''Week-End in

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

'' (also known as ''A Week-End in Havana'' and ''That Week-End in Havana'') is a 1941

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Disn ...

Technicolor Technicolor is a series of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes, the first version dating back to 1916, and followed by improved versions over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black and white films ...

musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the 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 serve merely as brea ...

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 piq ...

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 B ...

and

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 Br ...

. It was the second of three pictures the two stars made together and the second Faye film to have a Latin-American theme, typical of Fox musicals of the early 1940s. Faye was pregnant during filming.

Plot

When his cruise ship, the Cuban Queen, runs aground near Florida on its way to Havana, New York ocean liner 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 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 Cesar Julio Romero Jr. (February 15, 1907 – January 1, 1994) was an American actor and activist. He was active in film, radio, and television for almost sixty years. His wide range of screen roles included Latin lovers, historical figures in c ...

) 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 girl friend, 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 Cobina Wright, Sr. (born Esther Ellen Cobb, September 20, 1887 – April 9, 1970) was an American opera singer and actress who appeared in ''The Razor's Edge'' (1946). She gained later fame as a hostess and a syndicated gossip columnist. ...

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-cla ...

as Boris *

Leonid Kinskey Leonid Kinskey (1893/1894 – 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 *

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 ...

as Arbolado * Muriel Page as Maria, a guest 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'' and ''

That Night in Rio ''That Night in Rio'' is a 1941 Technicolor American 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 tempora ...

''. 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; for 10 consecutive years (1942–1951) she reign ...

was scheduled to play Nan Spencer, and executive producer Darryl F. Zanuck suggested that

Henry Fonda Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor. He had a career that spanned five decades on Broadway and in Hollywood. He cultivated an everyman screen image in several films considered to be classics. Born and ra ...

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 Hollywood film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade paper, and in 2010 switched to a weekly large ...

'' 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, stock, and vaudeville, he became a major radio star in the early 1930s, which ...

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 theatre director. Life and career Early life Seaton was born George Edward Stenius in South Bend, Indiana, of Swedish des ...

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

William LeBaron William LeBaron (February 16, 1883February 9, 1958) was an American film producer. LeBaron's film credits included '' Cimarron'', which won the Academy Award for Outstanding Production at the 4th Academy Awards ceremony for 1930/1931. LeBaron a ...

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 (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

and the Cuban countryside. Second unit director James Havens and his crew were on location for approximately one month. The September 26, 1941 ''The Hollywood Reporter'' reported that

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 last ...

'' (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 United States from 1934 to 1968. It is also popularly known as the ...

, 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 the now-classic ''

Citizen Kane ''Citizen Kane'' is a 1941 American drama film produced by, directed by, and starring Orson Welles. He also co-wrote the screenplay with Herman J. Mankiewicz. The picture was Welles' first feature film. ''Citizen Kane'' is frequently cited ...

'', 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 ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'',

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 his ...

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 picture)

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