AboutRobertson Frizero Barros Expertise I can answer general questions about European and South American movies, especially
Brazilian ones.
I may also answer general questions about Iranian movies, especially those by Iranian
director Samira Makhmalbaf.
I would appreciate helping people out about Spanish director Pedro Almodovar movies.
Experience I have been following European and South American cinema for a long time and I am a huge
fan of many European directors.
Expert: Robertson Frizero Barros Date: 5/1/2008 Subject: remake of american movies but in bresilien
Question Hello,
i am writing something about south american movies that were "remake of "american ones but more adapted to the mentality of the country ,lets say like a remake of superman in Brasil but more adapted to the nature of people of BRESIL, their inspiration, passion etc... could you help me with this > do you know some bresilian movies that are copied of american ones( like superman, batman etc,.) but in the brasilian version with some changes.
thanks alot
i am a teacher in the French international school of San Francisco and your help is precious if you can help me
thank you
Emmanuel
Answer Dear Emmanuel,
Congratulations for the very interesting topic you chose for your research.
When I started reading your question I thought you were talking about the films made in the 1930s with Spanish casts and using the same sets and costumes of the American ones. The most famous of these films was "Dracula" - the American version starring Bela Lugosi. But it was the beginning of "talkies" (films with sound) and there wasn't the technology necessary to put subtitles on movies yet, so they did it in order to export those films to the Spanish-speaking countries.
Well, I found some Brazilian films that were made INSPIRED by American movies but not exactly ADAPTATIONS or REMAKES in order to fit a certain Brazilian mood or culture, let's say. Most of the films I'll list here are closer to parodies or, let's say, renditions to certain American movies genres than exactly adaptations:
ACQUARIA (2003) - a movie inspired by sci-fi classics such as Duna, but in fact a teen-movie with two big teen music stars in Brazil...
ALI BABA E OS QUARENTA LADRÕES (1972), ALADIN E A LÂMPADA MARAVILHOSA (1973) and SIMBAD O MARUJO TRAPALHÃO (1974)[Ali Babba and the forty thieves / Alladin and the wondrous lamp/Simbad the clumsy sailor] - three comedies inspired by Hollywood movies based on the '1001 nights' tales; the cast was basically formed by famous comedians from Brazilian TV's biggest show at that time called OS TRAPALHÕES [trapalhão = clumsy].
ATRAPALHANDO A SUATE (1983) [MESSING WITH THE SWAT] - when the group OS TRAPALHÕES, formed by four comedians, ended, three of them made this film, a parody of American TV show S.W.A.T.
CLEOPATRA (2007) - Entirelly filmed in Rio de Janeiro, it has not been released in the movies yet, though it has already won some prizes in Film Festivals in Brazil.
A DAMA DO CINE SHANGHAI (1987) [The dame from Shanghai Movie Theater] - a very interesting Brazilian film noir, freely inspired by American thrillers such as "The dame of Shanghai".
O INCRÍVEL MONSTRO TRAPALHÃO (1980) - One more parody starring the cast of OS TRAPALHÕES; this time the jokes are all about Superman, the incredible Hulk and other superheroes from the TV series.
MARIA, MÃE DO FILHO DE DEUS (2003) [MARY MOTHER OF GOD'S SON] and IRMÃOS DE FÉ (2004) - MARIA was the first serious attempt in Brazil of a Biblical movie. And a good one. It shows the story of Jesus through Maria's eyes, i.e., the focus in on Maria mother of Jesus rather than in Christ himself, and all the sets and clothes are very Brazilian-like, let's say, since it is seen through the eyes of a little girl who is listening to a priest telling the story of Mary. The second film, by the same director, is the story of Paul and Peter, Jesus' apostle, narrated by a priest (the same one) to a man who's in jail.
O MONGE E A FILHA DO CARRASCO (1995) [THE MONK AND THE HANGMAN'S DAUGHTER] - it is a Brazilian movie adapted from a novel by Ambroise Bierce. In fact, it is a co-production Brazil-USA and entirely spoken in English, although most of the cast is Brazilian.
NEM SANÃO NEM DALILA (1954) [NEITHER SAMSON NOR DELILAH] - The funniest parody of American biblical movies I have ever seen! It was truly inpired by the American film starring Victor Mature about the same theme. Teh cast was formed by the greatest comedians in Brazil at that time, and the screenplay is really great. Of course, their kind of humor must be a little out-to-date to our taste, but the film is still a masterpiece.
O NOVIÇO REBELDE (1997) [THE REBEL NOVICE] - Remember OS TRAPALHÕES? Well, Renato Aragão was the main actor of the four, and after the group ended he kept his career with huge success. He is still on TV nowadays. Well, this film is freely inspired in the musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC - in Brazil, the film was called A NOVIÇA REBELDE, i.e., the title referred directly to Maria, the musical's protagonist. This Brazilian version is terrible, though - and not a musical.
ÓPERA DO MALANDRO (1986) [The Malandro's Opera] - Maybe the best all-Brazilian musical ever, composed by one of the greatest Brazilian composer-singer, Chico Buarque. The Brazilian word "malandro" has no direct English equivalent, but can be loosely translated through examples. The classic Malandro is a hero of Brazilian folklore. Celebrated in countless sambas, the Malandro is a mischievous yet loveable trickster, typically depicted in a white linen suit, perfumed scarf, and soft leather hat. Always a marginal figure, the Malandro was driven by a desire to live without working, gambling and getting cachaça through winning at snooker or from the women that loved him. This musical's story focus on one of these ambiguous guys. Fascinating film.
ROBIN HOOD, O TRAPALHÃO DA FLORESTA (1974) - Yes, you guessed: one more film starring OS TRAPALHÕES. Adapted from the classic legend of Robin Hood and a parody of American films about the same theme.
OS SALTIMBANCOS TRAPALHÕES (1981) - Also a film from the TRAPALHÕES franchising... but a good one! And a musical! Freely adapted from the classic tale of the four musicians from Bremen - a cat, a rooster, a dumb and a dog -, the film is a version of a musical play composed by Chico Buarque. One of the songs is a drema of the characters - they go to Hollywood (and this specific scene was filmed there in Los Angeles) but get really disappointed...for being Brazilians and far from Hollywood's reality. Interesting.
OS TRAPALHÕES NAS MINAS DO REI SALOMÃO (1977), OS TRAPALHÕES NO PLANALTO DOS MACACOS (1976), OS TRAPALHÕES NA GUERRA DOS PLANETAS (1978), OS TRAPALHÕES E O MÁGICO DE ORÓZ (1984), OS TRÊS MOSQUETEIROS TRAPALHÕES (1980) - All movies starring OS TRAPALHÕES and adapted from American movies - all parodies, respectively, of the following movies: KING SOLOMON'S MINES / PLANET OF THE APES / THE WIZARD OF OZ / THE THREE MUSQUETEERS.
Well, Emmanuel, I hope my little research may help you somehow. If you have any further questions of requests, please let me know.
