Maria Felix Movies
Maria Felix was born Maria de Los Angeles Felix Guerena. A beautiful, forceful star of Mexican and European films, she was the reigning beauty and female star of the Spanish-speaking cinema for three decades. Onscreen from 1942, she worked with such directors as Luis Buñuel and Jean Renoir. She retired in the early '70s. In 1989, Mexican President Salinas de Gortari presented her with the first Mexico City Prize, awarded for a lifetime of distinguished achievement. Married four times, her husbands included Mexican director Fernando Palacios, composer Agustin Lara (called the Irving Berlin of Mexico), and star Mexican actor Jorge Negrete (with whom she appeared in her first film); she is the mother of Mexican actor Enrique Alvarez Felix. ~ All Movie Guide
Camelia is a woman who has been hurt by love but who is willing to give it another chance with her new, young and caring lover. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- 1956
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
- Starring:
- Arturo de Cordova, Lorraine Chanel, (more)
- 1944
The title of this Mexican romantic drama translates loosely as The Silken Chinese Dress. The titular fabric carries with it an ancient curse, which brings disaster upon anyone who wears the dress. Maria Felix plays Senora de la Barca, the wife of Spain's first Mexican ambassador, who vows to defy superstition and wear the forbidden gown. But first, she traces the dress' melancholy history, which involves the tragic romance between a captive Chinese princess and Spanish aristocrat. Lavishly produced, China Poblama proved to be another successful stepping stone in the burgeoning film career of the lovely Maria Felix. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Miguel Angel Ferriz, (more)
- 1943
The combined talents of star Maria Felix and director Fernando De Fuentes resulted in the can't-miss romantic drama Dona Barbara. Felix is cast as the title character, a rich landowner who has accumulated her fortune through the kindness of strangers-handsome, amorous strangers to whom she has sold her affections. Renouncing true love in favor of material gains, Dona Barbara ultimate falls desperately in love with neighboring rancher Santos Luardos (Julian Soler). Her euphoria evaporates when she learns that Santos is interested only in her young daughter Marisela (Maria Marques). Completed in 1943, Donna Barbara earned several industry awards in Mexico, and not a few similar honors elsewhere. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Julian Soler, (more)
One of Mexico's most beloved singers and actors, Jorge Negrete was the star of a long string of musical-Westerns, and appeared in over 40 motion pictures before his untimely death in 1953; he was only 42 years old. El Charro Inmortal features highlights from some of Negrete's most memorable roles, as well as appearances from some of his celebrity friends and admirers, including Cantinflas, Luis Aguilar, Pedro Infante, and Negrete's widow, Maria Felix. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jorge Negrete, Maria Felix, (more)
- 1942
The Mexican El Penon de las Animas (The Rock of Souls) was accurately described by several reviewers as a South-of-the-Border "Romeo and Juliet". The film's star-crossed lovers, separated by a variety of vendettas and family-feuds, find lasting peace only in death. Appearing as a rival lover is Rene Cardona, who also pursued a successful career as a director. All in all, the principal attraction of El Penon de las Animas was 27-year-old Maria Felix in her first film starring role. Felix would remain a Mexican movie favorite well into the 1960s, retiring in 1970 upon the death of her fifth husband. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- René Cardona, Sr., Maria Felix, (more)
A tenacious beauty named Aurora (Maria Felix) seduces the municipal authorities so that she can purchase the estate of missing local Ricardo Alfaro (Jorge Negrete), only to find her elaborate ruse complicated when Ricardo eventually returns home. Incensed that his house was sold without his permission, Ricardo argues his case before the authorities. When Aurora claims that Ricardo assaulted her, the authorities seem to take her side and the case heads for court. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Jorge Negrete, (more)
