Los martes, orquídeas (On Tuesdays, Orchids) is a 1941 Argentine black and white comedy film directed by Francisco Múgica and starring Mirtha Legrand, Enrique Serrano, Juan Carlos Thorry and Nuri Montsé. It won the Argentine Best Picture award for 1941. It was remade as the Hollywood classic You Were Never Lovelier (1942), starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth.[2][3]
| Los martes, orquídeas | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster[1] | |
| Directed by | Francisco Múgica |
| Screenplay by | Francisco Oyarzábal |
| Story by | Carlos A. Olivari Sixto Pondal Ríos |
| Starring | Mirtha Legrand Enrique Serrano Juan Carlos Thorry |
| Cinematography | Alfredo Traverso |
| Music by | Enrique Delfino |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Lumiton |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | Argentina |
| Language | Spanish |
In a survey of the 100 greatest films of Argentine cinema carried out by the Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken in 2000, the film reached the 27th position.[4] In 2022, the film was included in Spanish magazine Fotogramas's list of the 20 best Argentine films of all time.[5]
Synopsis
editElenita, the youngest of four sisters in a well-off family, is a shy, romantic and lonely lady. To try to bring her to life, her father sends her a bouquet of orchids each week, so she will think she has a secret admirer.[6] At the same time, her father hires a young, unemployed actor to pose as the wealthy suitor. Comic situations start to slowly develop, as he dresses in fancy clothes, rides a horse and attends a party thrown by Elenita's family. By the time the ruse comes to light, the young couple have fallen in love and decided to marry. The father expects that his daughter will reject the young man when she learns he is poor and of Italian origin, but to his dismay she accepts him as he is.[7]
Cast
edit
The full cast was:[8]
- Enrique Serrano
- Juan Carlos Thorry
- Nuri Montsé
- Felisa Mary
- Mirtha Legrand (as Elenita)
- Ana Arneodo
- Silvana Roth
- Zully Moreno
- Juan Mangiante
- Eva Guerrero
- René Pocoví
- Horacio Priani
- Domingo Márquez
- Alfredo Jordan
- José Herrero
- Jorge Salcedo
Production
editLos martes, orquídeas was produced by Lumiton studios. The script, written by Francisco Oyarzábal, was based on a simple yet effective story by Carlos A. Olivari and Sixto Pondal Ríos.
Although the stars were Enrique Serrano, Juan Carlos Thorry and Nuri Montsé, the film introduced Mirtha Legrand as Elenita, in her first leading role, which catapulted her to fame.[6]
Reception
editLos martes, orquídeas was considered the best comedy that had been made in Argentina to date. It launched the career of the young Mirtha Legrand,[9] and remains a classic in the country's film history.
Awards
editThe Argentine Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences gave a number of awards for the film:[10]
- Best Film: Lumiton
- Best original story: Pondal Sixto Ríos and Carlos Olivari
- Special mention: Mirtha Legrand
Remakes
editColumbia Pictures used the film as the basis for You Were Never Lovelier (1942), starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth.[2][3] It was also remade as the mexican romantic drama Una joven de 16 años ("A Sixteen Year Old Girl", 1963).[3]
References
edit- ^ "Los martes, orquídeas" (in Spanish). Lumiton. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ a b Parkinson 2007, p. 44.
- ^ a b c The return of Los martes orquídeas, but without Mirtha 06-02-2018, La Nación (in Spanish)
- ^ "Las 100 mejores del periodo 1933-1999 del Cine Argentino". La mirada cautiva (3). Buenos Aires: Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken: 6–14. 2000. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022 – via Encuesta de cine argentino 2022 on Google Drive.
- ^ Borrull, Mariona (17 July 2022). "Las 20 mejores películas argentinas de la historia". Fotogramas (in Spanish). Madrid: Hearst España. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ a b Los martes orquideas, Todo Argentina.
- ^ Karush 2012, p. 131.
- ^ On Tuesdays, Orchids, IMDb.
- ^ Plazaola 1989, p. 142.
- ^ ARCHIVO · Premios Anuales 1941 - 1953.
Sources
edit- "ARCHIVO · Premios Anuales 1941 - 1953" (in Spanish). Academia de Artes y Ciencias Cinematográficas. Archived from the original on 31 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2014.
- Karush, Matthew B. (15 May 2012). Culture of Class: Radio and Cinema in the Making of a Divided Argentina, 1920–1946. Duke University Press. p. 131. ISBN 978-0-8223-5264-8. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- "Los martes orquideas". Todo Argentina. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- "On Tuesdays, Orchids". IMDb. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- Parkinson, David (1 August 2007). The Rough Guide to Film Musicals. Rough Guides. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-7566-4712-4. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- Plazaola, Luis Trelles (1 January 1989). South American Cinema/ Cine De America Del Sur: Dictionary of Film Makers/ Diccionario De Los Productores De Peliculas. La Editorial, UPR. ISBN 978-0-8477-2011-8. Retrieved 1 June 2014.