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Reviews
El gendarme desconocido (1941)
Unlike in airplanes, in movies there was a 777 before a 007.
This is certainly one of Cantinflas classics (arguable the best). It is also the first one with his favorite director MM Delgado, who was debuting as director in "complete" charge. I'm not sure who benefited more of this association. Delgado became one of the busiest directors in Mexico and Cantinflas never made a better movie than "Ahi esta el detalle" (also can be arguable the best) done previously and directed by Bustillo Oros. However, he equaled this many times with Delgado (at least until his color movies). Here in this film, it is notorious the liberty he gives Cantinflas to improvise. I believe that this produced most of his funniest scenes. Like in this one when he was reading his report to the chief of police, about a bomb that is just about to explode; and he excuses himself for having trouble to read what he wrote, because he doesn't know how to read and write. Anyway, it's a gem of a comedy and a must to be digitally restored.
Enamorada (1946)
Guess who was the real "enamorada" of this movie?
This might or not be a Mexican "Taming of the shrew", but certainly it's a classic from the Mexican golden era. Some might remember it as a Felix/Armendariz movie, but I can assure you it is a Fernandez/Figueroa movie for two reasons; "Enamorada" and "The Torch". By this time, Fernandez, Figueroa and Armendariz were already well known in Hollywood, not only because of their recent success of "Maria Candelaria" (with the former Hollywood star Dolores Del Rio) obvious reasons to bring a lot of attention. Maybe that's why it wasn't equally distributed and popularized in USA, perhaps someone fall in love with it, to the point of buying it and redo it in an English version. An English version that excluded Maria Felix, but included a former Mrs. Chaplin (who also produced) and Pedo Armendariz with some of the original crew, and Cholula and the volcanoes of Puebla in the background. But no matter what version you see first, this one is by far better, but not much more realistic, considering what was the reality of the Revolution years.
Águila o sol (1938)
This is a piece of pure audiovisual nostalgic history, preserved in a film.
If you are a Cantinflas fan or a serious student, this is perfect for you. It was done some years before the development of his classic image and his association with MM Delgado. The most remarkable of this film, are the scenes when he appears in a theatre with his still partner then Manuel Medel, doing the same sketches they did a few years before, at the now mythical "carpas" (portable theatres under canvas). And here he appears as he used to appear in his very early years. Just those scenes, make this movie worth to be digitally restored and preserved in DVD.
Pepe (1960)
Cantinflas??
Sorry, but this is like: "Cantinflas gave a party and everybody showed up, except himself". Anyway, it's great to see in one movie and enjoy all of his illustrious guests. Now, if you want to enjoy Cantinflas, please stick to his 40's and early 50's b/w movies.
Soy charro de Levita (1949)
Tin Tan takes his show to Jalisco, and dares to do it in his zoot suit outfit.
This is a great Tin Tan classic, when he still was a "pachuco" wearing his trademark zoot suit, to the extreme that he didn't forget to put a feather on his charro hat ("sombrero"). With the usual great cast, typical of those years, including pretty Carmen Molina and gorgeous Rosita Quintana speaking with a great Mexican Jalisco accent. But perhaps the one that stills the show is Ismael Perez (I found his name in the IMDB), he is the little kid that hates Tin Tan, and his name in the movie is "Pepito" (like in the Mexican jokes) who makes fun of his zoot suit and for not wearing a gun. He ends up selling him his toy gun. Don't miss this one, it's just pure fun entertainment for all.
Ahí está el detalle (1940)
Cantinflas couldn't be more happy for going to jail, after killing a mad dog.
There is no doubt that this is one of his best movies,. Done in his pre Delgado years, this one was directed by well known Juan Bustillo Oros, who also worked on what turned out to be a great intelligent script. There should be a warning before the movie starts, because this movie might be hazardous to your health, you may end up with stomach cramps and even watery eyes (or pants) for laughing too hard. I just acquired a great DVD copy (finally), restored from a 35mm. master. And for the benefit of non Spanish speaking people, it has English subtitles, and it's a great translation done by Televisa (perhaps with a couple of unimportant flaws, considering this is Cantinflas). So, thank you Televisa for caring, I can't wait for more restored DVDs of those Mexican gems from the 40's and early 50's.
La marca del zorrillo (1950)
Zorro, zorrillo and "zorrillo" do not mean the same thing.
Zorro as you know means fox and Zorrillo means skunk, but also "zorrillo" may mean "dumb fox" or just dumb. This is a great Tin Tan classic and nothing but pure fun for all. Made after the success of "The mark of Zorro" with Tyrone Power some years earlier, but since this is Tin Tan, don't expect the story of Zorro. Actually it's a satire on Hollywood, with a mixture of "Zorro", "Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and with a touch of "Robin Hood" and even "Laurel and Hardy". With a great cast that includes a beautiful young Silvia Pinal and at least two Tin Tans. I wonder if you can spot his real brother "Don Ramon". I'm looking forward a digitally restored DVD copy of this, and the many other good old Mexican films of this period, that just must be restored before is too late.
