Golden age of the cinema of Mexico
Encyclopedia
The Golden Age of Mexican cinema (in Spanish: Época de oro del cine mexicano) is a period between 1936 and 1969 where the quality and economic success of the cinema of Mexico reached its peak.
The golden era is thought to have started with the film ¡Vámonos con Pancho Villa! (1935), which is to this date considered the best of the cinema of Mexico. The movie was a box-office failure by Fernando de Fuentes that followed his box-office hit Allá en el Rancho Grande
. The quality and box-office success of Mexican films continued after the end of World War II when Mexican cinema became focused on commercial films.
used to produce film) were rationed. In 1942, when German submarine
s destroyed PEMEX
oil tanker
s, Mexico joined the allies in the war against Germany. Later after Mexico gained most favored nation status it encountered a scarcity of consumer goods, including film. Despite this, the Mexican film industry
found new sources of materials and equipment thereby insuring its position in the production of quality films worldwide. During World War II the film industries of France
, Italy
, Spain
, Argentina
and the United States, focused on war film
s, thus making it possible for the Mexican movie industry to become dominant in the Mexican and Latin American markets.
of Fernando de Fuentes
which became the first classic of the cinema of Mexico. This producer completed the film after Vámonos con Pancho Villa but because of post-production problems with the second he released the first one a film he had not had many artistic aspirations for but was a success in the box office. The artistic quality of the second film was significantly higher but only lasted in theaters for two weeks. Jalisco canta en Sevilla (starred by ranchera
singer Jorge Negrete
) was another production of de Fuentes and the first co-produced with Spain. These films are all in the rural genre but also in the musical/comedy genre. The rural genre also produced drama films such as María Candelaria
and La perla
. This last film was written by Pulitzer prize
-winning author John Steinbeck
and adapted to the screen by Emilio Fernández
"El Indio" who also directed it.
Another genre of urban comedy with stars like Cantinflas
and Tin Tan
produced many important films. The first films were produced and written by Arcady Boytler
and take place in the middle-class neighborhoods and low-class barrios of Mexico City
. These places also inspired urban reality films such as Los olvidados
of Luis Buñuel
and Nosotros los pobres
starred by singer Pedro Infante
. The biggest divas of the cinema of Mexico were Dolores del Río
, who after a massive Hollywood career in the 20's and 30's, returned to Mexico and represented the face of Mexican women around the world in Emilio Fernández's films like María Candelaria
; and María Félix
who made rural dramas playing as well the roles of a native or a peasant than roles of socialite
s in La diosa arodillada and La Mujer sin Alma
. However, the role that gave her the nickname "La Doña" was Doña Bárbara
.
Among the cornerstones in Mexican cinema during the 1930s are Santa (1932) the first sound film and Novillero
(1937), the first color film. El indio
(1939) is also an example of the 1930s pioneering era. The film explores an uprising of a tribe of indigenous workers toward its cruel oppressing hacendado. The cast includes Michoacán-born Consuelo Frank
, Pedro Armendáriz
, Dolores Camarillo
(as comic relief), and Eduardo Vivas
portraying the villain.
Decades of labor disputes between studios and talent played a role in bringing about the end of the golden age, but the primary cause was concentration of studio ownership. During the land reforms of President
Lázaro Cárdenas
, American sugar plantation owner and bootlegger
William O. Jenkins
sold his land holdings and made a comparatively safer investment in Mexican movie theaters. By the mid-1940s, Jenkins owned two theater chains and controlled all film showings in 12 states
. His chains began limiting the exhibition of Mexican films to allow more Hollywood films to be shown. He also used his influence in the industry to dictate regulations that limited film production to a few genres. These low-budget, low quality films became known as "churros".
In 1944, Jenkins invested in Churubusco studios. The company soon came to dominate the Mexican industry, and by the late 1950s, CLASA, Azteca Films, and Tepeyac Studios had all either closed or been bought out, leaving only Jorge Stahl's San Angel Inn as competition. In 1957, Jenkins bought the theater chain of Abelardo Rodríguez, his last remaining competitor, effectively taking control of every aspect of the Mexican cinema industry, from production to exhibition. The only survivor of the golden days was Luis Buñuel with films like El ángel extermindador in 1961.
Pedro Infante
and Jorge Negrete
were the two grand leading men of the core of this
"Golden Age", and while Negrete was the leader of the Actors Union when it began, alongside Cantinflas
, Infante was and always will be the one everyone knows as El Ídolo del Pueblo or The Idol of the People. Both worked on the film Dos Tipos de Cuidado
or "Two Guys to be Careful with", where Jorge played 'Jorge Bueno' and Pedro played 'Pedro Malo'. One year after the film was made, Jorge Negrete
died of illness when he was in Hollywood California
for a tour performance. Pedro led the motorcade of his funeral by riding his legendary Harley Davidson, and wearing the uniform of the famed Motorcycle Traffic Cops of el Distrito Federal; or Escuadron de la Direccion del Transito Distrito Federal, whose name included Acrobático or Acrobat
, a title they earned after their legendary death defying stunts as daredevils. Infante was made honorary leader (or 'Comandante') of the group for life after he and Luis Aguilar
made the organization a classic part of cinema history in Mexico with the tragic stories of ATM or A Toda Maquina and its sequel Que Te Ha Dado Esa Mujer (What has that woman given you).
