Gilda de Abreu

Gilda de Abreu (23 September 1904 – 4 June 1979) was a Brazilian actress, singer, writer and film director.

Gilda de Abreu
Gilda de Abreu, from the film Silk Doll (1936).
Born(1904-09-23)23 September 1904
Paris, France
Died4 June 1979(1979-06-04) (aged 74)
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
OccupationActress, film director
Years active1933–1979
Spouse(s)Vicente Celestino

Biography

Born to a wealthy family, Gilda de Abreu began her career as a singer, performing in stage musicals and operettas. She first started appearing in theater productions in 1936, when she starred in the romantic comedy Bonequinha de Seda, produced by Adhemar Gonzaga. The film acted as a break-out role for Abreu, allowing for a transition from her previous stage-based career to one in the Brazilian film industry.[1]

She was one of the first women to direct films in Brazil, coming to renown for her directorial debut, O Ébrio (The Drunkard) in 1946. The film, in addition to being the first sound film directed by a woman, was a commercial and critical success, with approximately 4 million viewings between 1946 and 1950. It is still regarded as "one of the great successes of Brazilian Cinema", according to film historian João Luiz Vieira.[2]

After O Ébrio, Abreu directed Pinguinho de gente (Tiny Tot) in 1949 and Coração materno (Mother's Heart) in 1951. Neither achieved the same critical or commercial success as O Ébrio. These were her final films as director until 1977, when she directed the short film Canção de Amor (Love Song).

Personal life

Abreu married Vicente Celestino, a fellow singer and actor, in 1933. He was cast as the lead in all three of her feature-length productions. Two of the films (O Ébrio and Coração materno) were based upon songs he had written.[3] Celestino died in 1968, and then Abreu died on June 4, 1979, in Rio de Janeiro.

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References
  1. Foster, Gwendolyn Audrey (1995-01-01). Women Film Directors: An International Bio-critical Dictionary. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 1. ISBN 9780313289729. Gilda%20de%20Abreu.
  2. Shaw, Lisa; Dennison, Stephanie (2014-05-01). Brazilian National Cinema. Routledge. ISBN 9781134702107.
  3. Parangua, Paulo Antonio (Jan 1, 1989). "Pioneers: Women Film-Makers in Latin America". Framework. ProQuest 1311781131.
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