Nini Marshall Movies
- 1947
Though its title translates as The Headless Woman, the Argentine Una Mujer Sin Cabeza is no horror film. Instead, it's a romantic comedy about a gypsy fortune teller who works in a travelling circus. As part of her performing duties, the heroine pretends to be a "headless woman," the better to dispense advice and prognostications "from the beyond." The popular Nini Marshall plays the title character, who manages to get off a few songs and dances while searching for lasting happiness and true romance. All in all, Una Mujer Sin Cabeza was not one of Marshall's better films, though the strength of her name assured a strong South American box-office showing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nini Marshall
- 1947
The English-language title of this Argentine heart-warmer is The Poor People's Christmas. Latin American screen favorite Nini Marshall is pretty much the whole show, playing an ebullient department-store salesgirl. Bombarded from all sides by bureaucrats and curmudgeons, Marshall endears herself to her customers and co-workers, simply by applying good old-fashioned common sense to her work. As the title indicates, our heroine ends up bypassing the more "proper" and socially acceptable methods of celebrating Christmas, preferring to spend her Yuletide amongst the needy. Predictably, La Navidad de los Pobres raked in huge grosses in Argentina and its neighboring South American countries. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nini Marshall, Tito Lusiardo, (more)
- 1945
The frequently filmed Sardou play Madame Sans Gene is given an opulent treatment in this Argentine production. Latin American film favorite Nini Marshall stars as the legendary Parisian laundress who marries into wealth and prestige, arriving full bloom in 18th-century society circles as the Duchess of Dantzig. But once a laundress, always a laundress: despite her lofty title and fancy clothes, Marshall continues comporting herself like a hoydenish peasant, loving neither wisely nor well. Eduardo Cuitino steals the show as a witty Napoleon, whose ascendance to power is crucial to the ultimate fate of the heroine. Madame Sans Gene proved successful in virtually every Spanish-speaking region of the Western Hemisphere. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nini Marshall, Adrian Cuneo, (more)
- 1943
Though it retains the basic plotline and the famous Bizet score, this Argentine film is actually a parody of the immortal opera Carmen. Nini Marshall plays a dressmaker who dreams that she's Carmen after suffering a blow on the head. While everyone around her plays straight, Marshall lays waste to the opera's intensely dramatic structure, performing the sort of broad double-takes and pratfalls that one might expect of Martha Raye. Adding to the fun is an extended takeoff of the recent Tyrone Power movie vehicle Blood and Sand. Carmen was made in response to the recent (and successful) Cantinflas parody of The Three Musketeers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nini Marshall
- 1943
One of the more diverting pleasures of the wartime Argentine movie industry was a series of romantic comedies centering around a perky young servant girl named Candida. The star of this money-spinning series was Nini Marshall, whose engaging personality carried many a weak script. Candida, La Mujer del Ano (Candida, Woman of the Year) is one of the lesser entries, with our heroine getting mixed up with politics a la Eva Peron. Most of the scripted gags and situations fall flat, forcing Marshall to work overtime in lighting up the screen with her presence. Despite its flaws, the film was just as successful as all previous "Candida" escapades. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nini Marshall
- 1942
The English-language title of this Argentine rags-to-riches yarn is The Novel of a Poor Young Man. The protagonist is played by singing sensation (and future director of note) Hugo Del Carril, cast as an orphaned lad who falls in love with the daughter (Amanda Ledesma) of his boss. Through a combination of pluck, luck and Herculean heroics, Del Carril wins not only the girl but a lifetime of wealth and luxury. So corny is the plotline and the directorial approach of Luis Bayon Herrera that the film can be enjoyed as "high camp" instead of the inspirational drama it was evidently intended to be. Production values are far better than the film deserves. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Hugo del Carril, Nini Marshall, (more)
- 1942
La Mentirosa translates loosely as The Little Liar, which indeed is the character played by Argentine box-office favorite Nini Marshall. A humble stenographer, Catita (Marshall) manages to convince her lawyer bosses that she's in line for a huge inheritance. Unfortunately, a condition of the will requires that Catita spend the night in a spooky old mansion. All the familiar "scare" routines manifest themselves, but by film's end Catita has emerged none the worse for wear -- and as a bonus she manages to round up a gang of criminals. Based on a popular radio series which also starred Nini Marshall, La Mentirosa was one of Argentina's biggest moneymaking films of 1942. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nini Marshall, Miguel Gomez Bao, (more)
- 1941
Popular Argentine musical-comedy star Nina Marshall tops the cast of Orqestra de Senoritas. As indicated by the title, the film details the misadventures of an all-girl orchestra, as group-leader Marshall tries to marry off one of the girls (Zully Moreno) to her reluctant fiancee (Francisco Alvarez). The future groom doesn't want to tie the knot until he has enough money to support his wife, which is why Marshall poses as the bride-to-be for the benefit of the groom's wealthy uncle. In the course of events, our heroine also pretends to be an Italian opera diva and a "woman with a history." Orqestra de Senoritas manages to pack plenty of belly-laughs in its brisk 88 minutes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nini Marshall, Francisco Alvarez, (more)
- 1941
You Quiero Ser Bataclana translates roughly as I Want to Be Chorus Girl. Popular Latin American radio songstress Nini Marshall plays the heroine who aspires to the titular goal. Managing to land a job with a third-rate musical troupe, Marshall saves her new friends from bankruptcy with her extensive talents. The film's "money number" is a parody of Saint-Saens Dying Swan ballet, with Marshall delivering an abundance of belly laughs. Critics were rough on Yo Quiero Ser Bataclana, but audiences ate it up and asked for more. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nini Marshall, Alicia Barrie, (more)
- 1941
The English-language title of this Argentine musical comedy translates as Candida, Millionairess, suggesting that someone was on a real "George Bernard Shaw" kick. Popular Latin American stage-and-screen star Nina Marshall is cast as Candida, a humble serving girl who lands a job with a wealthy family. On New Year's Eve, Gallego (Alberto Bello), the lonely master of the house, invites Candida to dine with him, and before the girl quite knows what's happened she has become Mrs. Gallego. Treated like dirt by the rest of the family, who consider her nothing more than a fortune-hunter, Candida proves that she has a heart of gold when she hocks her jewels to save Gallego from financial ruin. The musical portion of the program is, as usual, handled by the estimable Nini Marshall, with able assistance from composer Pedro Vargas and the Les Rancheras Trio. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nini Marshall, Alberto Bello, (more)
- 1938
The title Mujeres Que Trabajan translates roughly as Working Women, an accurate description of the film's collective. Spending their days laboring away at a huge department store and their nights cooling their heels in a boarding house, the girls are naturally susceptible to any and all promises of overnight wealth. Curiously, when wealthy Ana Maria (Mecha Ortiz) moves in with them and offers them a huge amount of money, they refuse, preferring to make their own way through the world. Ana Maria's inability to "connect" with the girls causes her a great deal of grief, but at long last they accept her as one of their own. Stealing the film is third-billed Nini Marshall, who wrote all of her own dialogue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mecha Ortiz, Tito Lusiardo, (more)