Special mention for Luis Buñuel
. The legendary Spanish director, established in México in the late 1940s. In 1947 started his contributions to the Mexican Cinema. Some of his most successful films were Los Olvidados
(1949), Subida al Cielo (1952), Ensayo de un crimen (1955) and Nazarín
(1958).
In the middle of the 1940s, the Spanish director Juan Orol
started the production of notable films starred by notable Cuban and Mexican dancers. This cinematographic genre was named "Cine de Rumberas", and was very successful in the Latin America audiences. The great stars of this exotic genre are Maria Antonieta Pons
, Meche Barba
, Amalia Aguilar
, Ninón Sevilla
and Rosa Carmina
"Rancheras" also became a famous genre of Mexican film that emerged during 1950's period. The leading actors of those films were also singers of the same genre, many like Antonio Aguilar
, Flor Silvestre
, Rosa de Castilla
, Irma Dorantes, and Luis Aguilar
became famous for singing as well as acting in ranchera-influenced films.
For many the end of the Golden Age of the cinema of Mexico came on April 15, 1957 when a private plane crashed in the area of Mérida, Yucatán
. Pedro Infante
was aboard the plane, and died instantly. "Oh, what a horrendous task", people would say, when the rescue crews had to recover the charred remains of he who was El Ídolo, whom they recognized him via a gold bracelet that he wore. His funeral could be compared with a state funeral
for a hero, since he has always been considered the iconic figure of an era.
The golden era is thought to have started with the film ¡Vámonos con Pancho Villa! (1935), which is to this date considered the best of the cinema of Mexico. The movie was a box-office failure by Fernando de Fuentes that followed his box-office hit Allá en el Rancho Grande
Allá en el Rancho Grande
Allá en el Rancho Grande is a 1936 Mexican romantic drama film directed by Fernando de Fuentes and starring Tito Guízar and Esther Fernández. The film is considered to be the one that started the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.-Plot:...
. The quality and box-office success of Mexican films continued after the end of World War II when Mexican cinema became focused on commercial films.
Background
In 1939 Europe and the United States were involved in World War II and the film industries of these regions were severely affected, Europe due to its location and the US because materials used for the war effort (including celluloseCellulose
Cellulose is an organic compound with the formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to over ten thousand β linked D-glucose units....
used to produce film) were rationed. In 1942, when German submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s destroyed PEMEX
Pemex
Petróleos Mexicanos or Pemex is a Mexican state-owned petroleum company. As of 2010, with a total asset worth of $415.75 billion, it is the second non-publicly listed largest company in the world by total market value, and Latin America's second largest enterprise by annual revenue as of 2009...
oil tanker
Oil tanker
An oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker, is a merchant ship designed for the bulk transport of oil. There are two basic types of oil tankers: the crude tanker and the product tanker. Crude tankers move large quantities of unrefined crude oil from its point of extraction to refineries...
s, Mexico joined the allies in the war against Germany. Later after Mexico gained most favored nation status it encountered a scarcity of consumer goods, including film. Despite this, the Mexican film industry
Film industry
The film industry consists of the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking: i.e. film production companies, film studios, cinematography, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post production, film festivals, distribution; and actors, film directors and other film crew...
found new sources of materials and equipment thereby insuring its position in the production of quality films worldwide. During World War II the film industries of France
Cinema of France
The Cinema of France comprises the art of film and creative movies made within the nation of France or by French filmmakers abroad.France is the birthplace of cinema and was responsible for many of its early significant contributions. Several important cinematic movements, including the Nouvelle...
, Italy
Cinema of Italy
The history of Italian cinema began just a few months after the Lumière brothers had patented their Cinematographe, when Pope Leo XIII was filmed for a few seconds in the act of blessing the camera.-Early years:...
, Spain
Cinema of Spain
The art of motion-picture making within the nation of Spain or by Spanish filmmakers abroad is collectively known as Spanish Cinema.In recent years, Spanish cinema has achieved high marks of recognition as a result of its creative and technical excellence...
, Argentina
Cinema of Argentina
The cinema of Argentina has a tradition dating back to the late nineteenth century, and continues to play a role in the culture of Argentina....
and the United States, focused on war film
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
s, thus making it possible for the Mexican movie industry to become dominant in the Mexican and Latin American markets.
The golden era
One of the first box-office successes was the film Allá en el rancho grandeAllá en el Rancho Grande
Allá en el Rancho Grande is a 1936 Mexican romantic drama film directed by Fernando de Fuentes and starring Tito Guízar and Esther Fernández. The film is considered to be the one that started the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.-Plot:...
of Fernando de Fuentes
Fernando De Fuentes
Fernando de Fuentes Carrau was a Mexican film director, considered a pioneer in the film industry worldwide.-Early life and education:...
which became the first classic of the cinema of Mexico. This producer completed the film after Vámonos con Pancho Villa but because of post-production problems with the second he released the first one a film he had not had many artistic aspirations for but was a success in the box office. The artistic quality of the second film was significantly higher but only lasted in theaters for two weeks. Jalisco canta en Sevilla (starred by ranchera
Ranchera
Ranchera is a genre of the traditional music of Mexico originally sung by only one performer with a guitar. It dates to the years of the Mexican Revolution in the early 20th century. It later became closely associated with the mariachi groups which evolved in Jalisco. Ranchera today is also played...
singer Jorge Negrete
Jorge Negrete
Jorge Alberto Negrete Moreno is considered one of the most popular Mexican singers and actors of all time....
