Andrea Palma (Actress)
Encyclopedia
Andrea Palma was a Mexican
film
actress. She was considered The First Diva of Mexican and Latin American Cinema after her role in the Mexican film La Mujer del Puerto
.
, a cousin was actress Dolores del Río
. Bracho moved his family to Mexico City, where Andrea became interested in theater during her school years, and later in fashion and hat design. She entered the hat business in the early 1920s and opened her own shop, called Casa Andrea (from where she took her first name as an actress, adding the last name of one of her clients, the elegant Mrs. Palma.) Known in the theater world, she had her first opportunity replacing her friend Isabela Corona
when the actress gave birth to a child.
, having small roles in the films of her cousins Dolores del Río
and Ramón Novarro
and as hat and make-up consultant for Marlene Dietrich
, when the German diva arrived in Hollywood. When she was called from Mexico and offered the part of Rosario, it was Dietrich's style that inspired her in creating her character. Palma was Dietrich's stunt double in Blonde Venus
.
La Mujer del puerto (1934) became an instant success and Palma became a superstar, practically overnight. In the succeeding years, she was much in demand: her next movie was completely opposite to Rosario, playing the famous 17th century poet, playwright and nun Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz; she returned to Hollywood to make two "Latin films", took a four-year break doing theater and in 1943 she was directed by her brother Julio Bracho
in the classic melodrama Distinto amanecer (1943). She played Julieta, a frustrated wife during the day and a prostitute during the night. She appeared in other movies, including a Tarzan vehicle, Tarzan and the Mermaids
(1948) starring Johnny Weissmuller
. She travelled to Spain
to perform in a play and during rehearsals she met actor Enrique Díaz, whom she married. When she returned to Mexico, she was no longer considered a young leading lady and became specialized in character roles.
In the 1950s she was in two classic "pecadoras" productions and huge commercial successes starring Cuban superstar Ninón Sevilla
and directed by Alberto Gout, playing a mean brothel owner in Aventurera
(1950), a suffering wife in Sensualidad (1951), and worked with Luis Buñuel
in Ensayo de un crimen (1955).
Although she worked in the Mexican film industry until the 1970s, Andrea Palma concentrated in television and theater since the late 1950s, including her weekly appearance as hostess of the popular series La novela semanal, based on literature classics, until her retirement in 1979 due to an illness. Her last role was with her niece and goddaughter Diana Bracho
in the series Ángel Guerra (1979).
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
actress. She was considered The First Diva of Mexican and Latin American Cinema after her role in the Mexican film La Mujer del Puerto
The Woman of the Port (1934 film)
The Woman of the Port is a 1934 Mexican romantic drama film directed by Arcady Boytler and starring Andrea Palma. The film is based on the novel Le Port by French author Guy de Maupassant.-Plot:...
.
Early life
Guadalupe Bracho Pérez-Gavilán was one of eleven children of Julio Bracho Zuloaga, born in Durango, a wealthy land and textile factory owner who lost all his possessions during the Mexican revolution. One of her brothers was the director Julio BrachoJulio Bracho
Julio Bracho Gavilán was a Mexican film director and screenwriter.Bracho was born as ninth of eleven children of Julio Bracho y Zuloaga and his wife Luz Pérez Gavilán...
, a cousin was actress Dolores del Río
Dolores del Río
Dolores del Río was a Mexican film actress. She was a star of Hollywood films during the silent era and in the Golden Age of Hollywood...
. Bracho moved his family to Mexico City, where Andrea became interested in theater during her school years, and later in fashion and hat design. She entered the hat business in the early 1920s and opened her own shop, called Casa Andrea (from where she took her first name as an actress, adding the last name of one of her clients, the elegant Mrs. Palma.) Known in the theater world, she had her first opportunity replacing her friend Isabela Corona
Isabela Corona
-Biography:Isabela Corona was born as Refugio Pérez Frías in El Chante jalisco, a municipio of Autlán de Navarro. In her early years she moved to Mexico City, where she started her career on stage of the teatro Ideal as a teenager in 1926...
when the actress gave birth to a child.
