Acabaram-se os Otários (partially found Brazilian comedy film; 1929)
One scene from the film.
Status: Partially Found
Acabaram-se os Otários (No More Idiots in English) is a 1929 Brazilian comedy film directed by Luiz de Barros and starring Genésio Arruda and Tom Bill. The film is considered the first sound film in Brazil.[1]
Cinematographic reconstruction of the anecdote about the "mineiro who bought a tram", a fact published in the Rio press as true.
Production
The idea of making the film, as well as its title, came up in a conversation with a director from Empresas Cinematográficas Reunidas, Barros said he would make a sound film, just joking, but he left with a closed deal and a date set for the film's premiere.
Without knowing the technique, Barros went to the Gaumont studios and saw how the cameras recorded the actors' performance while a gramophone reproduced the sound recorded in advance, the name of the device was playback.[2]
Main Cast
- Genésio Arruda as Bentinho Samambaia
- Tom Bill as Xixilo Spicafuoco
- Vicenzo Caiaffa as Grilo
Plot
Bentinho Samambaia is a hillbilly from the city of Pindurassaia, but due to heartbreak, Bentinho decides to leave Pindurassaia. On the way, Bentinho meets the Italian Xixilo Spicafuoco. They decide to go to the city of São Paulo.
A swindler see the hillbillies and tries to scam them. The swindler claims to own the tram and wants to sell it for a very cheap price for them, but a police sees them and thinks that the hillbillies are the swindlers. Bentinho e Xixilo manage to escape the police.
They come across two beautiful ladies called Vamps, but they also want to scam the hillbillies. The Vamps take the hillbillies to a cabaret, where Bentinho and Xixilo spend their last money.
The police finally arrests the hillbillies. Disillusioned with São Paulo, Bentinho return to Pindurassaia.
Availability
Current Status
All copies of the film are believed to be lost forever. However, countless photos, audios, fragments and soundtrack have survived.
There were numerous efforts to find the complete film, but all attempts were unsuccessful.
Reconstruction
A reconstruction of the film was made in 2019 by Rafael de Luna and Reinaldo Carnuto, was shown for the first time at the II Jornada de Estudos em História do Cinema Brasileiro.[3]
Gallery
See Also
Brazilian Films
- Amazonas, o Maior Rio do Mundo (found Brazilian documentary film; 1918-1920)
- Luiz de Barros (partially found films from Brazilian director; 1916-1980)
- Nhô Anastácio Chegou de Viagem (lost Brazilian first comedy film; 1908)
- O Kaiser (lost Brazilian first animated film; 1917)
- Os Óculos do Vovô (partially found Brazilian film; 1913)
- Presente de Natal (partially found Brazilian animated film; 1971)
- Um Crime Sensacional (lost Brazilian drama film; 1913)
- Vocação Irresistível aka "The Most Mysterious Film in Brazil" (lost Brazilian comedy film; 1924)