Original article reprinted by permission from Jorge Finkielman on Aug. 2, 2002

THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1936 (Paramount, 1936)

• To: AMIA-L@LSV.UKY.EDU
• Subject: THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1936 (Paramount, 1936)
• From: Jorge Finkielman <finki_1@YAHOO.COM>
• Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2001 08:05:34 -0700
• Reply-To: Association of Moving Image Archivists <AMIA-L@LSV.UKY.EDU>

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

__________________________________________________

• Re: THE BIG BROADCAST OF 1936 (Paramount, 1936)
  • From: Charles Hopkins <ch@UCLA.EDU>