) was another production of de Fuentes and the first co-produced with Spain. These films are all in the rural genre but also in the musical/comedy genre. The rural genre also produced drama films such as María Candelaria
Maria Candelaria
María Candelaria is a 1943 Mexican film directed by Emilio Fernández and starring Dolores del Río and Pedro Armendáriz. It was the first Mexican film to be screened at the Cannes International Film Festival where it won the Grand Prix becoming the first Latin American country to do so...
and La perla
La perla
La perla is a 1947 Mexican film. The story is based on the novella The Pearl by John Steinbeck, who also co-wrote the screenplay for the movie....
. This last film was written by Pulitzer prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning author John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck
John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. was an American writer. He is widely known for the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden and the novella Of Mice and Men...
and adapted to the screen by Emilio Fernández
Emilio Fernández
Emilio "El Indio" Fernández was an actor, screenwriter and director of the cinema of Mexico. He is best known for his work as director of the film Maria Candelaria which won the Grand Prix at the 1946 Cannes Film Festival.-Early life:Fernández was born in Mineral del Hondo, Coahuila...
"El Indio" who also directed it.
Another genre of urban comedy with stars like Cantinflas
Cantinflas
Fortino Mario Alfonso Moreno Reyes , was a Mexican comic film actor, producer, and screenwriter known professionally as Cantinflas. He often portrayed impoverished campesinos or a peasant of pelado origin...
and Tin Tan
Germán Valdés
Germán Genaro Cipriano Gomez Valdés Castillo , better known as Tin-Tan, was an actor, singer and comedian who was born in Mexico City but was raised and began his career in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. He often displayed the pachuco dress and employed pachuco slang in many of his movies, some with his...
produced many important films. The first films were produced and written by Arcady Boytler
Arcady Boytler
Arcady Arcadievic Boytler Rososky was a producer, screenwriter, and director, most renowned for his films during the golden age of Mexican cinema....
and take place in the middle-class neighborhoods and low-class barrios of Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. These places also inspired urban reality films such as Los olvidados
Los olvidados
Los Olvidados is a 1950 Mexican film directed by Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel....
of 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:...
and Nosotros los pobres
Nosotros los pobres
Nosotros los pobres is a 1948 Mexican drama film directed by Ismael Rodríguez.-Plot:Two kids take a book from a trash can. They begin to read the story of a poor neighborhood in Mexico City. Carpenter Pepe "El Toro" lives with his daughter "Chachita" and woos pretty Celia, known as "La Chorreada"...
starred by singer Pedro Infante
Pedro Infante
José Pedro Infante Cruz , better known as Pedro Infante, is the most famous actor and singer of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and is an idol of the Latinamerican people, together with Jorge Negrete and Javier Solís, who were styled the Tres Gallos Mexicanos . He was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa,...
. The biggest divas of the cinema of Mexico were 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...
, who after a massive Hollywood career in the 20's and 30's, returned to Mexico and represented the face of Mexican women around the world in Emilio Fernández's films like María Candelaria
Maria Candelaria
María Candelaria is a 1943 Mexican film directed by Emilio Fernández and starring Dolores del Río and Pedro Armendáriz. It was the first Mexican film to be screened at the Cannes International Film Festival where it won the Grand Prix becoming the first Latin American country to do so...
; and María Félix
María Félix
María Félix was a Mexican film actress and one of the icons of the golden era of the Cinema of Mexico and also one of the myths of the Spanish language Cinema for her life style and personality...
who made rural dramas playing as well the roles of a native or a peasant than roles of socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
s in La diosa arodillada and La Mujer sin Alma
La Mujer sin Alma
La Mujer sin Alma is a Mexican movie of 1944, directed by Fernando de Fuentes and starring by María Félix.- Plot :The movie is a cinematographic version of a novel of Alphonse Daudet...
. However, the role that gave her the nickname "La Doña" was Doña Bárbara
Doña Bárbara
Doña Bárbara is a novel by Venezuelan author Rómulo Gallegos, first published in 1929. It was described in 1974 as "possibly the most widely known Latin American novel"....
.
Among the cornerstones in Mexican cinema during the 1930s are Santa (1932) the first sound film and Novillero
Novillero
Novillero is a Canadian indie pop band formed in 1999 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Their musical style has been dubbed "mod-pop".Novillero formed in 1999 out of the ashes of Winnipeg lounge pop darlings Transonic, picking up Rod Slaughter , Dave Berthiaume , and Rusty Matyas along the way...
(1937), the first color film. El indio
El indio
El indio is a 1939 Mexican drama film directed by Armando Vargas de la Maza. It was released in Mexico on February 10, 1939 and later released in United States on May 12, of the same year. Consuelo Frank and Pedro Armendáriz received equal billing, while Dolores Camarillo who was the film's comic...
(1939) is also an example of the 1930s pioneering era. The film explores an uprising of a tribe of indigenous workers toward its cruel oppressing hacendado. The cast includes Michoacán-born Consuelo Frank
Consuelo Frank
Consuelo Frank was a Mexican actress of film whose career reached its height during the 1930s. Born in Arteaga, Michoacán on April 25, 1912; Frank starred in leads among numerous films in the 1930s including El indio . During her later years, her appearances were narrowed to character roles such...
, Pedro Armendáriz
Pedro Armendáriz
Pedro Armendáriz was a Mexican actor of the cinema of Mexico and Hollywood.-Early life:Born Pedro Gregorio Armendáriz Hastings in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico to Pedro Armendáriz García-Conde and Adela Hastings . He was also the cousin of actress Gloria Marín...
