Hollywood's "Way of a Gaucho" in Argentina: A Forgotten Film That Documented Evita's Funeral
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Hollywood produced the lavish Technicolor film "Way of a Gaucho" in Argentina in 1951, influenced by Perón's economic policies and propaganda minister Raúl Apold's involvement.
- The film, based on Herbert Childs' book and with echoes of "Martín Fierro," tells the story of a gaucho named Martín Peñalosa who flees the army after a duel.
- Despite its artistic ambitions and the presence of stars like Rory Calhoun and Gene Tierney, the film is largely forgotten, though the American crew documented Evita's funeral in Technicolor.
The 20th Century Fox production of "Way of a Gaucho" in Argentina in 1951 was more than just a cinematic endeavor; it was a product of its time, deeply intertwined with the political and economic landscape of Juan Domingo Perón's era.
En 1951 se filmó en la Argentina una ostentosa superproducción de Hollywood en technicolor.
While the film aimed to capture the essence of the Argentine gaucho, drawing inspiration from Herbert Childs' work and the iconic "Martín Fierro," its artistic merit ultimately faded into obscurity. The involvement of Perón's propaganda minister, Raúl Apold, in shaping the script and production hints at a complex interplay between Hollywood's commercial interests and the nationalist agenda of the time.
La política económica del entonces presidente Juan Domingo Perón tuvo que ver con la necesidad de la compañía cinematográfica de filmar aquí.
Interestingly, the presence of the American film crew in Argentina led to an unexpected historical documentation: the filming of Evita's funeral in Technicolor. This peripheral yet significant event, captured by the same crew, offers a unique lens through which to view a pivotal moment in 20th-century Argentine history, overshadowing the film's own narrative.
El ministro de propaganda del peronismo, Raúl Apold, metió mano en los guiones y la producción.
From an Argentine perspective, "Way of a Gaucho" serves as a fascinating case study of foreign cultural intervention and its adaptation to local political currents. The film's eventual oblivion, contrasted with the enduring legacy of the historical events it inadvertently documented, speaks volumes about the ephemeral nature of cinema versus the indelible mark of history.
La estadía de los técnicos norteamericanos en el país sirvió para un propósito periférico pero fundamental.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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