| Blame it on Rio | |
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Theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | Stanley Donen |
| Produced by | Stanley Donen Larry Gelbart Robert E. Relyea |
| Written by | Charlie Peters Larry Gelbart |
| Starring | Michael Caine Joseph Bologna Michelle Johnson Demi Moore Valerie Harper |
| Music by | Kenneth Wannberg |
| Cinematography | Reynaldo Villalobos |
| Editing by | George Hively Richard Marden |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation |
| Release date(s) | February 17, 1984 |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $18,561,998 (USA) |
Blame it on Rio is a 1984 romantic comedy film, written by Charlie Peters and Larry Gelbart and directed by Stanley Donen. The script is based on the 1977 French film, Un moment d'égarement.[1] The original music score was composed by Kenneth Wannberg. Cast members included Michael Caine, Joseph Bologna, Valerie Harper, Michelle Johnson, José Lewgoy and Demi Moore.[2][3]
This was the last theatrically released film directed by Donen, whose previous work included such notable pictures as Singin' in the Rain, On the Town, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Charade.
Contents |
Victor (Joseph Bologna) and Matthew (Michael Caine) are best friends who work for a major corporation in São Paulo, Brazil. Both are having problems in their marriages—Victor's wife wants to divorce him, while Matthew has no idea what is wrong and is baffled and irritated by the decision of his wife Karen (Valerie Harper) to take her vacation separately from her husband and daughter.
The men decide to holiday in Rio de Janeiro. With them are their teenage offspring: Matthew's daughter Nikki (Demi Moore) and Victor's daughter Jennifer (Michelle Johnson). They rent a beautiful vacation home with a somewhat taciturn and disapproving housekeeper.
At the beach, Jennifer is told by her father to cover her bare breasts but refuses, instead dragging her father and Nikki into the water to play. Matthew does not join them and seems uncomfortable with the partial nudity displayed by Jennifer and other women on the beach.
Matthew gets drunk with the amorous Jennifer during a Brazilian wedding, where she discloses to him that she has had a "crush" on him since she was a child. They embark on a secret sexual relationship. Victor becomes furious when he finds out that there is an "older man" in his daughter's life, and he sets out to hunt down the mystery man. He expects Matthew to help.
Matthew is reluctant to lead Victor on a wild goose chase but goes through with it. He tries to talk to Jennifer but she is determined to never give him up. Eventually, Matthew discloses the truth to his friend, but only after Victor has caused a barroom brawl targeting an innocent man. Oddly, though, Victor is not quite as angry as Matthew expects. It is soon discovered that Victor has been having an affair with Matthew's wife.
As the truth comes out, Jennifer tries to commit suicide with an overdose of birth control pills. She survives.
The incident brings all closer together. Karen and Matthew decide to work on their marital problems, Jennifer begins dating a boy her own age, and Victor remarries his estranged wife.
Matthew's final line of summation is: "You only live once, but it does help if you get to be young twice."
The film was shot on location in Rio de Janeiro.[4][5]
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