, Dolores Camarillo
Dolores Camarillo
Dolores Camarillo was a Mexican character actress of film, television, and theater. She also was a makeup artist for films, and was frequently billed as "Fraustita".-Personal life:...
(as comic relief), and Eduardo Vivas
Eduardo Vivas
Eduardo de Ceano-Vivas Sabau was born in Havana, Cuba. His father was a Spanish soldier during the occupation of Cuba by Spain. He and his parents left Cuba shortly after Cuba's independence...
portraying the villain.
Decades of labor disputes between studios and talent played a role in bringing about the end of the golden age, but the primary cause was concentration of studio ownership. During the land reforms of President
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940.-Early life:Lázaro Cárdenas was born on May 21, 1895 in a lower-middle class family in the village of Jiquilpan, Michoacán. He supported his family from age 16 after the death of his father...
, American sugar plantation owner and bootlegger
Rum-running
Rum-running, also known as bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law...
William O. Jenkins
William O. Jenkins
William O. Jenkins was an American businessman who made great wealth in Mexico. He was born May 18, 1878 in Shelbyville, Tennessee. He was originally a mechanic who moved to Mexico. He served during the Mexican Revolution as a minor consular official at Puebla, Mexico. While serving as consul he...
sold his land holdings and made a comparatively safer investment in Mexican movie theaters. By the mid-1940s, Jenkins owned two theater chains and controlled all film showings in 12 states
States of Mexico
The United Mexican States is a federal republic formed by 32 federal entities .According to the Constitution of 1917, the states of the federation are free and sovereign. Each state has their own congress and constitution, while the Federal District has only limited autonomy with a local Congress...
. His chains began limiting the exhibition of Mexican films to allow more Hollywood films to be shown. He also used his influence in the industry to dictate regulations that limited film production to a few genres. These low-budget, low quality films became known as "churros".
In 1944, Jenkins invested in Churubusco studios. The company soon came to dominate the Mexican industry, and by the late 1950s, CLASA, Azteca Films, and Tepeyac Studios had all either closed or been bought out, leaving only Jorge Stahl's San Angel Inn as competition. In 1957, Jenkins bought the theater chain of Abelardo Rodríguez, his last remaining competitor, effectively taking control of every aspect of the Mexican cinema industry, from production to exhibition. The only survivor of the golden days was Luis Buñuel with films like El ángel extermindador in 1961.
Pedro Infante
Pedro Infante
José Pedro Infante Cruz , better known as Pedro Infante, is the most famous actor and singer of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and is an idol of the Latinamerican people, together with Jorge Negrete and Javier Solís, who were styled the Tres Gallos Mexicanos . He was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa,...
and Jorge Negrete
Jorge Negrete
Jorge Alberto Negrete Moreno is considered one of the most popular Mexican singers and actors of all time....
were the two grand leading men of the core of this
"Golden Age", and while Negrete was the leader of the Actors Union when it began, alongside Cantinflas
Cantinflas
Fortino Mario Alfonso Moreno Reyes , was a Mexican comic film actor, producer, and screenwriter known professionally as Cantinflas. He often portrayed impoverished campesinos or a peasant of pelado origin...
, Infante was and always will be the one everyone knows as El Ídolo del Pueblo or The Idol of the People. Both worked on the film Dos Tipos de Cuidado
Dos tipos de cuidado
Dos tipos de cuidado is a 1953 Mexican film. It stars Carlos Orellana....
or "Two Guys to be Careful with", where Jorge played 'Jorge Bueno' and Pedro played 'Pedro Malo'. One year after the film was made, Jorge Negrete
Jorge Negrete
Jorge Alberto Negrete Moreno is considered one of the most popular Mexican singers and actors of all time....
died of illness when he was in Hollywood California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for a tour performance. Pedro led the motorcade of his funeral by riding his legendary Harley Davidson, and wearing the uniform of the famed Motorcycle Traffic Cops of el Distrito Federal; or Escuadron de la Direccion del Transito Distrito Federal, whose name included Acrobático or Acrobat
Acrobatics
Acrobatics is the performance of extraordinary feats of balance, agility and motor coordination. It can be found in many of the performing arts, as well as many sports...
, a title they earned after their legendary death defying stunts as daredevils. Infante was made honorary leader (or 'Comandante') of the group for life after he and Luis Aguilar
Luis Aguilar
Luis Aguilar is an American soccer player who until recently played defense for the Montreal Impact of the USL First Division.- Career :...
made the organization a classic part of cinema history in Mexico with the tragic stories of ATM or A Toda Maquina and its sequel Que Te Ha Dado Esa Mujer (What has that woman given you).
Special mention for 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:...
. The legendary Spanish director, established in México in the late 1940s. In 1947 started his contributions to the Mexican Cinema. Some of his most successful films were Los Olvidados
Los olvidados
Los Olvidados is a 1950 Mexican film directed by Spanish filmmaker Luis Buñuel....
(1949), Subida al Cielo (1952), Ensayo de un crimen (1955) and Nazarín
Nazarín
Nazarín is a 1959 Mexican film directed by Luis Buñuel and co-written between Buñuel and Julio Alejandro, adapted from the eponymous novel of Benito Pérez Galdós...
(1958).
