Evita (film)

Evita
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Alan Parker
Produced by	Alan Parker Robert Stigwood
Screenplay by	Alan Parker Oliver Stone
Based on	Evita  by Andrew Lloyd Webber Tim Rice
Narrated by	Antonio Banderas
Starring	Madonna Antonio Banderas Jonathan Pryce Jimmy Nail
Music by	Andrew Lloyd Webber
Cinematography	Darius Khondji
Editing by	Gerry Hambling
Studio	Hollywood Pictures Cinergi Pictures Dirty Hands Productions
Distributed by	Buena Vista Pictures (US) Entertainment Films (UK)
Release date(s)	December 25, 1996 (1996-12-25)
Running time	134 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$55 million
Box office	$141,047,179

Evita is a 1996 musical drama film based on Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical of the same name about Eva Perón. It was directed by Alan Parker and written by Parker and Oliver Stone. It starred Madonna, Antonio Banderas, and Jonathan Pryce. The film was released on December 25, 1996 by Hollywood Pictures and Cinergi Pictures.

Plot

Evita portrays the life of Eva Duarte (later Eva Duarte de Perón) (Madonna) from a child of the lower classes to becoming the wife of Juan Perón and First Lady and spiritual leader of Argentina.

Eva's death is announced in a movie theater and a public funeral is held in Buenos Aires. Che (Antonio Banderas), an Everyman, narrates the story of Eva's rise to power and later illness and death. He appears in many different guises and serves as Eva's conscience and critic. As a young illegitimate child, Eva tries to attend her father's funeral in the town of Junín with her mother and siblings. Her father's wife and other family deny her family permission to enter, but Eva pays her last respects to her father.

Years later, Eva decides to leave Junín to seek a better life in Buenos Aires with a tango singer, Agustín Magaldi (Jimmy Nail), with whom she is having an affair. After Magaldi leaves her, she goes through several relationships with increasingly influential men, becoming a model, actress and radio personality. She meets with the older and handsome Colonel Juan Perón (Jonathan Pryce) at a fundraiser following the recent 1944 San Juan earthquake. Perón's connection with Eva adds to his populist image, since she is from the working class (as he is). 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 in an attempt to stunt his political momentum. The groundswell of support Eva generates forces the government to release Perón, and he finds the people enamored of 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 poor).

At the start of the Perón government, Eva dresses glamorously, enjoying the privileges of being the first lady. Soon after, Eva embarks on what was called her "Rainbow Tour" to Europe. While there she had mixed receptions; the people of Spain adore her; the people of Italy call her whore and throw things (such as eggs) at her, while the Pope gives her a small, meager gift; and the French, while kind to her, were upset that she was forced to leave early. There are hints of the illness that eventually caused her death. Upon returning to Argentina, Eva establishes a foundation and distributes aid; the film suggests the Perónists otherwise plunder the public treasury. The military officer corps and social elites despise Eva's common roots and affinity for the poor.

Eva is hospitalized and learns she is terminally ill. She declines the position of Vice President because she is too weak, and makes one final broadcast to the people of Argentina. She understands that her life was short because she shone like the "brightest fire," and helps Perón prepare to go on without her. A large crowd surrounds the Casa Rosada in a candlelight vigil praying for her recovery when the light of her room goes out, signifying her death. Eva's funeral is shown again. Ché is seen at her coffin, marveling at the influence of her brief life. He walks up to her glass coffin, kisses it, and walks into the crowd of passing mourners.

Cast

• Madonna as Evita Perón
• Antonio Banderas as Ché
• Jonathan Pryce as Juan Perón
• Jimmy Nail as Agustín Magaldi
• Victoria Sus as Dona Juana Ibarguren
• Julian Littman as Juancito Duarte
• Olga Merediz as Bianca Duarte
• Laura Pallas as Elisa Duarte
• Julia Worsley as Erminda Duarte
• Peter Polycarpou as Domingo Mercante
• Gary Brooker as Juan Atilio Bramuglia
• Andrea Corr as Juan Perón's mistress

Production

Casting

Discussion of the film production began soon after the original production was staged in London in 1978. Several actresses were considered for the role of Eva Perón.

