Fernando Fernandez Movies
- 1941
Passion Island (La Isla de Passion) represented the first directorial effort of legendary Mexican filmmaker-patriot Emilio Fernandez. Taking place over a period of several years, this is the story of Clipperton Island, more popularly known to Mexicans as Passion Island. Annexed in 1909, the island is put under the control of a small detachment of soldiers, who assume that their stay will be brief. But when the Mexican revolution breaks out on the Mainland, the troops are forced to spend two years on the island. Disease and dissent are rampant, leading to desertion and mutiny. David Silva stars as Julio, a loyal officer who tries vainly to stave off the mutineers for Love of Country, becoming a martyr in the process. Combining all the popular elements-action, romance, self-sacrifice, even music--Passion Island was an auspicious directorial debut for Emilio Fernandez, as well as one of the first Mexican films to gain critical acceptance in the US. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Silva, Isabela Corona, (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, Rovi
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Pedro Armendáriz, (more)
- 1947
This fictional story covers a woman who has a past full of questions and her marital problems with her clean cut husband. ~ Rovi
Filmed in 1947, Emilio Fernandez' Hidden River (originally Rio Escondido) was distributed in the U.S. three years later. The matchless Maria Felix stars as Rosaura, an idealistic Mexican schoolteacher who does her best to educate the illiterate Indians in her native land. Rosaura is opposed by several authority figures who have no intention of losing their hold over the Indians, but she finds support in the form of a kindly priest. Director Fernandez' understanding of and sensitivity towards Mexico's teeming millions of unfortunates enables Hidden River to rise above its occasional cliches and unsubtleties. The cinematography is by Gabriel Figueroa, who like Emilio Fernandez and Maria Felix is a legendary figure in the Mexican cinema. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Fernando Fernandez, (more)
- 1948
- NR
The Fugitive was shot on location in Mexico by that country's premiere cinematographer, Gabriel Figueroa. Henry Fonda plays a Christ-like priest in an unnamed Latin-American country where religion has been outlawed. Though incognito in a backwater village, Fonda cannot help but seem more spiritual and mystical than those around him. Meanwhile, another fugitive, homicidal-bandit Ward Bond, stumbles into the village. Bond and the beautiful Dolores del Rio, whose illegitimate child has been secretly baptized by Fonda, conspire to help the priest escape. Once Fonda is on safe ground, he is implored by police spy J. Carroll Naish to return to the village, ostensibly because Bond is dying and wishes to have last rites. Fonda is captured and sentenced to death, but is willing to forgive the repentant Naish for betraying him. The priest dies a martyr, and the outpouring of public grief proves to the authorities that simply outlawing religion will never subjugate the hearts and minds of the people. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Henry Fonda, Dolores Del Rio, (more)
- 1960
Director Benito Alazraki does the best he can with this low-budget, stereotyped, cops-and-criminals story set in Algiers. Love interests run high as the requisite policeman (Tito Junco) pines after the woman of his dreams and the likeable bandit (Yerye Beirute) finds solace with several different women. Sonia Furio has some standard (though rushed in production) dance scenes, as the criminals in the story are hunted down and inevitably meet their deserved fate. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Christiane Martel, Sonia Furio, (more)
- 1961
Set during the time of the Mexican Revolution at the beginning of the 20th century, this routine melodrama stars Luis Aguilar as a mythical (invented) masked hero fashioned after silver-screen swashbucklers or lawmen like Zorro or the Lone Ranger ("El Llanero Solitario," popular in translation on Latin American television for several years). The masked rider needs his face covered, of course, or his enemies will discover his real identity. At the same time, his enemies are masked, too, making it a rather anonymous war. The hero is put through his paces forwarding the cause of the Revolution, saving the requisite damsel in distress, and unmasking and toppling the bad guys. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Luis Aguilar, Rosa de Castillo, (more)
- 1962
Humberto Gómez-Landero wrote and directed this generally effective satire about marital relationships that has a universal application. Top Mexican stars Julio Alemán and Sonia Furio, among others, bring a liveliness and vivid quality to their roles as beleaguered spouses. At issue is the traditional battle of the sexes over who is the real boss at home and who takes the orders. This brings in a variety of marriage problems and special challenges in handling them. In one instance, Furio has to transform herself from a paragon of motherhood to a slinking seductress, the two opposite and in this case, exaggerated extremes of demanding wifely roles. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Julio Aleman, Rosita Arenas, (more)
- 1984
When the wild antics of a young man offend the sensibilities of his wealthy family, they disinherit him. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi
- 2001
- Add Ricky Martin: Europa - The European Tour to Queue Add Ricky Martin: Europa - The European Tour to top of Queue
Beyond being remembered for his remarkable physical charisma, Ricky Martin will go down in music history as the first Latin pop star to achieve significant mainstream pop success. This program documents both the events of Martin's life leading up to his superstardom and a behind-the-scenes view of his European concert tour. Eight performances are captured here, including a version of "No Puedo Mas." ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi
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