In the middle of the 1940s, the Spanish director Juan Orol
Juan Orol
Juan Orol was a Spanish and Mexican actor, screenwriter and director of the Cinema of Mexico.-Early life:He was born in La Coruña, Galicia...
started the production of notable films starred by notable Cuban and Mexican dancers. This cinematographic genre was named "Cine de Rumberas", and was very successful in the Latin America audiences. The great stars of this exotic genre are Maria Antonieta Pons
María Antonieta Pons
Maria Antonieta Pons was a Cuban born Mexican film actress and Rumba dancer.-Career:Born in Cuba in 1922, from Catalan origin, she was one of the most notorious rumba dancers of her times. She was discovered in Cuba by the Spanish film director Juan Orol. Emigrated to Mexico City to film Siboney...
, Meche Barba
Meche Barba
Meche Barba was a Mexican film actress and dancer of the Golden age of Mexican cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. Was considered one of the icons of the "Rumberas film"...
, Amalia Aguilar
Amalia Aguilar
Amalia Aguilar is a Cuban and Mexican film actress and dancer of the Golden age of Mexican cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. She was considered one of the icons of the Rumberas film.- Early life :...
, 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 Rosa Carmina
Rosa Carmina
Rosa Carmina is a Mexican-Cuban film actress and dancer of the Golden age of Mexican cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. She is considered one of the icons of the "Rumberas film".-Career:...
"Rancheras" also became a famous genre of Mexican film that emerged during 1950's period. The leading actors of those films were also singers of the same genre, many like Antonio Aguilar
Antonio Aguilar
José Pascual Antonio Aguilar Barraza most commonly known as Antonio Aguilar, nicknamed "El Charro de México", was a Mexican film actor, singer, producer and screenwriter. During his career, he made over 150 albums, which sold 25 million copies, and made 167 movies...
, Flor Silvestre
Flor Silvestre (actress)
Flor Silvestre , is a Mexican actress, ranchera singer, and comic book superhero. She is regarded as one of the great "folklóricas" of Mexican cinema, Silvestre is also one of the principal cinematographic and musical stars of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema...
, Rosa de Castilla
Rosa de Castilla
Rosa de Castilla is a Mexican actress and singer known for participating in "ranchera" films during Mexican cinema's Golden Age. She was nominated for an Ariel Award for "Best Actress in a Minor Role" for her participation in Tal para cual, starring Jorge Negrete...
, Irma Dorantes, and Luis Aguilar
Luis Aguilar (actor)
Luis Aguilar Manzo was a Mexican film and television actor and singer of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. He was also known as El Gallo Giro, and was noted for his performances in films as El 7 leguas and El látigo negro .Aguilar was born in Hermosillo, Sonora...
became famous for singing as well as acting in ranchera-influenced films.
For many the end of the Golden Age of the cinema of Mexico came on April 15, 1957 when a private plane crashed in the area of Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán and the Yucatán Peninsula. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about from the Gulf of Mexico coast...
. Pedro Infante
Pedro Infante
José Pedro Infante Cruz , better known as Pedro Infante, is the most famous actor and singer of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and is an idol of the Latinamerican people, together with Jorge Negrete and Javier Solís, who were styled the Tres Gallos Mexicanos . He was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa,...
was aboard the plane, and died instantly. "Oh, what a horrendous task", people would say, when the rescue crews had to recover the charred remains of he who was El Ídolo, whom they recognized him via a gold bracelet that he wore. His funeral could be compared with a state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
for a hero, since he has always been considered the iconic figure of an era.
1930s
- Santa (1931)
- ¡Que viva México!¡Qué viva México!¡Qué viva México! is a film project begun in 1930 by the Russian avant-garde director Sergei Eisenstein . It would have been an episodic portrayal of Mexican culture and politics from pre-Conquest civilization to the Mexican revolution. Production was beset by difficulties and was eventually...
(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) - RedesRedes (film)Redes is a Mexican film, released in 1936, about a fishing community. The English language title is The Wave, although the Spanish language title refers to nets....
(1934) - JanitzioJanitzioIsla de Janitzio, located at , is the main island of Lake Patzcuaro in the state of Michoacán, Mexico.The town of Janitzio, which means "where it rains", is located atop the hill. Janitzio can only be reached by boats which run regularly back and forth from about 7:30 am to 6 pm,...
(1934) - Dos Monjes (1934)
- Allá en el Rancho GrandeAllá en el Rancho GrandeAllá en el Rancho Grande is a 1936 Mexican romantic drama film directed by Fernando de Fuentes and starring Tito Guízar and Esther Fernández. The film is considered to be the one that started the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.-Plot:...
(1936) - Vamonos con Pancho Villa (1936)
- Águila o solÁguila o solÁguila o sol is a 1937 film of the cinema of Mexico.This was Cantinflas's third film and the second in a row with Manuel Medel...
(1937) - La mujer de nadie (1937)
- Diablillos de arrabal (1938)
- La Zandunga (1938)
- Siboney (1938)
- Los de AbajoLos de AbajoLos de Abajo is the official supporters group of Universidad de Chile. They are one of the biggest groups of supporters in Chile.-History:...
(1939) - La Noche de los MayasLa Noche de los MayasLa Noche de los Mayas is a 1939 Mexican film. It was directed byChano Urueta. The film, which is called a "Mexican tragedy" set in the times of the Mayas, is remembered today for its musical score by the Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas; a suite from the score was recorded by the Orquesta...