Director Ken Russell has said that his own first choice for the film lead was Karla DeVito, who had come to fame in rock tours and on Broadway, where she had impressed the wife of Andrew Lloyd-Webber. DeVito was screen tested for the role while in England shooting music videos for her solo album "Is This A Cool World or What?" DeVito's performance of "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina" in the screen test caused much positive buzz. Russell wrote that she brought viewers to tears (except Tim Rice - who wanted Elaine Paige, with whom he was romantically involved). Although Russell rejected the idea, Paige was screen tested twice.

Russell's biography indicates that he met with Barbra Streisand, who dismissed the role immediately. He wrote that he then suggested Liza Minnelli. A year had passed between the first screen tests and Minnelli's, which Russell reports was amazing. Russell approached Stigwood with Minnelli's test, convinced she had the necessary talent and star quality, but he was soon after told it was going to be Elaine Paige. Having already protested that idea, Russell quit the film. Years later when he saw Karla DeVito again, Russell addressed her as "My Evita."

Rumors through the years include Lloyd Webber considering Charo, Meryl Streep, Cher, Glenn Close, Olivia Newton-John, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Years later Pfeiffer reportedly recorded a number of demonstration musical tracks, and it's been said she almost was cast for the role by Alan Parker, but Parker wanted to shoot the picture on location, not in Pfeiffer's preferred Hollywood studio.

Patti LuPone was not offered the opportunity to repeat her Broadway role as Evita. As an actress then in her forties, she was believed to be too old to play Eva Perón, who died at the age of 33. When Madonna was announced to play the lead, Patti LuPone was asked to play the role of Eva's mother, but she declined. English singer/actress Billie Piper and Irish singer Andrea Corr had minor parts in the film at what was the start of both their careers.

Music

The music for the film was completed in a London recording studio in the fall of 1995. Madonna was paid a salary of $1 million for her role in the project. Upon arrival in Argentina, the cast and crew faced protests over fears that the project would tarnish Eva Perón's image. Filming began in February 1996 and was finished in May. They filmed in Buenos Aires for five weeks before moving to Budapest for a month.

Madonna related the difficulties in changing locations:

"We went from 100-degree weather in Argentina, the Latin culture, very embracing, warm, passionate, to a country where people are just learning to be expressive without being afraid. Everybody has a sad expression on their face. And it's difficult to work in an environment where there is no joy. It was the toughest experience of my life."

Filming

Madonna lobbied Carlos Menem, President of Argentina, for permission to film at the Casa Rosada. Midway through production, Madonna discovered she was pregnant. Her daughter Lourdes Maria Ciccone Leon was born on October 14, 1996. She published a diary of the film shoot in Vanity Fair.

Soundtrack and musical numbers

For the soundtrack album to the 1996 film, see Evita (soundtrack).

The soundtrack album was released in two versions; a two-disc edition titled Evita: The Motion Picture Music Soundtrack and a one-disc version containing highlights from the soundtrack titled Evita: Music from the Motion Picture. The double-disc edition includes the entire soundtrack to the film, except for two instrumental pieces heard during the film: a short instrumental medley of "I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You" and "You Must Love Me" used during the marriage scene (which happens in the middle of "A New Argentina"), and a longer medley of the same two songs in reversed order, segueing into the chorus of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", used for the end credits.

CD 1

All lyrics written by Tim Rice, all music composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Length
1.	"A Cinema in Buenos Aires, 26 July 1952"	John Mauceri	1:20
2.	"Requiem for Evita"	John Mauceri	4:16
3.	"Oh What a Circus"	Madonna, Antonio Banderas	5:44
4.	"On This Night of a Thousand Stars"	Jimmy Nail	2:24
5.	"Eva and Magaldi / Eva Beware of the City"	Madonna, Jimmy Nail, Antonio Banderas	5:20
6.	"Buenos Aires"	Madonna	4:09
7.	"Another Suitcase in Another Hall"	Madonna	3:33
8.	"Goodnight and Thank You"	Madonna, Antonio Banderas	4:18
9.	"The Lady's Got Potential"	Antonio Banderas	4:24
10.	"Charity Concert / The Art of the Possible"	Jimmy Nail, Jonathan Pryce, Antonio Banderas	2:33
11.	"I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You"	Madonna, Jonathan Pryce	4:18
12.	"Hello and Goodbye"	Madonna, Andrea Corr, Jonathan Pryce	1:46
13.	"Peron's Latest Flame"	Madonna, Antonio Banderas	5:17
14.	"Dice Are Rolling / A New Argentina"	Madonna, Jonathan Pryce	8:09

