Manuel Alvarado Movies
- 1969
Popular Mexican comedian Cantinflas stars in this comedy about a druggist from Sonora, Mexico who travels to Arizona in search of a lost gold mine. He is helped by some friendly Indians when the bad guys try to give him trouble. The explorer tries to find the mine that he has inherited but has been lost to time and the elements. Captured and tied to a pole, he is nearly the victim of a fiery death before he endears himself to the Indian chief when he extracts a painful tooth. The Chief (Manver) lets the druggist go and it isn't long before the chief's beautiful daughter casts romantic glances towards the inept explorer in this Spanish language feature. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cantinflas, Isela Vega, (more)
One of four low-budget Mexican horror productions to star an ailing Boris Karloff in a supporting (but top-billed) role, this odd little number features the horror legend as the dying forebear of an eccentric family, whose heirs descend like vultures on his palatial home when they learn of his impending demise... which apparently occurs shortly after their arrival. Little do they realize that their plucky patriarch has laid some elaborate traps for them, employing his collection of life-size automatons. The cast wanders about through dimly-lit sets for what seems like an eternity before being slain by the wind-up robots in a variety of gory ways, but the violent, bloody climax comes far too late to rescue viewers from the endless drudgery. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
In this actioner, a gun runner gets a job as a marine biologist while stranded in the Middle East. He quickly finds out that his new employer and his wife are really treasure seekers looking for bullion. Unfortunately, the gold lies in deep, shark-filled water. Tragically, while the movie was being shot, a stuntman really was killed by a shark. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Popular Mexican comic Cantinflas made this his homecoming film after veering off to the U.S. to appear in Pepe, his last movie in English. El Analfabeto sees him back in top form as Inocencio Prieto y Calvo (which roughly translates as: Innocent, Dark-skinned and Bald). Inocencio loses his job just as he receives a letter telling him he has inherited $160,000 from the estate of his late uncle. But Inocencio cannot read. Along the way to learning how to read, the shy Inocencio acquires a charming love interest, Blanquita (Lilia Prado) and an enemy -- a bank teller who tries to nail him with a practical joke that goes wrong. The teller gets his hands on Inocencio's letter (which no one has ever read to him) and gives it to a corrupt lawyer with the thought of swindling the illiterate out of his money. As the plot thickens, Inocencio finds himself in more hot water before he finds his letter and ultimate happiness. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lilia Prado