(1939)
1940s
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El Conquistador El Conquistador is a weekly bilingual newspaper serving McHenry County, Lake County and DeKalb County, Illinois, United States.In addition to single-copy sales, El Conquistador is popular with schools, which use it as a learning aide because all articles are published in both English and Spanish.El... (1947) Nosotros los pobres Nosotros los pobres is a 1948 Mexican drama film directed by Ismael Rodríguez.-Plot:Two kids take a book from a trash can. They begin to read the story of a poor neighborhood in Mexico City. Carpenter Pepe "El Toro" lives with his daughter "Chachita" and woos pretty Celia, known as "La Chorreada"... (1947) Ustedes los ricos Ustedes los ricos is a Mexican film made during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. It is the second film in a trilogy. The first is Nosotros los pobres and the third is Pepe El Toro... (1948) Pueblerina Pueblerina is a 1949 Mexican drama film directed by Emilio Fernández. It was entered into the 1949 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Columba Domínguez - Paloma* Roberto Cañedo - Aurelio Rodríguez* Arturo Soto Rangel - Priest* Manuel Dondé - Rómulo... (1948) Los Tres Huastecos Los tres huastecos is a 1948 Mexican comedy-drama film directed by Ismael Rodríguez .-Plot:Raised separately in three villages in La Huasteca , Lorenzo, from Tamaulipas, is an atheistic bronco; Juan de Dios, from San Luis Potosí, is a parish priest; while Víctor, from Veracruz, is a captain in the... (1948) El Gran Calavera El Gran Calavera is a 1949 Mexican comedy film directed by Luis Buñuel.-Cast:*Fernando Soler ... Ramiro*Rosario Granados ... Virginia*Andrés Soler ... Ladislao*Rubén Rojo ... Pablo*Gustavo Rojo ... Eduardo*Maruja Grifell... (1949) La Malquerida La Malquerida is a Mexican film from 1949. It was directed by Emilio Fernández, and starred Dolores del Río and Pedro Armendáriz.-Plot summary:... (1949) |
1950s
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Dos tipos de cuidado Dos tipos de cuidado is a 1953 Mexican film. It stars Carlos Orellana.... (1952) Él "Él" was the Spanish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1982, performed in Spanish by Lucía.The song was performed twelfth on the night, following Belgium's Stella with "Si tu aimes ma musique" and preceding Denmark's Brixx with "Video, Video". At the close of voting, it had received 52 points,... (1952) Camelia -Awards:* Anugerah Industri Muzik 1998** Best New Artist**Best Vocal Performance in an Album for "Camelia"-Personal life:She was married to Mohd Ehsan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce until their divorce in 1999. She then married a prominent local developer who is a Datuk in 2010. This makes her formal... (1952) La ilusión viaja en tranvía La ilusión viaja en tranvía is a 1954 Mexican film. It was written by Luis Alcoriza and directed by Luis Buñuel.-External links:... (1953) Roots (film) Roots is a 1955 Mexican drama film directed by Benito Alazraki. It was entered into the 1955 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Juan de la Cruz - Esteban * Juan Cano - Don Remigio... (1953) Tehuantepec Tehuantepec is a city and municipality in the southeast of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is part of the Tehuantepec District in the west of the Istmo Region. The area was important in pre Hispanic period as part of a trade route that connected Central America with what is now the center of... (1953) Escuela de vagabundos Escuela de vagabundos is a 1955 Mexican film. It was produced byFernando de Fuentes.... (1954) Maldita ciudad Maldita ciudad is a 1954 Mexican film. It stars Carlos Orellana.... (1954) Un extraño en la escalera Un extraño en la escalera is a 1955 Mexican drama film directed by Tulio Demicheli. It was entered into the 1955 Cannes Film Festival.-Cast:* Arturo de Córdova* Silvia Pinal* José María Linares-Rivas* Andrés Soler... (1955) El inocente El inocente is a 1956 Mexican film. It was written by Luis Alcoriza.... (1955) La muerte en este jardín La muerte en este jardín is a 1956 Mexican film. It was written by Luis Alcoriza.... (1956) Torero (film) Torero is a 1956 Mexican documentary film directed by Carlos Velo about Mexican bullfighter Luis Procuna. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature... (1956) El Vampiro El vampiro is a 1957 Mexican horror film, directed by Fernando Méndez. The film is about Marta, a young woman, who travels to her childhood village, only to find that one of her aunts is dead and another is under the influence of Mr... (1957) Tizoc (film) Tizoc is a 1957 Mexican drama film directed by Ismael Rodríguez. It was entered into the 7th Berlin International Film Festival, where Pedro Infante won the Silver Bear for Best Actor.-Cast:* Pedro Infante - Tizoc* María Félix - María... (1957) El río y la muerte El río y la muerte is a 1955 Mexican film. It was written by Luis Alcoriza and directed by Luis Buñuel.... (1957) Nazarín Nazarín is a 1959 Mexican film directed by Luis Buñuel and co-written between Buñuel and Julio Alejandro, adapted from the eponymous novel of Benito Pérez Galdós... (1958) Macario Macario is a 1960 Mexican drama film directed by Roberto Gavaldón and starring Ignacio López Tarso.It was the first Mexican film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Film in a Foreign Language. It was also entered into the 1960 Cannes Film Festival... (1959) La Cucaracha (1959 film) The Soldiers of Pancho Villa is a 1959 Mexican film directed by Ismael Rodríguez. At the 1959 Cannes Film Festival, it was nominated for a Golden Palm award.- Plot:... (1959) Yo... el aventurero Yo... el aventurero is a 1959 Mexican film directed by Jaime Salvador and starring Antonio Aguilar in the title role, Rosa de Castilla, Ángel Infante, and Amalia Mendoza... (1959) Dos corazones y un cielo Dos corazones y un cielo is a 1959 Mexican musical comedy film directed by Rafael Baledón.-Plot:Married singers Antonio Castillo and Isabel del Río are in constant disagreement. As if things weren't to tight already, Isabel's cousin Felipe Treviño comes and decides to live with them... (1959) |
