QUEEN OF HEARTS {EVA PERON} (TV)
Summary
This British documentary, narrated by Diana Rigg, examines the life of Eva Peron (1919-1952). Eva Duarte de Peron, known also as Evita, rose from poverty to become First Lady of Argentina (1947-1951) and the most powerful woman in Latin American history -- beloved by the poor masses and despised by the privileged class. Featured are rare newsreel footage; current (circa 1973) interviews with Eva's friends, family, and associates; and movie clips from her career as an actress. The following topics are covered: Eva's childhood in the small town of Los Toldos as the illegitimate daughter of Juan Duarte, a prosperous, conservative businessman; the influence of Eva's radical mother on her personality; the devastating snubbing of Eva, her mother, and her siblings at Juan Duarte's funeral by his legitimate family -- a pivotal event which colored Eva's adult life and fed her hatred of the oligarchy; the family's plunge into poverty after Duarte's death; Eva's move, at age fifteen, to Buenos Aires where she lived in seedy boarding houses while struggling to succeed as an actress; conjecture on how much of her film work came from her talents and how much from sleeping with producers; Eva's formal introduction in 1944 to Colonel Juan Peron, the powerful Secretary for Labor of a right-wing group of radical colonels who seized power in 1943; Eva's growing film career; the romance between the young actress and Peron -- who soon became vice president and Minister for War while becoming increasingly popular with the workers; Peron's arrest and exile -- a ploy of the clique of generals who were threatened by his popularity and were themselves becoming unpopular with the people; Eva's initial move into politics, rallying workers in a massive demonstration in 1945 in support of Peron, which led to his return from exile; Eva's marriage to Peron and new position of wealth and acclaim with his election as president; the dichotomy between the love Eva engendered among the poor masses, who viewed her as a saint, and the hatred she aroused in the upper classes, who regarded her as a cheap, ambitious actress; Eva's involvement in the Labor movement and in winning women the right to vote; the political reality behind her 1947 tour of Europe -- including an audience with the Pope in Rome; her transformation into a serious political leader, "a militant comrade of the workers"; Eva's tireless efforts in Peron's campaign for a second term in office, including various social projects; her establishment in 1948 of the Eva Peron Foundation (Fundacion Ayuda Social Maria Eva Duarte de Peron), after being snubbed by Buenos Aires society, which refused to let her become president of the charitable institutions they ran; the financing of the Foundation, mainly through a workers' levy; allegations regarding misuse of Foundation funds for weaponry and for Eva's extravagant wardrobe; the frantic pace at which Eva lived her life and the long hours she worked on Foundation projects; a fairy tale village for children she had built outside of Buenos Aires; her interest in building-up and centralizing the trade unions; the huge rally in August 1951 in which Eva was implored by the masses to become vice president; the opposition of the army and the knowledge of her own impending death from cancer that forced her to decline the vice-presidency; Eva's last public appearance at the swearing-in of Peron for a second term; her death on July 26, 1952; her massive state funeral in which she was given the honors of a president; the political turmoil that derailed plans to build a monument in which her embalmed body would be on public view forever; Peron's exile in 1955 and the return of the military clique to power; the clandestine mission in which a secret service unit seized Eva's body from trade union headquarters in 1955 and shipped it out of the country; the discovery of her body in Milan in 1970 and its return to Peron in Madrid, where he was exiled; and Peron's 1973 return to power and public favor in Argentina. Includes interviews with the following individuals: Eva's sister, E. Duarte de Bartolini; Julio Alcaraz, Eva's hairdresser and confidante; Raul A. Apold, Peron's former press and propaganda secretary; A.F. Cafeiro, a former junior minister in Peron's government; Sir John Balfour G.C.M.G., former British Ambassador to Argentina; Atilio Ranci, Eva's private secretary; and Dr. Ramon Ceriejo, administrator of the Eva Peron Foundation and Peron's former finance minister. Includes footage of Juan Peron and his third wife, Isabel Martinez de Peron.
Details
- NETWORK: Thames (United Kingdom)
- DATE: 1973
- RUNNING TIME: 0:49:03
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:13671
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: Argentina - History -- 1943-1955; Argentina - Politics and government -- 1943-1955; Biography; International Collection - United Kingdom; Public affairs/Documentaries
- SERIES RUN: Thames (United Kingdom), 1973
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jeremy Isaacs … Executive Producer
- Carlos Pasini … Producer, Director
- Maxine Baker … Researcher, Film research by
- Jolyon Wimhurst … Commentary by
- Diana Rigg … Narrator
- Julio Alcaraz
- Raul A. Apold
- John Balfour
- Bertolini, E. Duarte de
- A.F. Cafeiro
- Ramon Cereijo
- Juan Duarte
- Peron, Eva Duarte de (Evita)
- Peron, Isabel Martinez de
- Juan Domingo Peron
- Atilio Renci