Polo Ortin Movies
From directors Juan Bustillo Oro and Antonio Guzmán Aguilera, this 1937 Mexican film is a romantic musical about a young woman forced to marry a man she doesn't love. Maria is in love with Juan, but Juan has left, leading Maria's parents to insist she marry the local druggist. Meanwhile, Maria's sister has fallen for the druggist's son, but cannot profess her feeling for fear of complicating things for Maria. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
Yet another oddball Mexican fantasy brought to American audiences by cut-rate exploitation titan K. Gordon Murray, this seasonal tale concerns Santa Claus (Jose Elias Moreno), who we discover doesn't work out of the North Pole after all. Instead, Santa and his friend and associate Merlin the Magician have a base of operations in a castle orbiting the Earth on a small satellite, upon which they observe the activities of children both good and bad through an elaborate surveillance system. While kids all over the globe (most of whom apparently wear stereotypical native costumes at all times) are trying to be good, the Devil wants to increase youthful misbehavior. With this in mind, he sends his emissary Pitch (Cesareo Quezadas, aka Pulgarcito), a demon with a digestive problem, to Earth and Pitch starts his reign of terror by attempting to goad a little girl from a poor family into stealing the doll that she wants. Eventually, Santa and Merlin catch up with Pitch for a final battle of Good vs. Evil. Santa Claus also offers new insight into St. Nick's weight, eating habits, and mode of transportation; the film played the kiddie matinee circuit for years, and later was analyzed by Mike Nelson and his robot pals on Mystery Science Theater 3000. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- José Moreno
Mexican comedienne La India Maria stars in this political comedy in which a woman who has no political experience to speak of is inexplicably elected to the office of mayor. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- María Elena Velasco, Adalberto "Resortes" Martinez, (more)
- 1978
Picardia Mexicana tells the tale of a teacher who helps turn two classmates who hate each other into very good friends. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Monica (Isela Vega) is a showgirl who is kidnapped by her uncle who heads the Texas mob in this routine comedy. A trio of drunks from Mexico City sneak across the border to rescue Monica, who is being held because she know too much about her uncle's activities. Rafael Inclan, Roberto (Flaco) Guzman, and Polo Ortin play the comic trio who fool the mob and inept immigration officials. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Isela Vega, Rafael Inclán, (more)
This across-the-border comedy features a heavy-footed Mexican cab driver who's pointed remarks fly just as fast as her cab. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rafael Inclán, Maribel Fernandez, (more)
- 1986
This is a low-budget, low-brow comedy about people who have the misfortune of working in a hospital, though not as much misfortune as the patients. The doctors are universally incompetent, none of the nurses have been able to find a uniform that was not a tad too small, gangsters wander in and out of the premises, and misfits make up the corps of ambulance drivers, and sometimes, patients as well. The storyline is put together as a series of skits that revolve around a threat of foreclosure to the premises. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susana Dosamantes, Fernando Luján, (more)
- 1987
Paco (Otto Sirgo) is a degenerate gambler in need of fast cash in this uneven, slapstick sex comedy. He conspires to marry women and collect on the insurance money after he kills them. Paco soon gives up his self delusion of being a modern-day Bluebeard after botching several murders. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Otto Sirgo, Sasha Montenegro, (more)
El Mofles (Rafael Inclan) is a poor mechanic who works at the Los Pits garage in this low-budget comedy. When he finds a bag full of money, Mofles is elated until the crooks who stole the loot come looking for him and the missing cash. Music groups Generacion 2000, Los Chicanos, and Grupo Centarario appear to help add to the thin plot. The comedy highlight is a birthday celebration that turns into a drunken fiesta. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rafael Inclán, Maribel Fernandez, (more)
