Evita (film)

All you want to know about Evita (film)

This article is about the film Evita. For other uses, see Evita.
Evita

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Alan Parker
Produced by Alan Parker
Robert Stigwood
Written by Alan Parker
Oliver Stone
Tim Rice
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Starring Madonna
Antonio Banderas
Jonathan Pryce
Jimmy Nail
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Cinematography Darius Khondji
Editing by Gerry Hambling
Distributed by Hollywood Pictures
Cinergi Pictures
Release date(s) December 25, 1996 (limited)
January 10, 1997 (wide)
Running time 134 min.
Country Flag of the United States
Language English
Spanish
Budget $55 million
Gross revenue $193,047,179

Evita is the 1996 film adaptation of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical based on the life of Eva Perón. It was directed by Alan Parker and starred Madonna, Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Pryce. It was released on December 25, 1996 by Hollywood Pictures and Cinergi Pictures.

Contents

Plot

Madonna as Eva Perón in the film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Evita (1996).

Evita traces the life of Eva Duarte (later Eva Duarte de Perón) (Madonna) from a child from the lower class to becoming the first lady and spiritual leader of Argentina. Early in the film, Eva is seen as a small girl attempting to attend her father's funeral in the town of Junin with her mother and siblings. But her father's wife and other family (who are middle class) ban Eva's family from entering and carry Eva out screaming after she runs in on her own.

At age 15, Eva decides to leave Junin to seek a better life and hitches a ride to Buenos Aires with a tango singer, Augustin Magaldi, with whom she's having an affair. She progresses through several relationships with increasingly influential men until her fateful meeting with Colonel Juan Perón (Jonathan Pryce) at a fundraiser. Perón's connection with Eva lends him a populist air, since she is from the working class (as is Perón himself). Eva has a radio show during Perón's rise and uses all her skills to promote Perón, even when the controlling administration has him jailed to try and stunt his political momentum. The groundswelling of support Eva generates forces the government to release Perón and he finds the people enamored with him and Eva. Perón wins election to the presidency and Eva promises the new government will serve the "descamisados" (literally, "those without shirts"—i.e., the working poor). Eva establishes a foundation and distributes aid while the Perónists otherwise plunder the public treasury. Argentina is very class based and the military corps and social elites despise Eva's common roots and affinity for the poor. During a world tour Evita becomes ill and is rushed home. Towards the end of her life she understands she is terminally ill but rationalizes that her life was short because she shone like the "brightest fire" and helps Perón prepare to go on without her. The film ends with a large crowd surrounding the Casa Rosada in a candlelight vigil praying for her recovery when the light of her room goes out, signifying her death.

Cast

In addition, Mark Ryan, who played Magaldi in the original 1978 London stage production, appeared as a waiter and Billie Piper was an extra, notably appearing next to Perón in A New Argentina.

Production and casting

Discussion of the film production began soon after the original 1978 London production was staged. Several actresses were considered for the role. At one point, Lloyd Webber favoured an actress of Spanish descent to play the lead role and suggested Charo. Then Meryl Streep was offered the role, but production was delayed. Meanwhile, Madonna had been campaigning for the part but when Parker was ready for filming, several people objected to Madonna playing the part. Barbra Streisand, Glenn Close, Olivia Newton-John and Michelle Pfeiffer had also been rumored to be involved. Pfeiffer, who recorded a number of demo tracks, was almost cast, but director Alan Parker wanted to shoot the picture on location, not in Pfeiffer's preferred Hollywood sound studio.[1]

Filming began on February 1996 and it finished in May.[2] On set, Madonna received vocal training to ensure she was in the best possible voice.[3]

Soundtrack

Album

  1. Evita - The Motion Picture Music Soundtrack

Singles

  1. You Must Love Me - Madonna
  2. Don't Cry for Me, Argentina - Madonna
  3. Another Suitcase in Another Hall - Madonna
  4. Buenos Aires - Madonna

Awards

  • Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song (You Must Love Me).
  • Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Song from a Movie (Don't Cry For Me Argentina).
  • Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, Best Original Song and Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture.
  • LAFCA Award for Best Production Design.
  • Golden Satellite Award for Best Motion Picture, Best Motion Picture Costume Design and Outstanding Original Song.

Box office

Box office performance

Box Office Revenue
United States International Total Reference
$51,047,179 $91,000,000 $142,047,179 --

Reception

The film received a warm reception from many critics. It was nominated for five Academy Awards and won the award for "Best Song" for "You Must Love Me". Evita also had five Golden Globe nominations and three wins (Best Picture - Comedy or Musical; Best Original Song, "You Must Love Me"; and Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical, Madonna) and was one of the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films of the Year.

Following the success of the film, the government of Argentina released its own film biography of Peron, entitled "Eva Perón," to correct alleged distortions in the Lloyd Webber account.[4]

World record

The movie earned Madonna a Guinness World Record title, "Most costume changes in a film". Madonna broke Elizabeth Taylor's 1963 record for Cleopatra (65 costume changes), in her Golden Globe-winning turn as Eva Peron in Evita. She changed costumes 85 times (which included 39 hats, 45 pairs of shoes and 56 pairs of earrings).[5] In addition to the normal challenges of creating that many costumes for one actress, the costume designer and wardrobe department also had to deal with the fact that they had to conceal Madonna's real-life pregnancy throughout the production.

References

  1. ^ Meryl Streep Interview, Devil Wears Prada Movie, By Tim Nasson
  2. ^ Mad-Eyes - Madonna movies - Evita
  3. ^ Roni Sarig mentions "singing lessons on the Evita set". Retrieved March 7, 2007
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ Madonna, Chic Pop Star, As Chic Political Star - New York Times

External links

Preceded by
Babe		 Golden Globe: Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
1996		 Succeeded by
As Good as It Gets
v • d • e
Films directed by Alan Parker

Our Cissy (1974) • Footsteps (1974) • The Evacuees (1975) (TV) • Bugsy Malone (1976) • Midnight Express (1978) • Fame (1980) • Shoot the Moon (1982) • Pink Floyd The Wall (1982) • Birdy (1984) • Angel Heart (1987) • Mississippi Burning (1988) • Come See The Paradise (1990) • The Commitments (1991) • The Road to Wellville (1994) • Evita (1996) • Angela's Ashes (1999) • The Life of David Gale (2003) • The Ice at the Bottom of the World (2007)
v • d • e
Maria Eva Duarte de Perón
Husband
Politics
Autobiography
Literature and popular culture
The Woman with the Whip (biography) · Evita (musical) · Evita (film)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evita_(film)"

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