Emilia Guiu Movies

For anyone wondering why the Mexican government has permitted Mexico City to become the most populous city in the world when it can barely support even one half its population decently, this film and films like it provide the welcome news that the government has been doing what little it can to discourage the emigration of poor rural people to the high-altitude, swampy city that suffers from catastrophic air pollution and the ever-present possibility of even more catastrophic volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. In the story, even a respectably middle-class man and his family can only barely get by in the brutal city. Dr. Antonio Arenas, a widowed doctor, has moved with his family to the crowded city after gaining a position at a large and prestigious hospital. Once there, he discovers that he is supposed to keep his position by turning a blind eye to all sorts of illegal and unscrupulous schemes or -- worse -- becoming actively involved in them. One infuriating and difficult situation after another arises, until he suffers a terrible tragedy. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

This film (and a few others) on one of Mexico's most well-known rebels was released in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the revolution. In this instance, Pancho Villa (Pedro Armendariz) is presented as a contradictory mix of elements, as though several different people were residing in the same persona. He is at times shown as a genius at strategy, at other times he is an ignorant peasant. Whether an idealistic fighter for the rights of the people or a simple bandit, the personality of the man is emphasized over historical accuracy. And in that regard, his liaison with Valentina (Elsa Aguirre), another revolutionary, is naturally the focus of attention. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Previously filmed in Germany in 1939, Guy de Maupassant's "history of a scoundrel" Bel Ami was good for another go-round in this Mexican adaptation. Armando Calvo plays the eponymous "hero," a duplicitous journalist who advances himself in society by seducing and abandoning women of wealth, all the while denying himself true love. This essentially Gallic tale is given a Latin flavor by director Antonio Momplet. Calvo's quartet of leading ladies -- Gloria Marin, Patricia Moran, Emilia Guau and Andrea Palma -- are gorgeous, deserving far better treatment than afforded them by the ruthless Bel Ami. In an incredible "coincidence," Bel Ami was distributed in the U.S. just before the release of United Artists' The Private Affairs of Bel Ami. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Nosotros was given a limited US release as We. This Mexican film was one of the earliest starring vehicles of Ricardo Montalban. The future Mr. Roarke plays a brash young thief. Satisfied with his lifestyle, Montalban is forced to do some soul-searching when he falls in love with beautiful Emilia Gulu. Then he works overtime straightening out his affairs and cleaning up his act. But is it too late? Nosotros was one of the films that won Ricardo Montalban his first MGM contract. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi