[Publius]

THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK

HARRY WARREN

THAT NIGHT IN RIO

In 1940, after 32 year old Nelson Rockefeller expressed concern to FDR over Nazi influence in Latin America, President Roosevelt appointed him to the new position of Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs. Rockefeller was charged with overseeing a program of US cooperation with the nations of Latin America to achieve better relations and counter rising Nazi influence. The Roosevelt Administration encouraged Hollywood to produce films to encourage positive relations with Latin America. The decision to put Rockefeller in this slot was an inspired choice. He was fluent in Spanish and knew the movers and shakers of Latin America because of the family’s Venezuelan oil properties.

With another war on the horizon, Rockefeller and Roosevelt believed it was critical for America to treat its neighbors to the south as friends, not vassals. They remembered that in 1895, Japan almost established a naval base in Baja California until Admiral Mahan and the Cleveland Administration put a stop to it. Having a German or Japanese base in the Western Hemisphere would create a dangerous distraction were we to be drawn into the war, particularly with the Panama Canal being a prime military target. Thus was born the Good Neighbor Policy. FDR took credit, as was befitting a president on his watch, but Nelson Rockefeller was the architect.

One stop for Rockefeller was Walt Disney’s studio, where he encouraged the successful animator to create a South American cartoon character and place him in a film. Thus was born Jose Carioca and the animated film “Saludo Amigos.”

Another stop was Fox, where he encouraged Daryl Zanuck to create a Fox musical dedicated to South America. Thus was born “That Night in Rio.”

“CHICA CHICA BOOM CHIC”

The first half of this song defines “camp.” Mack Gordon’s nonsense lyrics have become immortal, and they received a new life in “The Shape of Water.” The second half, sung by Don Ameche, is pre-war propaganda.

Carmen Miranda & Don Ameche: “Chica Chica Boom Chic”

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Publius, for more of Harry Warren and The Great American Songbook. ((HUGS))

And thanks for the story behind “Saludo Amigos”. I never knew.

[Fiji Hill]

I first saw Saludos Amigos in the theater at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. Quite an impressive film.