Actors
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Tito Guízar Federico Arturo Guízar Tolentino was a Mexican singer and actor. He was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.... Pedro Infante José Pedro Infante Cruz , better known as Pedro Infante, is the most famous actor and singer of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema and is an idol of the Latinamerican people, together with Jorge Negrete and Javier Solís, who were styled the Tres Gallos Mexicanos . He was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa,... Víctor Junco Víctor Mortimer Junco was a Mexican film actor. He appeared in 140 films between 1935 and 1988.-Selected filmography:* The Devil Is a Woman * Ash Wednesday -External links:... Katy Jurado Katy Jurado , born María Cristina Estela Marcela Jurado García in Mexico, D.F., was a Mexican actress who had a successful film career both in Mexico and in Hollywood.... Libertad Lamarque Libertad Lamarque was an Argentine-Mexican actress and singer. Originally from Argentina, she reached fame throughout Latin America while living in Mexico and working in Mexican cinema.-Career:... Ana Bertha Lepe Ana Bertha Lepe is a Mexican actress and third runner up at the Miss Universe contest in 1953. She was born in Tecolotlán, Jalisco.... Marga López Marga López , born Catalina Margarita López Ramos, was an Argentine-born Mexican actress. Born in Argentina, she later acquired Mexican nationality.-Biography:... Carlos López Moctezuma Carlos López Moctezuma was a Mexican film actor. He appeared in 215 films between 1938 and 1980. He starred in the film Happiness, which was entered into the 7th Berlin International Film Festival.... Delia Magana Delia Magaña was a Mexican film and television actress, singer, and dancer. Although she started as a silent film actress, Magaña became best known for her comic supporting roles in her later years... Maria Victoria María Victoria is a Mexican film and television actress and singer, who is best known for her role of "Inocencia" in La criada bien criada and its spin-off television series of the same name.-Early life:... Gloria Marín - Biography :Born in Mexico City on April 19, 1919, her mother was Maria Laura Ramos Luna and natural daughter of Pedro Mendez.She had a long career, and was also known as Jorge Negrete's co-star and for being his lover for about 11 years. They never married because she never got along with his... María Elena Marqués María Elena Marqués was a Mexican actress who was a star of Golden Age of Mexican cinema in the 1940s and 1950s.In her best-known role, Marqués starred in the 1947 film La perla ; she played the wife of a fisherman who finds the ill-fated pearl. The film was based on John Steinbeck's book The Pearl... Arturo Martínez Arturo Esteban Martínez Rivera is a male judoka from Mexico. He participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:* on JudoInside.com*... Lilia Michel Lilia Michel was a Mexican television and film actress most active during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, earning her the nickname of "the jewel" of the film era.... Ricardo Montalbán Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán y Merino, KSG was a Mexican radio, television, theatre and film actor. He had a career spanning six decades and many notable roles... Carmen Montejo Carmen Montejo is a Mexican actress of telenovelas, stage and the Golden age of the cinema of Mexico.... Cantinflas Fortino Mario Alfonso Moreno Reyes , was a Mexican comic film actor, producer, and screenwriter known professionally as Cantinflas. He often portrayed impoverished campesinos or a peasant of pelado origin... " Jorge Negrete Jorge Alberto Negrete Moreno is considered one of the most popular Mexican singers and actors of all time.... Eduardo Noriega (Mexican actor) Eduardo Noriega was a Mexican film actor who has appeared in over 100 films, mainly Mexican.His best known English-language role was as Don Francisco from San Jose in Zorro, The Gay Blade... 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... Juan Orol Juan Orol was a Spanish and Mexican actor, screenwriter and director of the Cinema of Mexico.-Early life:He was born in La Coruña, Galicia... Andrea Palma (Actress) 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.-Early life:... Leticia Palma Zoyla Gloria Ruiz Moscoso , better known by her stage name Leticia Palma, is a former actress who worked in Mexican cinema... |
Joaquín Pardavé Joaquín Pardavé Arce was a Mexican film actor, director, songwriter and screenwriter of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. He was best known for starring and directing various comedy films during the 1940s... "Don Susanito" Blanca Estela Pavón María Blanca Estela Pavón Vasconcelos was a Mexican film actress of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.She appeared in many classic films of the 1940s as a young woman. Her career peaked between 1948 and 1949... Silvia Pinal Silvia Pinal is a Mexican actress, who had roles in several of Luis Buñuel's movies such as El ángel exterminador and Viridiana... María Antonieta Pons Maria Antonieta Pons was a Cuban born Mexican film actress and Rumba dancer.-Career:Born in Cuba in 1922, from Catalan origin, she was one of the most notorious rumba dancers of her times. She was discovered in Cuba by the Spanish film director Juan Orol. Emigrated to Mexico City to film Siboney... Lilia Prado Lilia Prado was a Mexican actress. After winning a beauty contest she started working in the Mexican cinematographic industry, first as an extra, and later on in leading roles.... Flor Silvestre (actress) Flor Silvestre , is a Mexican actress, ranchera singer, and comic book superhero. She is regarded as one of the great "folklóricas" of Mexican cinema, Silvestre is also one of the principal cinematographic and musical stars of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema... Rosita Quintana Rosita Quintana is a Argentinan born Mexican film actress and singer of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.... Marquita Rivera Marquita Rivera , a.k.a. "Queen of Latin Rhythm", was a Puerto Rican actress, singer and dancer.Dubbed the "Queen of La Conga", "Queen of Latin Rhythm" and "Latin Hurricane" during various stages of her career, Rivera, went on to enjoy a strong musical career both in the United States and in her... Gustavo Rojo Gustavo Rojo is a Uruguayan film actor and producer. He has appeared in over 100 films since 1944.