Adorning and Whitening: Carmen Miranda’s Technicolor

Pierre-Olivier Toulza

Carmen Miranda in "O Que É Que A Baiana Tem ?", Banana da Terra (Sonofilmes, 1939).

Clip from Doll Face (Twentieth Century-Fox, 1945). 

"Give Me a Band and a Bandana," Greenwich Village (Twentieth Century-Fox, 1945). In this clip, Miranda sings a few lines of one of her Brazilian hits "O Que É Que A Baiana Tem?"

Clip from "Baião," Luiz Gonzaga and Humberto Teixeira (1946). The English version by Ray Gilbert was sung by Miranda in the number "Caroom Pa Pa" in Nancy Goes to Rio (MGM, 1950). The same year, she recorded the song with the Andrews Sisters.

"Caroom Pa Pa," Nancy Goes to Rio (MGM, 1950).

Last shot of "The Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat," The Gang's All Here (Twentieth Century-Fox, 1943). 

"A Week-End in Havana," Week-End in Havana (Twentieth Century-Fox, 1941).

The effacement and apparition of the pink of Miranda's costume in "Give Me a Band and a Bandana," Greenwich Village.

Hand movements in "Pan Americana Jubilee," Springtime in the Rockies (Twentieth Century-Fox, 1942). The framing conceals some of the dancing.

Concealment of the lower body in "The Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat." 

"Chica Chica Boom Chic," That Night in Rio (Twentieth Century-Fox, 1941). 

Colored lighting in two shots of "Chica Chica Boom Chic."

Play of light and reflections in "Batucada," If I'm Lucky (Twentieth Century-Fox, 1946). Sascha Brastoff used plastic to design Miranda's iridescent costume.

"Cai Cai," That Night in Rio.

Alice Faye in "They Met in Rio," That Night in Rio. According to American Cinematographer, "the composition is definitely harmed by the presence in the extreme background of an extra woman in a too strongly blue gown." 

"The Ñango," Week-End in Havana. Insert shot of Alice Faye during the song.