himself * Ivo Astolphi ... Himself (as

Bando da Lua Bando da Lua was a Brazilian band that made recordings from 1933-1954, notable for being Carmen Miranda's band. It was formed by Aloísio de Oliveira Aloísio or Aloysio de Oliveira (December 30, 1914 – February 4, 1995), also known as Louis ...

) * Simão Boutman ... Himself * Hervê Cordovil ... Himself * Aloysio De Oliveira ... Himself (as Bando da Lua) * Oswaldo de Moraes Eboli ... Himself (as Bando da Lua) * Jaime Ferreira * Silva Filho * Adélia Fontes * Hélio Jordão ... Himself (as Bando da Lua) * Benedito Lacerda ... Himself * César Ladeira ... Locutor * Nina Marina * Silvinha Melo ... Herself *

Aurora Miranda Aurora Miranda da Cunha Richaid (20 April 1915 – 22 December 2005) was a Brazilian singer and actress. She began her career at the age of 18 in 1933. Miranda appeared in several films, including ''The Three Caballeros'', where she danced with ...

... Herself * Jorge Murad * Afonso Osório ... Himself (as Bando da Lua) * Armando Osório ... Himself (as Bando da Lua) * Stênio Osório ... Himself (as Bando da Lua) * Carmem Silva ... Herself * Sílvio Silva ... Teacher * Haroldo Tapajós ... Himself (as Irmãos Tapajós) * Paulo Tapajós ... Himself (as Irmãos Tapajós) * Jeanette Weyting * Dulce Weytingh

Critical reception

''Estudantes'' received mixed reviews. An anonymous P. de L., writing for the Rio newspaper ''

O Globo ''O Globo'' (, ''The Globe'') is a Brazilian newspaper based in Rio de Janeiro. ''O Globo'' is the most prominent print publication in the Grupo Globo media conglomerate. Founded by journalist Irineu Marinho, owner of ''A Noite'', it was orig ...

'' on 25 June 1935, called it a retrograde step in relation to " Alô, alô, Brasil!". Alfredo Sade, writing in the Rio-based publication ''A Batalha'' in July 1935, argued that ''Estudantes'' was a far superior film. He praised the quality of photography and the sound in what he termed this 'very Brazilian musical comedy'. Another anonymous review by a certain A. F. in the newspaper ''Diário Português'' of July 1935 argued that Estudantes's greatest value was its spontaneity and the promise that it and its young creators represented for the future of the cinema industry in Brazil. This potential was to be more fully realised in Cinédia's next production, '' Alô, Alô, Carnaval!''.

Musical numbers

* Linda Mimi ... Performed by Mário Reis * Sonho de Papel ... Performed by Carmen Miranda * E Bateu-se a Chapa ... Performed by Carmen Miranda * Onde Está o Seu Carneirinho? ... Performed by Aurora Miranda * Linda Ninon ... Performed by Aurora Miranda * Ele ou Eu ... Performed by Silvinha Melo & Irmãos Tapajós * Lulu ... Performed by Bando da Lua * Assim Como o Rio ... Performed by Almirante

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0026323 1935 musical comedy films 1935 films Brazilian musical comedy films 1930s Portuguese-language films Lost Brazilian films Cinédia films Brazilian black-and-white films 1935 lost films