Career
She closed the shop and remained with the theater company and traveled to the United States, where she stayed until the early 1930s, helped by a young and struggling Cecil KellawayCecil Kellaway
Cecil Lauriston Kellaway was a South African-born character actor.Cecil Kellaway spent many years as an actor, author, and director in the Australian film industry until he tried his luck in Hollywood in the 1930s. Finding he could get only gangster bit parts, he got discouraged and returned to...
, having small roles in the films of her cousins Dolores del Río
Dolores del Río
Dolores del Río was a Mexican film actress. She was a star of Hollywood films during the silent era and in the Golden Age of Hollywood...
and Ramón Novarro
Ramón Novarro
Ramón Novarro was a Mexican leading man actor in Hollywood in the early 20th century. He was the next male "Sex Symbol" after the death of Rudolph Valentino...
and as hat and make-up consultant for Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich
Marlene Dietrich was a German-American actress and singer.Dietrich remained popular throughout her long career by continually re-inventing herself, professionally and characteristically. In the Berlin of the 1920s, she acted on the stage and in silent films...
, when the German diva arrived in Hollywood. When she was called from Mexico and offered the part of Rosario, it was Dietrich's style that inspired her in creating her character. Palma was Dietrich's stunt double in Blonde Venus
Blonde Venus
Blonde Venus is a 1932 is a Pre-Code drama film starring Marlene Dietrich and Cary Grant. The movie was produced and directed for Paramount Pictures by Josef von Sternberg with a screenplay by Jules Furthman and S. K. Lauren adapted from a story by Furthman and von Sternberg. The music score was by W...
.
La Mujer del puerto (1934) became an instant success and Palma became a superstar, practically overnight. In the succeeding years, she was much in demand: her next movie was completely opposite to Rosario, playing the famous 17th century poet, playwright and nun Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz; she returned to Hollywood to make two "Latin films", took a four-year break doing theater and in 1943 she was directed by her brother Julio Bracho
Julio Bracho
Julio Bracho Gavilán was a Mexican film director and screenwriter.Bracho was born as ninth of eleven children of Julio Bracho y Zuloaga and his wife Luz Pérez Gavilán...
in the classic melodrama Distinto amanecer (1943). She played Julieta, a frustrated wife during the day and a prostitute during the night. She appeared in other movies, including a Tarzan vehicle, Tarzan and the Mermaids
Tarzan and the Mermaids
Tarzan and the Mermaids is a 1948 action film based on the Tarzan character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Directed by Robert Florey, it was the last of the Tarzan movies to star Johnny Weissmuller in the title role.-Plot summary:...
(1948) starring Johnny Weissmuller
Johnny Weissmuller
Johnny Weissmuller was an Austro-Hungarian-born American swimmer and actor best known for playing Tarzan in movies. Weissmuller was one of the world's best swimmers in the 1920s, winning five Olympic gold medals and one bronze medal. He won fifty-two US National Championships and set sixty-seven...
. She travelled to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
to perform in a play and during rehearsals she met actor Enrique Díaz, whom she married. When she returned to Mexico, she was no longer considered a young leading lady and became specialized in character roles.
In the 1950s she was in two classic "pecadoras" productions and huge commercial successes starring Cuban superstar Ninón Sevilla
Ninón Sevilla
Ninón Sevilla is a Mexican and Cuban film actress and dancer who was active during the Golden age of Mexican cinema. She was considered one of the greatest Cuban stars and the queen of the "rumberas film".- Career :...
and directed by Alberto Gout, playing a mean brothel owner in Aventurera
Aventurera (1950 film)
Aventurera is a 1950 Mexican drama film directed by Alberto Gout and starring Ninón Sevilla. It's considered a masterpiece of the Rumberas film.-Plot:...
