12 July 1959 - Spanish by birth but Brazilian by virtue Oscarito was 53 years old but still could be funny in 'Esse milhão é meu' (This million is mine) directed by Carlos Manga for Atlantida; singer Francisco Carlos tries his best not to be wooden; comedian show-girl Sonia Mamede could be funny impersonating poor people from Brazil's northeast... and Zezé Macedo was always good no matter what she did; on 15 July 1959 it inaugurates Cine Sol on Avenida Ataliba Leonel, 1772 at Carandiru.
15 July 1959 - the greatest of them all: 'The Ten Commandments' (Os 10 Mandamentos) finally premieres at Cine Ipiranga almost 3 years after it had opened in New York's Criterion Theater on 8 November 1956. It was the highest-grossing film of 1956 in the USA. By April 1957, it had earned an unprecedented $10 million from engagement at just 80 theatres, averaging $1 million per week. It played on a roadshow basis with reserved seating until mid-1958, when it finally entered general release. That's why it took 3 years to reach the South American market. When it was finally released here, Cecil B.DeMille had already died - 21 January 1959. At Cine Ipiranga 'The 10 Commendments' was shown twice a day: at 3:00 PM and at 8:30 PM.
2nd August 1959 - Brazilian capitalists didn't support the shooting of 'Black Orpheus' and lost out on a gold mine. The Brazilian cringing colonized mind could not believe the world was interested in Brazilian Black Culture... something they had always despised.
15 August 1959 - Cinerama finally gets to Brazil... the newest sensation where they had 3 projecting booths and a whole stereo system wired into the theatre for maximum effect on the spectator. It was bigger than CinemaScope, it was bigger than anything shown on the wide screen so far.
'This is Cinerama' premiered on 30 September 1952 at the New York Broadway theatre in NYC, Sao Paulo was just 8 years behind schedule... well, never mind, it was such a great spectacle...
23rd August 1959 - Coming right after the box-office success of ''O vampiro da noite' (Horror of Dracula) - 'A vingança de Frankenstein' (The revenge of Frankenstein) scared the shit out of adult Brazilians - it was released for mature audiences only which meant 'not suitable for those under 18 years old'. Peter Cushing plays the infamous doctor Frankestein again for it was a sequel to 'The curse of Frankenstein', Hammer Studio's 1957 adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel 'Frankenstein'.
Peter Cushing as the infamous Dr. Frankenstein is up to no good... as usual.
30 August 1959 - yet another Zé Trindade vehicle that went really well with the male public. Zé played the proverbial 'dirty old man' most of the time; some times he looked straight into the camera to tell the male audience something verging on dirty... 'Espirito de porco' (Swine's spirit) must have been more of the same.
30 August 1959 - based on a 1933 novel by Fannie Hurst 'Imitation of life' director's Douglas Sirk last ouvre starring Lana Turner, John Gavin, Susan Kohner as the tortured mulatto soul, Juanita Moore as her suffering Black mother. Gospel music star Mahalia Jackson sings at the funeral rituals accompanied by Earl Grant at the organ. Not a single dry eye in the whole cinema. This was the 2nd film adaptation of the novel; the 1st was released in 1934 and starred Claudette Colbert.
Juanita Moore as Annie Johnson & Susan Khorner as Sarah Jane.
1934's Delilah x 1959's Annie.
30 August 1959 - Walt Disney studios release 'The sign of Zorro' (O signo do Zorro) starring dashing Guy Williams - it was actually edited from 8 episodes of Disney's hit TV series started in October 1957 in the USA. The series would only reach Brazilian TV circa 1961. Guy Williams plays Don Diego de la Vega and his alter-ego Zorro himself; Gene Sheldon plays faithful Bernardo who was mute but pretended he was deaf as well; Henry Calvin plays fat Sergeant Garcia; Britt Lomond plays spiteful Captain Monastario and George J.Lewis plays Don Alejandro de la Vega, Don Diego's father.
30 August 1959 - based on a Leon Tolstoi novel 'Ressureição' (Die Auferstehung) a German-French-Italian co-production starring Horzt Buchholz and Myriam Bru had been more succesfull at 'Folha de S.Paulo's popularity poll Bolsa de Cinema than the 'other' Tolstoi film 'War and peace'. I remember having almost seen it in 1961, when I was 12 years old. You see, I used to go to Sunday matinees at a movie theatre next to Calvary Church managed by Passionist priests in Pinheiros, They usually showed light stuff like Laurel & Hardy, Jerry Lewis' garbage, musicals etc. This particular Sunday they would show 'Ressurection' that the priests obviously thought it was about Christ's own ressurection. When half-way through the movie they realized the movie was too hot for kids they stopped the session and told everyone to go home.
