page_title: Greenwich Village (film)
section_title: Critical reception
hierarchical_section_title: Greenwich Village (film) / Critical reception
caption_attribution_description: English: Carmen Miranda in publicity photo for the American film Greenwich Village (1944).
context_page_description: Greenwich Village is a 1944 American film from Twentieth Century Fox directed by Walter Lang. It stars Carmen Miranda and Don Ameche.
context_section_description: "Technicolor is the picture's chief asset," said The New York Times of Greenwich Village, a Fox musical from a decidedly lesser tier than the studio's great "A" productions, but still worth a look for the presence of Carmen Miranda and, yes, Leon Shamroy's Technicolor cinematography.
  Peggy Simmonds wrote in a review for The Miami News, "Fortunately for Greenwich Village, the picture is made in Technicolor and has Carmen Miranda. Unfortunately for Carmen Miranda, the production doesn't do her justice (...) the overall effect is disappointing (...) but still she sparkles the picture whenever she appears."
  Time's review complained that the cast was hardly formidable enough to sustain a movie with such thin plot and characters, and while that may be true, it's still interesting to see how Fox tried to launch Vivian Blaine as a big new star, and it's unique (to say the least!) to see William Bendix sing and dance. Bendix had recently become a star supporting player and had already perfected a screen persona of a lovable doofus. Time magazine's review of Greenwich Village marveled at how the persona was just that; in real life, apparently, Bendix was cultivated and mannered. "Bendix is probably the world's highest-paid professional ignoramus," said Time. "As such he now rates star billing at his studio and makes more money than the President of the U.S."
  Vivian Blaine was touted as a newcomer by the Fox publicity machine, but in truth she had already been credited in four previous films, including Jitterbugs (1943), in which she played a significant role opposite Laurel and Hardy. She went on to do more movies and television but she never became a movie star. She will instead best be remembered for her stage work, especially as the original '"Miss Adelaide" in the stage and screen versions of Guys and Dolls (1950 stage, 1955 film).
  Carmen Miranda, on the other hand, who here sings "Give Me a Band and a Bandana," was still at the peak of her popularity, with Greenwich Village coming hot on the heels of her best and most famous film, The Gang's All Here (1943). Film historian Jeanine Basinger has written astutely that the Brazilian bombshell "wasn't a real movie star, but someone who did star turns in movies...She was an important escape fantasy of World War II." (from The Star Machine, Knopf) Known for her insanely over-the-top costumes, elaborate, fruit-laden headpieces, and hugely energetic singing and dancing, Carmen Miranda was always exaggerated to a delightful level.
caption: Carmen Miranda in a publicity photo for the movie.
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