Breno Mello

Breno Mello
Born	Breno Higino de Mello September 7, 1931 Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Died	July 11, 2008 (aged 76) Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Breno Higino de Mello (September 7, 1931 – July 11, 2008) was a Brazilian athlete and actor. He is primarily known for playing the title role in the 1959 film Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus).

Mello was born in Porto Alegre, the capital of Rio Grande do Sul, a state of Southern Brazil. In the beginning of his career, Breno Mello was a soccer player. He played soccer for Renner and Fluminense, and also for Santos FC, where he met Pelé. Mello was walking in Rio de Janeiro, when director Marcel Camus stopped him and asked if he would like to be in a film. Camus cast Mello to star in the classic 1959 film Orfeu Negro (Black Orpheus), in which Mello played the role of Orfeu. Camus was "fascinated" by his physical beauty, which was an essential aspect of the character of Orfeu envisioned by Camus.

The film reinterpreted the Orpheus myth against the backdrop of the poverty of the Brazilian working class and Brazil's famous Carnaval. The film made extensive use of bossa nova music, including now famous songs such as "A Felicidade" and "Manhã de Carnaval" (also known as "A Day in the Life of a Fool"), which were sung by the character of Orfeu. While Mello acted the part of Orfeu, his singing voice was dubbed by Agostinho dos Santos.

Orfeu was the most successful role of Mello's acting career. Reviews of his performance, however, are mixed. Bosley Crowther, reviewing the film for The New York Times in 1959, criticized his acting, stating: "He performs the role more as a dancer than as an actor trying to show a man in love." On the other hand, Mello's performance has also been described as natural, reflecting real talent.Hollis Alpert, writing for the Saturday Review, called the actors' performances "admirable." Critics agreed that Mello looked the part: the otherwise negative review of Mello in The New York Times stated that he was "a handsome, virile Orpheus who glistens when covered with sweat."

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