(1950), a suffering wife in Sensualidad (1951), and worked with Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel
Luis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:...
in Ensayo de un crimen (1955).
Although she worked in the Mexican film industry until the 1970s, Andrea Palma concentrated in television and theater since the late 1950s, including her weekly appearance as hostess of the popular series La novela semanal, based on literature classics, until her retirement in 1979 due to an illness. Her last role was with her niece and goddaughter Diana Bracho
Diana Bracho
Diana Bracho is a Mexican film, television and stage actress.-Early life:Diana Bracho is the daughter of actor/director Julio Bracho, the niece of actress Andrea Palma and the mother of actor Julio Bracho . She married Dr. Felipe Bracho, a university professor. They have a daughter, Andrea...
in the series Ángel Guerra (1979).
Features
- Girl of the Río (1931)
- Blonde VenusBlonde VenusBlonde Venus is a 1932 is a Pre-Code drama film starring Marlene Dietrich and Cary Grant. The movie was produced and directed for Paramount Pictures by Josef von Sternberg with a screenplay by Jules Furthman and S. K. Lauren adapted from a story by Furthman and von Sternberg. The music score was by W...
(1932) - La Mujer del PuertoThe Woman of the Port (1934 film)The Woman of the Port is a 1934 Mexican romantic drama film directed by Arcady Boytler and starring Andrea Palma. The film is based on the novel Le Port by French author Guy de Maupassant.-Plot:...
(1934) - Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz (1935)
- Ave sin Rumbo (1936)
- Amapola del Camino (1937)
- La Inmaculada (1939)
- Distinto Amanecer (1943)
- El Rosario (1944)
- La Casa de la Zorra (1945)
- Los buitres sobre el tejado (1946)
- Bel Ami (1947)
- Tarzan and the MermaidsTarzan and the MermaidsTarzan and the Mermaids is a 1948 action film based on the Tarzan character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Directed by Robert Florey, it was the last of the Tarzan movies to star Johnny Weissmuller in the title role.-Plot summary:...
(1948) - AventureraAventurera (1950 film)Aventurera is a 1950 Mexican drama film directed by Alberto Gout and starring Ninón Sevilla. It's considered a masterpiece of the Rumberas film.-Plot:...
(1950) - Por la puerta falsa (1950)
- Sensualidad (1951)
- Mujeres sin mañana (1951)
- La Mentira (1952)
- Eugenia Grandet (1952)
- Ensayo de un crímen (1955)
- La mujer que no tuvo infancia (1957)
- Miercoles de CenizaAsh Wednesday (1958 film)Ash Wednesday is a 1958 Mexican drama film directed by Roberto Gavaldón. It was entered into the 8th Berlin International Film Festival.-Plot:...
(1958) - ¿Adonde van nuestros hijos? (1958)
- Mi esposa se divorcia (TV) (1959)
- Espejo de Sombras (TV) (1960)
- Teresa (1961)
- Janina (TV) (1962)
- La Familia Miau (TV) (1963)
- La Piel de Zapa (TV) (1964)
- Juicio de Almas (TV) (1964)
- Puente de cristal (TV) (1965)
- El proceso de Cristo (1966)
- El Baron Brokola (1967)
- Lucía Sombra (TV) (1971)
- Muñeca (TV) (1967)
- Mundo de jugueteMundo de jugueteMundo de Juguete is a telenovela produced in Mexico by Televisa in 1974. Mundo de Juguete is a remake of telenovela Papá Corazón with Andrea del Boca....
(TV) (1974) - Pobre Clara (TV) (1975)
- Pasiones Encendidas (TV) (1978)
- Angel Guerra (TV) (1979)
External links
- Andrea Palma (Actress) http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0657992/ at the Internet Movie Data Base
- Andrea Palma la primera Diva del Cine Mexicano (Archived 2009-10-25)
- Bracho family (Archived 2009-10-25)