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- 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)
Director Fernando de Fuentes and star Maria Felix, the creative team responsible for the 1943 box-office hit Dona Barbera, once more combined their talents for La Mujer sin Alma (Woman without a Soul) Felix is cast as Tersa, a lowborn sewing machine girl with high-society aspirations. Hoping to escape her shabby environment, Tersa marries the fabulously wealthy, much-older Don Vicente (Alfredo Soler). Quickly tiring of her elderly mate, she begins a series of casual affairs, ending in an emotional crash-and-burn. Fernando Soler delivers the film's best performance as Tersa's best friend-severest critic. In America, Dona Barbera and La Mujer sin Alma were released in reverse order in the early months of 1945. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fernando Soler, 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)
