Wallace Downey Explained

Wallace Downey
Birth Date:14 May 1902
Birth Place:Staten Island, New York City, New York, United States
Death Date:29 January 1978
Death Place:New York City, New York, United States
Occupation:Director, Producer

Wallace Downey (New York City, May 14, 1902 – New York City, January 29, 1978) was an American film producer and director.

In 1928 Wallace Downey, an executive of Columbia Records, was sent to South America to install a Brazilian branch for his company. He quickly realized Brazil was an entertainment hot bed for potential markets in records and films.[1]

In 1931 Downey produced and directed, Coisas Nossas, the first successful Brazilian film with sound. His 1935 film, Hello, Hello Brazil!, first introduced radio singer and actress Carmen Miranda to a larger audience paving the way to her international fame at 20th Century Fox in the United States.

Downey later founded his own production company, Waldow S.A., in a partnership with Cinédia, producing musical films.[2]

In 1938 Downey disbanded Waldow S.A., using the resources to create a new production company, Sonofilms.

Selected filmography

Director

Producer

Notes and References

  1. [Ruy Castro|Castro, Ruy]
  2. Book: Shaw, Lisa. Brazilian National Cinema. May 2014. 9781134702107.