Maria Felix Movies

Affectionately nicknamed "La Doña" for her role in the 1943 Mexican drama Doña Barbara, actress Maria Felix played an essential role in prompting the Mexican film industry to turn out films with more female-centric plots and themes. As a result, Barbara would rise through the ranks to become one of the premiere screen stars of her generation, and an important part of Mexican culture. Life wasn't easy for this lovely and talented screen beauty though, and in this documentary filmmakers examine both her personal life and her professional career to offer the definitive portrait of the woman who would change the face of Mexican cinema. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

This situation comedy concerns the daydreams of people and what they would do if they suddenly had a million dollars. Maria Felix leads a cast of a dozen whose imaginations are as rich as the money they wish they had. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

The life of a powerful actress is examined in this tragedy. The film begins with her demise during a plane crash. Later, the men who loved her try to figure out why she was always so unhappy. Her story is told in flashback. It begins in a small town where she was a dress shop model. She used the money from that job to pay for her acting lessons. Later she is seen meeting the director of a theater group. This encounter eventually gets her involved with a Mexican film studio. As she becomes increasingly popular, she has a series of men in her life. Though she has become rich, powerful, and sought after, the woman still feels a great void in her life. To begin a new life, she takes a plane to Europe. Unfortunately the plane crashes and her life tragically ends. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Four of the best-known, most popular actors in Mexican cinematic history star in this drama about the Mexican Revolution by equally well-known director Ismael Rodriguez. Maria Felix is Refugio and Dolores Del Rio is Chabela, two women who love the same man and who are both equally dedicated to fighting in the revolution. Pedro Armendariz is Valentin, their lover, and an aging Emilio Fernandez is Antonio. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Soldiers of Pancho Villa is the English-language title for the Mexican historical epic La Cucaracha. The matchless Maria Felix stars as a patriotic young woman whose admiration for Villa borders on the fanatical. Maria rallies her countrymen to stand by Villa in his fight to wrest control of Mexico from the oppressive aristos. Dolores Del Rio also appears, leading one to muse about the degree of tension that must have existed on the set between two of Mexico's most gorgeous actresses. Emilio Fernandez and Pedro Armendariz round out the all-star cast. Shown but fitfully on American television in the 1960s, Soldiers of Pancho Villa was frequently showcased on the Univision cable service of the 1980s and 1990s. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This typical Mexican melodrama is set in a coastal fishing village where a wealthy fisherman (Pedro Armendariz) lives with his wife (Maria Felix) and young son (Juanito Musquiz). Their lives are turned upside down when an American of dubious morality (Jack Palance) comes into town. The American and the fisherman's wife had been lovers years and years ago -- and now the fisherman begins to suspect that the son he always thought was his, is really the offspring of this foreign intruder. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

True to its title, Canasta de Cuentos Mexicanos (Basket of Mexican Tales) is based on a series of short stories, all written by reclusive The Treasure of the Sierra Madre author B. Traven. The first story concerns the marital travails of Pierre (Arturo de Cordova) and Lorraine (Lorraine Chanel). The second stars Pedro Armendariz and Maria Felix in a Latino variation of "The Taming of the Shrew." The final tale focuses on an Indian basket-weaver (Jorge Martinez de Hoyos), who proves a bit too clever for a pair of glib American tourists (Jack Kelly, Mari Blanchard). The all-star cast of Canasta de Cuentos Mexicanos enabled the film to secure good bookings on both sides of the border. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A good cast smooths over the rough spots of Les Heros sont Fatigues. The scene is the African republic of Liberia, which in this film proves to be a stopping-off point for a number of shady characters. Yves Montand plays a French ex-pilot who becomes involved in a scheme to smuggle stolen diamonds. His cohorts include a Nazi collaborator, a German refugee, and the white mistress of a prominent Liberian. A romance develops between the ex-pilot and the aforementioned mistress. Meanwhile, one of the conspirators (Curt Jurgens) has a last-minute attack of conscience, effectively queering the deal. The steamier romantic passages in Les Heros sont Fatigues had to be trimmed for American consumption. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Judging by the number of times it has shown up on Spanish-language cable TV, La Escandida is one of the most popular and best beloved of the Maria Felix vehicles. The star runs the emotional gamut as Gabriela, who rises from the depths of poverty to the heights of Mexican society as a much-sought-after courtesan. Eventually, however, Gabriela proves that she is still true to her peasant heritage by casting her lot with the rebels in the 1916 Mexican civil war. Pedro Armendariz co-stars as Felipe, the charismatic rebel leader who wins Gabriela's heart -- and inadvertently causes her downfall. La Escandida is stunningly photographed by the late, great Gabriel Figueroa. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Affairs of Messalina is a French/Italian historical spectacle produced in the wake of the internationally successful Fabiola (1949). Mexican film luminary Maria Felix essays the role of Messalina, the scheming wife of Roman emperor Augustus who searches for love by walking the streets of the Eternal City. Also in the cast is an Italian specialist and silky seductresses, Gianna Maria Canale. It is difficult to believe that any producer/director could go wrong with lavish sets, exotic costumes, and two of the most glamorous actresses on Earth, but Carmine Gallone (who previously helmed the 1937 Fascist-financed epic Scipio Africanus) achieves the impossible: Affairs of Messalina makes Roman decadence as dull as dishwater. Originally released in Europe in 1951 under the deceptively short title Messaline, Affairs of Messalina was mercifully cut to ribbons by its American distributor Columbia Pictures in 1954. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide