Down Argentine Way

The 1940 musical Down Argentine Way is really only notable for its great Carmen Miranda numbers and for the appearance of the Nicholas Brothers, both of whom are featured in diegetic numbers as the characters visit Argentine night life. There are also non-diegetic numbers in this musical, but I can't say I had any interest in them. The title song "Down Argentine Way" was nominated for an Oscar for reasons I could not explain if I tried.

Charlotte Greenwood is a strange performer. In Down Argentine Way she plays the comic sidekick/Ado Annie part. I can't say I laughed at many of her jokes, but she has some interesting dance moves and a serviceable voice.

The entire enterprise of Down Argentine Way is that trying on of other bodies, especially those deemed ethnic by Hollywood or "America" at large. Grable sings about Argentina and Ameche speaks Spanish-inflected English (if not Argentinian Spanish-inflected English).

In any case, the whole thing is pleasant enough, Don Ameche is handsome and has a great smile (as always), and the Nicholas Brothers and Miranda are excellent.