23rd August 1959 - Universal's remake of 1934's 'Immitation of life' is trumpted as a great event; Lana Turner re-plays Claudette Colbert's role and Juanita Moore re-plays Louise Beavers oiginal role as the Black mother.
13 September 1959 - Columbia Picture's 'Salomé' with stunning Rita Hayworth playing the dancer was unforgettable. I could never forget the scene the beheaded part of John the Baptist is brought to the court while Salome danced to Herodes, played masterly by Charles Laughton. I remember I hated him with all my might. Judith Anderson is also remarkable.
20 September 1959 - At low-profile Cine Jussara, Ingmar Bergman's 1953's masterpiece 'Sommaren med Monika' (Monica e o desejo) with Harriet Anderson & Lars Ekborg.
24 September 1959 - Spanish cinema was at the top of its popularity in Brazil in 1959... Joselito in 'Saeta' (O canto do rouxinol) drew great crowds to the movie houses...
3 October 1959 - eagerly awaited 'La violetera' with super-star Sara Montiel finally premieres at Cine Rivoli - the same movie-house that showed 'Marcelino pan y vino' and 'Saeta'.
3 October 1959 - Brazilian (Paulista actually) film about football players 'O preço da vitoria' (Victory's price) to cash in on Brazil's having won FIFA's 1958's World Championship in Sweden. No big movie star in it but some lacklustre Sao Paulo TV personalities like wooden MC Randal Juliano, radio & TV Record owner himself Paulo Machado de Carvalho and Vicente Feola; musical numbers by Paulista folk singer Inezita Barroso and 'white' sambista Germano Mathias.
11 October 1959 - Rio de Janeiro's Herbert Richers could not stop producing comedies like 'Garota enxuta' with Ankito & Grande Otelo... introducing lovely Nelly Martins in the title-role and a host of musical numbers - not less than 22 tunes - that kept the vast audience in thrall. Old timers Orlando Silva, Moreira da Silva, Nuno Roland, Jararaca alongside younger acts like Morgana, Agostinho dos Santos and Trio Irakitan.
11 October 1959 - Toho Films 1957 production, released to Japanese theatres on 28 December 1957 and to American audiences on 15 May 1959.
16 October 1959 - Buena Vista's 'Zorro the avenger' with Guy Williams that would become really popular as a TV series soon.
16 October 1959 - MGM's blockbuster 'Ben-Hur' would open in Rio on 27 October 1959.
25 October 1959 - Atlantida presents '...E o espetáculo continua!' in which Cyll Farney gets top billing over Eliana for the first time... John Herbert, Doris Monteiro & Zezé Macedo on supporting roles.
Eliana & Doris Monteiro.
Odete Lara, Herval Rossano & Alda Garrido.
Colé does his best vaudeville act in 'Dona Xêpa'.
Agostinho dos Santos charms the audience with his suave personality...
21 Novembro 1959 - based on a play by Abilio Pereira de Almeida 'Moral em concordata' had Odete Lara & Maria Della Costa two hottest Brazilian actresses; Maria had been the top theatre actress for 2 years in a row and Odete Lara who started as a TV presenter was becoming a really good performer. Jardel Filho had that Marlon Brando feel in him... even his torn T-shirt reminded that of Marlon's.
6 December 1959 - Before 1959 was over Carlos Manga's 'O homem do Sputnik' with Oscarito was released by Atlantida. It is considered one of the best musical-comedies of all time by most experts. It's funny to realize that the 'genre' itself had its days numbered but it was still producing one of its gems. 'O homem do Sputnik' has got everything going for it: Oscarito portrays a simple man who strikes gold - in this case the famous Russian satellite falls on top of his house; Zezé Macedo plays the cantankerous wife; Neide Aparecida is the engenue and Cyll Farney the good-looking guy; former show girl Norma Benguel is the 'femme fatale' Brigitte Bardot style; great Heloisa Helena only adds to the fun... comedian Jo Soares plays the US spy and Hamilton Ferreira the Russian bad guys.
20 December 1959 - Herbert Richers does it again with 'Massagista de Madame'... a perfect Ze Trindade vehicle featuring Renata Fronzi as Madame plus marvelous Nancy Wanderley and introducing new comedian Costinha.
Zé Trindade gets into trouble in the end... Iris Bruzzi & Nancy Wanderley get him good & proper.
Renata Fronzi & everyone else against Zé Trindade.
3rd January 1960 - daily O Estado de S.Paulo reviews 1959 in few words...
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