VICTIMS OF SIN is a corker of a "cabaretera", an indigenous Mexican genre that can best be described as "noir/musical/soap opera". This one's a mean street MADAME X with blonde Cuban fireball Ninon Sevilla as Violeta, a nightclub entertainer at the Changó, who rescues a newborn from the garbage can after it's thrown away by a co-worker. That girl was told by her pimp, Rodolfo, to choose either him or their baby and saving the infant causes Violeta no end of trouble. She gets fired, becomes a prostitute, gets her face scarred by Rololfo, sends him to prison, marries a rival nightclub's owner and shoots Rodolfo after he kills her husband and kidnaps the kid for his own nefarious purposes. Violeta goes to prison and her young "son" becomes a street urchin but don't worry, the movie's not over yet...
There's never a dull moment, that's for sure, with many mambos and a few songs, including one that would never have gotten past Hollywood censors at the time. Rudy Acosta, a familiar character actor from TV westerns ("High Chapparal") is sexy in a scary way (or visa versa) as Rodolfo and he does a mean jitterbug in his zoot suit. I believe he's a "pachuco" but I'm not sure. I prefer Ninon's previous AVENTURERA, myself, but this follow-up was directed by Emilio Fernandez, one of Mexico's premiere directors from its "Epoca de Oro" and it would make a great introduction for anyone unfamiliar with "Mexican Noir". The already indoctrinated are sure to enjoy it.
There's never a dull moment, that's for sure, with many mambos and a few songs, including one that would never have gotten past Hollywood censors at the time. Rudy Acosta, a familiar character actor from TV westerns ("High Chapparal") is sexy in a scary way (or visa versa) as Rodolfo and he does a mean jitterbug in his zoot suit. I believe he's a "pachuco" but I'm not sure. I prefer Ninon's previous AVENTURERA, myself, but this follow-up was directed by Emilio Fernandez, one of Mexico's premiere directors from its "Epoca de Oro" and it would make a great introduction for anyone unfamiliar with "Mexican Noir". The already indoctrinated are sure to enjoy it.