También de dolor se canta (1950)
Pedro visita los estudios Tepeyac. (sort of "Gable visits Paramount")
A nostalgic film in many ways, with great cameo appearances. The most notable is a brief argument he has with Tin Tan (playing himself), that just should last longer, but the one when he sings second in a duet with Pedro Vargas is undoubtedly the best version of "La negra noche". Oscar Pulido and the unforgettable Vitola are the indispensable ration of comedy and they are in top form. But to top it all, he ended up married in real life to his sister in this movie (Irma). It's great to see this kind of movies restored and digitally reproduced in DVD. Thank you. We need more of this to preserve all those wonderful Mexican movies of the 40's and early 50's.
Gran Hotel (1944)
Cantinflas gets a job
Before Cantinflas became a priest, a doctor, a teacher, a diplomat or flew in a balloon with David Niven in color and cinemascope, there was a real Cantinflas. And this gem of comedy proves it, here he still plays that surreal hero with whom we all sympathize and identified with. Perhaps one of his best scenes to prove this is when, full of tears, he confesses that first of all he is a macho, and as such, he rather keep on suffering like a man, because he is not working, than get a job and go to work. So here he is, trying to get a job, trying to like it and trying (not too hard) to keep it. And in the end the hero tramp (like you know who) gets away with practically everything, except a steady job. At this time he was already so popular that they (censorship, government, macarthism?) thought he was a bad influence for the kids (the same kids that adored him) so they advised him to change his image (they sort of made him an offer he couldn't refuse). So, a few years after, he became a senator ("Si yo fuera diputado") in a movie he wrote himself. It was very well known then, that the movie was stripped of at least 25 minutes of footage, most of it when he was delivering a political speech. And by the time he became a diplomat ("Su excelencia"), his image was totally changed, just like his face. Maybe it was the same censorship that made another great comedian seek refuge in Switzerland. but that is another(?) story. Nevertheless "Gran Hotel" is Cantinflas at his best, as all his 40's and early 50's b/w movies.
Romeo y Julieta (1943)
Shakespeare -v- Cervantes(?)
This one is undoubtedly one of Cantinflas best. Done during his most productive years (40's), but this one has an extra ingredient. And that is, since is Romeo and Juliet, all the play is done in verse, usually ending with Mexican slang that rimes, which produces a non stop laughing effect. Like many Cantinflas movies, this one in particular, just can't be translated at all, or at least literally, that would kill the joke. This film must be restored and digitally reproduce on DVD, just like so many good old Mexican movies of this period.
¡A volar joven! (1947)
"Padre nuestro que estamos en tus terrenos..."
If you want to know and enjoy Cantinflas please avoid his movies made in color (including "80 days..). His best movies are the ones made in b/w ('40's and early 50's), and this is one of them. In the last scene with the great Angel Garaza he reinvented the prayer "Our Lord" and took many days to complete , because they couldn't stop laughing at each other, or so they say. The plot is based on a French play, and other versions were made in the 30's, but I can assure you that this one is by far the funniest.
El niño perdido (1947)
The second half is a gem
If you survive the first half with his delicious absurdity, your reward is the second half, on the scenes when he teams up with his "carnal" Marcelo singing American, Cuban and Argentinian music, but ending with a very Mexican serenade. If you ever saw Jorge Negrete singing in a movie you'll laugh to tears when Tin Tan sings. And with the lighting effects, you can see actual flashes of Jorge Negrete until you hear him singing. Just that scene was worth to buy the DVD, which by the way is a great work of digital restoration, (Sorry didn't have subtitles) I hope they restore more of the good old "40's and early '50's Mexican movies .
El rey del barrio (1950)
'ntonces que? (What's up)
Since I don't have anough space to talk about tin tan. At least I would like to recomend all his 1940's and early 50's movies. Most of the time you'll find him corny at the beginning, but once you understand him you'll end up crying of laughter. His "..tonces que?" in this movie, became a trend in the 1950's Mexican slang for a while (according to my dad off course). I don't think that he was better or funnier than Cantinflas, but I don't think that Cantinflas was better or funnier than Tin tan. Two completely different styles in comedy, but with the same result. Perhaps Tin Tan was a more daring, and as surreal as the Marx brothers.
La ilusión viaja en tranvía (1954)
An unusual Buñuel that makes you laugh at last
To all Buñuel fans that haven't seen this one, let me tell you that the big laugh comes at the end and keeps you laughing for a long time.after the movie is over. Very unusual for Buñuel, but nevertheless very realistic and enjoyable. For the delightful laughing effect he produced at the end, I rated 9.5.