CD 2

All lyrics written by Tim Rice, all music composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Length
1.	"On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada (Part 1)"	Jonathan Pryce	1:28
2.	"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"	Madonna	5:31
3.	"On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada (Part 2)"	Madonna	2:00
4.	"High Flying, Adored"	Madonna, Antonio Banderas	3:32
5.	"Rainbow High"	Madonna	2:26
6.	"Rainbow Tour"	Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce, Gary Brooker, Peter Polycarpou	4:50
7.	"The Actress Hasn't Learned the Lines (You'd Like to Hear)"	Madonna, Antonio Banderas	2:31
8.	"And the Money Kept Rolling In (and Out)"	Antonio Banderas	3:53
9.	"Partido Feminista"	Madonna	1:40
10.	"She Is a Diamond"	Jonathan Pryce	1:39
11.	"Santa Evita"	John Mauceri	2:30
12.	"Waltz for Eva and Che"	Madonna, Antonio Banderas	4:31
13.	"Your Little Body's Slowly Breaking Down"	Madonna, Jonathan Pryce	1:24
14.	"You Must Love Me"	Madonna	2:50
15.	"Eva's Final Broadcast"	Madonna	3:05
16.	"Latin Chant"	John Mauceri	2:11
17.	"Lament"	Madonna, Antonio Banderas	5:17

Additional note:

• "Dice are Rolling" comes immediately before "A New Argentina" on the 2-CD edition, hence the longer running time. This is not mentioned in the liner notes.

Awards and nominations

Academy Awards

• Best Original Song ("You Must Love Me") (Won)
• Best Art Direction (Nomination)
• Best Cinematography (Nomination)
• Best Film Editing (Nomination)
• Best Sound (Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer and Ken Weston – Nomination)

MTV Movie Awards

• Best Female Performance – Madonna (Nomination)

Golden Globe Awards

• Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Won)
• Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Madonna) (Won)
• Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (Nomination)
• Best Director – Motion Picture (Nomination)
• Best Original Song ("You Must Love Me") (Won)

BAFTA Awards

• Best Cinematography (Nomination)
• Best Costume Design (Nomination)
• Best Editing (Nomination)
• Best Makeup and Hair (Nomination)
• Best Production Design (Nomination)
• Best Adapted Screenplay (Nomination)
• Best Sound (Nomination)
• Best Film Music (Nomination)

Other awards

• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award – Best Production Design (Won)
• Satellite Award – Best Film – Musical or Comedy (Won)
• Satellite Award – Best Costume Design (Won)
• Satellite Award – Best Original Song ("You Must Love Me") (Won)
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Award – Best Picture (Nomination)
• Satellite Award – Best Art Direction (Nomination)
• Satellite Award – Best Cinematography (Nomination)

Release

Critical reception

Evita received positive reception from critics; the film currently holds a 63% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was nominated for five Academy Awards and won the award for "Best Original Song" with "You Must Love Me", which Lloyd Webber and Rice re-teamed after a gap of 20 years to write especially for the film. Evita 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). It was one of the National Board of Review's Top Ten Films of the Year.

The government of Argentina had undertaken its own film project, treating Perón's biography as a drama. It released Eva Perón: The True Story in October 1996 in Argentina and in the US in December 1996, the same month as the American film.

Box office

On a budget of $55 million, Evita opened at #2 with $8.4 million in its wide opening weekend against The Relic. The film made $50,047,179 in the United States and an additional $91 million overseas, for a total of $141,047,179 worldwide.

Home media

The film has no overall worldwide distributor, but was released on VHS, Laserdisc and DVD. Some DVD versions contain special features such as a making-of, the "You Must Love Me" music video, etc. Evita was one of the first films ever to be released on the DVD format. A Blu-ray 15th Anniversary Edition was released on May 22, 2012 in the US.

World record

The film earned Madonna a Guinness World Record title, "Most costume changes in a film". In Evita, Madonna changed costumes 85 times (which included 39 hats, 45 pairs of shoes, and 56 pairs of earrings). The record was previously held by Elizabeth Taylor for the 1963 film, Cleopatra (65 costume changes).

See also

• Evita – the original 1978 musical production by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
• Eva Perón
• Juan Perón

External links

• Evita at the Internet Movie Database
• Evita at the TCM Movie Database
• Evita at AllRovi
• Evita at Box Office Mojo
• Evita at Rotten Tomatoes