Enamorada, Mexican filmmaker Emilio Fernandez' only 1946 effort, was released in the US early the following year. The film's English-language title is A Girl in Love, the girl in question being the ravishing Maria Felix. Set during the Mexican revolution, the story concerns the rocky relationship between the hoydenish, high-born Beatriz (Felix) and revolutionary General Reyes (Pedro Armendariz). Forsworn to kill and/or humiliate any artistocrats in his path, Reyes cannot bring himself to harm Beatriz, whose hatred for the general slowly but surely turns to love. Throughout, Maria Felix is stunningly photographed by Gabriel Figueroa, one of director Fernandez' favorite collaborators. A huge success upon its first release, Enamorada has since become a fixture of the various Spanish-language cable TV services. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Pedro Armendáriz, (more)
Per its title, Faustina is a distaff variation on the Faust legend. In this case, Mexican film favorite Maria Felix plays a woman who sells her soul to the Devil in exchange for beauty and wisdom. Actually, she bargains with the Devil's assistant (Fernando Gomez), who happens to be one of the woman's former lovers. The would-be demon spends the rest of the film trying to thwart the poor woman's happiness, but eventually declares that he's still in love with her. Not to be taken seriously, Faustina was an enjoyable digression from the usual portentous fare at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Fernando Fernán Gómez, (more)
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
- Starring:
- Jack Palance, Maria Felix, (more)
- 1955
Beautifully photographed, this comedy drama from Jean Renoir chronicles the revival of Paris' most notorious dance as it tells the story of a theater producer who turns a humble washerwoman into a star at the Moulin Rouge. The film is also title Only the French Can. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Gabin, Maria Felix, (more)
- 1951
Incantesimo Tragico (Tragic Spell) is a sombre Italian vehicle for the magnificent Mexican film luminary Maria Felix. The story is motivated by an ancient curse, passed from generation to generation. The source of the hex is a fabulous treasure, which of course eventually falls into the hands of Felix. Will she be able to beat the curse, or has her fate already been hermetically sealed? When Incantesimo Tragico was released in the U.S., the advertising emphasized Maria Felix's popular co-star Rosanno Brazzi, who was then being give the Big Buildup in preparation for his sojourn in Hollywood. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Rossano Brazzi, (more)
This is a dramatic, entertaining, and largely fictional interpretation of a very non-fictional event and a real set of characters in the Mexican Revolution. The heroine, Juana Gallo is portrayed by one of Mexico's most famous female leads, María Felix. Gallo was born and raised in the state of Zapatecas, and after the man she loves is killed during the Revolution, her anger leads her to fight alongside the men from her region. Joining her in battle are a noble career military man (Jorge Mistral), a lowly, impoverished fellow (Luis Aguilar), and a humble campesino (Ignacio Lopez-Tarso). Gallo and her compatriots are headed for the climactic battle of Zacatecas, a heroic struggle that is written large across the pages of Mexican history. The actual Juana Gallo died in poverty in 1959. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Jorge Mistral, (more)
- 1962
Overcooked melodrama characterizes this tale set during the Mexican Revolution and starring some of Mexico's most famous, old-time actors (Katy Jurado, María Félix, Emilo Fernández, and Pedro Armendáriz). The story is about as far-fetched as can be imagined. Herrera (Armendáriz) and Gómez (Fernández) are on opposite sides in the Revolution, but then, there is more than one side anyway. Just before the two can fight it out, they are arrested and later released when the fighting is more or less over. But when the two men return home, one finds that his mistress, La Bandida (Félix) is involved with someone else, and the other is soon to be a widower. The saga then continues as both men go after La Bandida -- and all this happens with a great deal of brawling, singing, and carrying-on. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Pedro Armendáriz, (more)
- 1954
Maria Felix stars as La Belle Otero in this "fin de siecle" romantic melodrama. The story traces Otero's progress from unemployed Spanish dancer to the most famous, and most sought-after, courtesan in all of Paris. Though she romances many men, Otero never finds true love. On the verge of lasting happiness, she is the unwitting cause of the death of her most fervent lover. In true "Joan Crawford" fashion, the film demonstrates how Otero learns to manipulate men only after she has been misused and abused. Marc-Gilbert Sauvajon adapted the screenplay from the memoirs of the real-life Caroline Otero. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Marie Sabouret, (more)
- 1959
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
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Dolores Del Rio, (more)
