The Discovery of Brazil (1937)
O Descobrimento do Brasil (The Discovery of Brazil) is an impressive historical epic recreating Álvares Cabral’s voyage to the New World in 1500, with a score especially written by the renowned composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos. One of the earliest examples of Brazilian cinema, this film depicts the perilous journey of Pedro Álvares Cabral’s armada from Portugal to Brazil. Though somewhat rudimentary compared to other films of the period, The Discovery of Brazil distinguishes itself with its scenes of indigenous people and Portuguese explorers on the beach, and in the imaginative lighting on board the ship. But the real star is the beautiful cantata by Villa-Lobos that permeates the film.
Director: Humberto Mauro
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Alvaro Costa as Pedro Alvares Cabral |
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João de Deus as |
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Manoel Rocha as |
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Alfredo Silva as |
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Reginaldo Calmon as |
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Arthur de Oliveira as |
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João Silva as |
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Arthur Castro as |
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Armando Duval as |
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João Mauro as |
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Alfredo Cunha as |
| Directing | Humberto Mauro | Director |
| Writing | Bandeira Duarte | Writer |
| Sound | Heitor Villa-Lobos | Music |
| Writing | Humberto Mauro | Writer |
| Writing | Pero Vaz de Caminha | Original Story |
| Crew | Mario de Queiroz | Choreographer |
| Camera | Humberto Mauro | Director of Photography |
| Camera | Alberto Botelho | Director of Photography |
| Camera | Alberto Campiglia | Director of Photography |
| Camera | Manoel Ribeiro | Director of Photography |
| Art | Arnaldo Rosenmayer | Set Designer |
| Art | José de Souza Bernardino | Set Designer |