It's rare for Americans to see Carmen when she's not wearing a baiana, the regional costume of Bahia. Here's a young Carmen letting her hair down in Brazil with her mentor, Josué de Barros.
The movie Copacabana is usually given one or two stars in TV guides. I think it's well worth watching for Carmen, though. It's one of the few movies that gave her a character to play who wasn't a Latin American stereotype. In addition to her "usual" character, Carmen dressed up as "Fifi", a glamorous Parisian chanteuse. I included this picture because the expression on her face gives some idea of the magnetism she had for the American public of the 30s and 40s.
If you're interested in finding out more about Carmen Miranda, the easiest way is to get a copy of Bananas Are My Business. It appeared on PBS last year and is a good, creative documentary on Carmen's life and impact. The only biography in English I have ever seen is Brazilian Bombshell: The Biography of Carmen Miranda by Martha Gil-Monteiro (ISBN 1-55611-128-2). Unfortunately, it is now out-of-print. Stay tuned for a discography of the Carmen that I have in my collection.
Last modified on 7/01/97
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