This is one of the very best of the 20th Century Fox forties musicals with gorgeous Technicolor, marvellous tunes by the great Harry Warren (including "They met in Rio" and "Boa Noite"), dances by Hermes Pan, and a sparkling cast headed by Alice Faye, Don Ameche and the sensational Carmen Miranda in her first real starring role (she had starred in "Down Argentine Way" a year earlier but only appeared in that as a glorifed speciality act). The story of a nightclub entertainer impersonating a wealthy financier and the resulting romantic complications with the financier's wife and the entertainer's girlfriend had been originally made as "Folies Bergeres" with Maurice Chevalier in the dual role, Merle Oberon as the wife and Ann Sothern the girlfriend, and would be remade later as the Danny Kaye vehicle "On the Riviera" with Gene Tierney and Corinne Calvet, but "That Night in Rio" is by far the best version, and provided Don Ameche with his favourite role, (as well as doubling as the entertainer and financier he sings a verse of "They Met in Rio" impressively in Portuguese!) This was the second film made by Fox influenced by the Good Neighbour policy attempting to woo the Latin American countries when European markets were lost during the war.It was perfect escapist entertainment for those years, and holds up remarkably well: the production is handsomely mounted, Alice Faye, beautifully gowned and looking lovely,sings attractively, Carmen Miranda in probably her best and most suitable screen role provides her inimitable firework display whenever she is on screen, and sings her famous "I Yi Yi (I like you very much)" and "Chica Chica Boom Chic", and an admirable supporting cast includes S Z (Cuddles) Sakall, Curt Bois and J. Carroll Naish. The sharp eyed will notice a very brief appearance by Maria Montez as a chorus girl.
Extras include a featurette on Alice Faye dealing with the years after she left Fox, and a trailer.