Evita movie storyline. High-flying, adored! The film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical depicting the infamous real-life story of Eva “Evita” Duarte de Peron, the wife of President Juan Peron, who rose from poverty to become the most famous Argentine woman in history. Her huge political influence and constant charity works earned her scorn and fear from the military and upper classes but adoration and love from the workers and descamisados. Evita’s legendary life is displayed before your eyes as the most hated and most beloved woman in Argentina.
Evita is a 1996 American musical drama film based on the 1976 concept album of the same name produced by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, which also inspired a 1978 musical. The film depicts the life of Eva Perón, detailing her beginnings, rise to fame, political career and death at the age of 33. Directed by Alan Parker, and written by Parker and Oliver Stone, Evita stars Madonna as Eva, Jonathan Pryce as Eva’s husband Juan Perón, and Antonio Banderas as Ché, an everyman who acts as the film’s narrator.
Following the release of the 1976 album, a film adaptation of the musical became mired in development hell for more than fifteen years, as the rights were passed on to several major studios, and various directors and actors considered. In 1993, producer Robert Stigwood sold the rights to Andrew G. Vajna, who agreed to finance the film through his production company Cinergi Pictures, with the Walt Disney Studios distributing the film through Hollywood Pictures.
After Stone stepped down from the project in 1994, Parker agreed to write and direct the film. Recording sessions for the songs and soundtrack took place at CTS Studios in London, England, roughly four months before filming. Parker worked with Rice and Lloyd Webber to compose the soundtrack, reworking the original songs by creating the music first and then the lyrics. They also wrote a new song, “You Must Love Me”, for the film.
Principal photography commenced in February 1996 with a budget of $55 million, and concluded in May of that year. Filming took place on locations in Buenos Aires and Budapest, and on soundstages at Shepperton Studios. The film’s production in Argentina was met with controversy, as the cast and crew faced protests over fears that the project would tarnish Eva’s image.
Evita premiered at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on December 14, 1996. Hollywood Pictures gave the film a platform release, which involved releasing it in select cities before expanding distribution in the following weeks. The film had a limited release on December 25, 1996, before opening nationwide on January 10, 1997. It grossed over $141 million worldwide.
The film received a mixed critical response; reviewers praised Madonna’s performance, the music, costume designs and cinematography, while criticism was aimed at the pacing and direction. Evita received many awards and nominations, including the Academy Award for Best Original Song (“You Must Love Me”), and three Golden Globe Awards for Best Picture – Comedy or Musical, Best Original Song (“You Must Love Me”) and Best Actress – Comedy or Musical (Madonna).
The film’s production in Argentina was met with controversy and sparked significant media attention. The cast and crew faced protests over fears that the project would tarnish Eva’s image. Members of the Peronist Party launched a hate campaign, condemning the film’s production, Madonna and Parker.[5] Evita also prompted the Government of Argentina to produce their own film, Eva Perón: The True Story (1996), to counter any misconceptions or inaccuracies caused by the film. In response to the controversy surrounding the project, the production held a press conference in Buenos Aires on February 6, 1996.
Principal photography began on February 8, 1996, with a budget of $55 million. Production designer Brian Morris constructed 320 different sets. Costume designer Penny Rose was given special access to Eva’s wardrobe in Argentina, and she modeled her own costume designs after Eva’s original outfits and shoes. She clothed 40,000 extras in period dresses. The production used more than 5,500 costumes from 20 costume houses located in Paris, Rome, London, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, and Budapest as well as 1,000 military uniforms. Madonna’s wardrobe included 85 costume changes, 39 hats, 45 pairs of shoes, and 56 pairs of earrings. She broke the Guinness World Record for “Most Costume Changes in a Film”.
Evita (1996)
Directed by: Alan Parker
Starring: Madonna, Antonio Banderas, Jonathan Pryce, Jimmy Nail, Victoria Sus, Julian Littman, Olga Merediz, Laura Pallas, Julia Worsley, María Luján Hidalgo
Screenplay by: Alan Parker, Oliver Stone
Production Design by: Brian Morris
Cinematography by: Darius Khondji
Film Editing by: Gerry Hambling
Costume Design by: Penny Rose
Set Decoration by: Philippe Turlure
Art Direction by: Richard Earl, Jean-Michel Hugon
Music by: Andrew Lloyd Webber
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements, images of violence and some mild language.
Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures
Release Date: December 25, 1996
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