MOVIES - March 11, 1996

Don’t Cry for Madonna: Madonna was cheered by thousands of movie extras Sunday as she stood on the balcony made famous by Eva Peron at the Government House in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and sang “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina.” The controversial balcony scene for the movie version of the musical “Evita” was filmed during the weekend after permission to film on the balcony was first refused and then granted by President Carlos Menem. He had initially described Madonna as “totally unsuitable” to play Argentina’s former first lady. While Madonna sang, about 4,000 extras below her on the Plaza de Mayo responded with cheers of “Evita, Evita.” The extras marched past the balcony carrying Argentine flags and signs reading “Long Live the New Argentina” and “Peron Is the People.” The Plaza de Mayo was sealed off for the filming.