THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1936 (Paramount, 1936)

[Jorge Finkielman <finki_1@xxxxxxxxx>]

  Que tal:

  In May, 1936, Paramount Pictures released in Buenos
Aires their production titled THE BIG BROADCAST OF
1936. It was an unremarkable film, but still a
profitable product for the studio since it featured a
number of, then, well known American radio
personalities.

  Nobady ever cared for those people. The ONLY reason
to watch this movie was that Carlos Gardel in his last
appearance. In it, he performs two songs, APURE
DELANTERO BUEY and AMARGURA.

  While it was released in 1936, Gardel scenes were
filmed two years earlier. Paramount included his
scenes in order to make an undistinguished picture a
profitable product. Of course, Gardel speaks and sings
in Spanish.

  But there was an English version too.

  Of all the many stars that were featured in
Paramount's disastrous experience at the Joinville
studios, Carlos Gardel was the only one to survive.
The studio let him had his own production company and
he managed to have certain control of his movies.

  Paramount wanted Gardel to make films in English.
The zorzal orginally refused but he was under
contract. An agreement was reached: he would speak in
Enlgish but he would sung only the refrains in that
language. Once his contract expired, Gardel wanted to
continue his career in Argentina with his friend
Francisco Canaro.

  The Medellín tragedy changed everything.

  So, the american version of THE BIG BROADCAST OF
1936 is the only chance to watch and listen Gardel in
English. He performs the same songs of the Spanish
language version with the refrains in English.

  Although in reissue, for many years, this film is
lost. Exists, but Gardel have been removed from all
prints, probably for racist reasons. His scenes do
exist and those who have the chance to reinstate them
have never done it.

  His death prevented both EMI Odeon and RCA Victor to
print Gardel's two English language recordings.

  One is an unidentified theme recorded on March 20,
1935 and whose master disk number is BVE.89234-1.
Everybody believes that the song must be "Apure
delantero buey" partially in English.

  That recording must surface one day.

  The other version, happily, appeared not in New York
(where it was recorded), but in Buenos Aires. It is
titled "Cheating Muchachita" and is a version of
"Amargura" with the refrain in English. RCA Victor
printed it, for the very first time, in 1983.

  So, as I usually say: Restore Carlos Gardel scenes
in THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1936. Without him, the film is
worthless.


  In the meantime, is anybody interested to listen
Gardel singing in English?



  Saludos desde Peludópolis


  JORGE FINKIELMAN


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