-Selected filmography:* El Gran Calavera * The Evil Forest * The Island Princess... Emma Roldán Emma Roldán was a Mexican character actress and costume designer. She is remembered as the sharp-tongued, domineering matron of Mexican cinema, and was nominated three times for a Silver Ariel Award.-Early life:... Rosa Carmina Rosa Carmina is a Mexican-Cuban film actress and dancer of the Golden age of Mexican cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. She is considered one of the icons of the "Rumberas film".-Career:... Lina Salomé Lina Salomé is a Cuban-born Mexican film actress, singer, and dancer. Although she has acted in only seven movies, she is best-known for her role as "Ana" in Los chiflados del rock and roll and Los tres bohemios where she part of the supporting cast... 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 :... David Silva David Josué Jiménez Silva is a Spanish footballer who plays for Manchester City and the Spanish national team. Silva is capable of playing on the wing, as a traditional number 10 and sometimes as a supporting striker... – Not to be confused with the Spanish football player. Fernando Soler Fernando Soler was a prolific Mexican film actor and film director.He appeared in over 100 films between 1915 and his death in 1979.- External links :... Su Muy Key Su Muy Key was a Chinese-Mexican film actress and dancer of the Golden age of Mexican cinema.Was one of the first strippers in the history of Mexican cinema. She was known as the nickname of "Muñequita China" .... Lupita Tovar Lupita Tovar is a Mexican actress, best known for her starring role in the 1931 Spanish language version of Dracula, filmed in Los Angeles by Universal Pictures at night using the same sets as the Bela Lugosi version, but with a different cast and director.Born as Guadalupe Tovar , in Matías... Emilio Tuero Emilio Tuero Cubillas was a Mexican actor, producer and singer of Spanish origin.He was known as "Barítono de Argel" and worked for the XEW radio station during "La hora azul" , performing popular music, bolero and tango.- Filmography :* Cri Cri el grillito cantor * Viva el amor * Historia de un... Germán Valdés Germán Genaro Cipriano Gomez Valdés Castillo , better known as Tin-Tan, was an actor, singer and comedian who was born in Mexico City but was raised and began his career in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. He often displayed the pachuco dress and employed pachuco slang in many of his movies, some with his... "Tin Tan" Yolanda Varela Yolanda Varela was one of the greatest Mexican actresses of the golden age of the Mexican Cinema. She was born in Mexico City on March 30, 1930. She started in the business at a very young age. She studied ballet in the National Institute of the Performing Arts. Yolanda Varela was the leading... Lupe Vélez Lupe Vélez was a Mexican film actress. Vélez began her career in Mexico as a dancer, before moving to the U.S. where she worked in vaudeville. She was seen by Fanny Brice who promoted her, and Vélez soon entered films, making her first appearance in 1924. By the end of the decade she had... Ariadne Welter Ariadne Welter was a Mexican movie actress of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. She appeared in the Luis Buñuel film The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz... María Luisa Zea María Luisa Zea was a Mexican actress.... |
Directors
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Fernando Méndez Fernando Méndez is a Argentine footballer currently playing for Cobreloa of the Primera División in Chile.... Juan Orol Juan Orol was a Spanish and Mexican actor, screenwriter and director of the Cinema of Mexico.-Early life:He was born in La Coruña, Galicia... Joaquín Pardavé Joaquín Pardavé Arce was a Mexican film actor, director, songwriter and screenwriter of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. He was best known for starring and directing various comedy films during the 1940s... Fernando Soler Fernando Soler was a prolific Mexican film actor and film director.He appeared in over 100 films between 1915 and his death in 1979.- External links :... |
Screenwriters
- Luis AlcorizaLuis AlcorizaLuis Alcoriza de la Vega was a respected Mexican screenwriter, film director, and actor. His 1962 film Tlayucan was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.- Screenwriter :...
- Arcady BoytlerArcady BoytlerArcady Arcadievic Boytler Rososky was a producer, screenwriter, and director, most renowned for his films during the golden age of Mexican cinema....
- Luis BuñuelLuis BuñuelLuis Buñuel Portolés was a Spanish-born filmmaker — later a naturalized citizen of Mexico — who worked in Spain, Mexico, France and the US..-Early years:...
- Juan Bustillo Oro
- Humberto Gómez Landero
- Antonio Guzmán Aguilera
- Mauricio Magdaleno
Studios
- Águila Films
- Estudios Camus
- Estudios ChurubuscoEstudios ChurubuscoEstudios Churubusco is one of the oldest and largest movie studios in Latin America located in the Churubusco neighborhood of Mexico City.It was inaugurated in 1945 after a 1943 agreement between RKO and Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta...
- Cima Films S. A.
- Clasa Films
- Diana Films S. A.
- FilmexFilmexFilmex was an annual Los Angeles film festival held in the 1970s and early 1980s. It was the predecessor of the American Film Institute's Los Angeles International Film Festival...
- Films Mundiales
- Grovas Films
- Oro Films
- Cinematográfica Calderón