Estúpido Cupido is a Brazilian telenovela produced by TV Globo. It aired from 25 August 1976 to 26 February 1977 at 7pm.[3] Written by Mário Prata[1][2] and directed by Régis Cardoso, it was the last Globo telenovela recorded in black-and-white,[3] with the exception of the last two chapters, directed by Walter Avancini using the then new color technology.
It was the first telenovela written by Mário Prata.[2][3] Due to the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Estúpido Cupido debuted exceptionally on a Wednesday.
The telenovela was re-aired in Brazil starting in May 1979, at 2pm.[3]
Plot
The story takes place in the fictional city of Albuquerque, São Paulo, in the beginning of the 1960s. It revolves around the loves of youth, having as background the American music of the time: rock ballads and rock and roll. The teenagers study in the Catholic school Colégio Normal de Albuquerque, and many Nuns and Priests take part in the plot. Other subjects covered are: the prejudice suffered by a divorced woman (Olga Oliveira); the success of a rock band, Personélitis Boys, led by Antônio Ney Medeiros; Belchior, a clever but not very sane homeless man who runs an imaginary radio station daily from 11am–noon; Cabo Fidélis, a policeman; Acioly, a geologist prospecting for petroleum in the city region; and Alcides Guimarães Filho, the city mayor, owner of the Albuquerque Tênis Club where the high society of the city meet and party.
The external scenes were recorded in Itaboraí, Rio de Janeiro.[6] With the success of the telenovela, there was a revival of the music style of the 50s and 60s, with twist dance competitions happening in several places across the country.[3] The soundtrack album, produced by Som Livre, sold more than one million copies.[4]
In 1995, Chilean TVN produced a remake of the same name that takes place in the city of San Andrés, instead of Albuquerque. Directed by Vicente Sabatini, it was adapted by Jorge Marchant Lazcano with Víctor Carrasco and Hugo Morales.
This soap opera has multiple leading couples and concerns two main plotlines. In one, a love triangle forms among Monica Tagle (Carolina Fadic), Anibal Donoso (Álvaro Rudolphy) and Isabel Margarita Dublé (Claudia Burr). Isabel, the spoiled daughter of the mayor who falls in love with Anibal, schemes to have him beside her.
The other story features local radio announcer Jaime Salvatierra (Francisco Reyes) and Sister Angélica (Claudia Di Girolamo), an extrovert revolutionary nun who scandalizes the town. When the soap aired, it stirred controversy among church authorities in Chile and was the subject of debate, as Angélica may have left the habit and started a relationship with Jaime.
