Jorge Perez Movies
- 1955
This Mexican-filmed black comedy (distributed in the U.S. seven years after its initial 1955 release date) is one of the minor but no less characteristic works of director Luis Buñuel. The film begins with Archibaldo (Ernesto Alonso) being triggered by a music box into a lengthy reminiscence of his childhood. It was an average, everyday incident, one that undoubtedly has occurred to us all: Archibaldo was caught dressing up in his mother's clothes by his governess, who was then instantly killed by a revolutionary's bullet before she could tell on him. The experience proved to be Archibaldo's "first rush," and he spends the rest of his life trying to re-create the sexual euphoria of that moment -- by murdering attractive women. Buñuel's characteristic perverse black humor then adds a twist, which prevents Archibaldo from fulfilling his desires. Perverse, but darkly funny, Ensayo de un Crimen is a slyly shocking delight. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ernesto Alonso, Ariadne Welter, (more)
- 1950
The winner of two Cannes Film Festival awards, Luis Buñuel's Los Olvidados (aka The Forgotten Ones and The Young and the Damned) was the director's first international box-office success. Yet Buñuel showed no signs of curbing the outrageous iconoclasm that made him famous in Europe and South America; one of the more lasting images of the film is the clash-of-cultures shot of a glistening new skyscraper rising above the squalid slums of Mexico City. The story concerns a gang of juvenile delinquents, whose sole redeeming quality is their apparent devotion to one another. Part of the film's perverse fascination is watching Buñuel's street punks cause misery to those less fortunate. The audience immediately identifies with Pedro (Alfonso Mejía), the youngest gang member, who evinces a spark of decency; yet Pedro, like the others, remains a victim of circumstances far beyond his control. Throughout, Buñuel maintains an objective tone; it is our responsibility, not his, to judge the gang members. Seasoned with haunting dream sequences, Los Olvidados was the opening volley in what would turn out to be Buñuel's most creative period. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Alfonso Mejía, Roberto Cobo, (more)
- 1945
No relation to the 1958 Alfred Hitchcock classic of the same name, Vertigo is a worthwhile vehicle for Mexican film favorite Maria Felix. The story concerns young swain Arturo (Emilio Tuero), who is about to marry pretty young Gabriela (Lilia Michel). His plans are radically altered when he falls in love with Gabriela's gorgeous mother Mercedes (Felix). To rid himself of his troublesome fiancee, Arturo kills the girl. Upon learning of this, Mercedes responds in kind in an ending worthy of Grand Opera. Based on a novel by Pierre Benoit, Vertigo was released in some English-speaking markets under the literal but slightly ridiculous title Dizziness. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Emilio Tuero, (more)
A fearless matador finds that rampaging bulls are no match for overprotective fathers when he falls for a beautiful girl whose dear old dad isn't willing to let his little girl go in this musical comedy starring noted bullfighter Carlos Arruza. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 1943
No Mataras (Thou Shalt Not Kill) was based on a novel by Joaquin Margall. Bilked by a politically well-connected loan shark, widowed mother Sara Garcia is thrown in jail when she tries to fight back. Hoping to avenge herself against all mankind, Garcia becomes the proprietress of a seedy gambling joint. She keeps the truth of her profession from her daughter, whom she has sequestered in an exclusive girl's school. But when the grown-up daughter is escorted to her mother's den of iniquity by her boyfriend, the results are disastrous. And that's only the first three reels! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sara Garcia, Emilio Tuero, (more)
- 1943
Even to the untrained eye, it was obvious that the Mexican Café Concordia was completed several years before its 1943 American release. Set in the 19th century, the story concerns a beautiful cabaret dancer (Raquel) who falls in love with a wealthy young man (David Silva Jr.) The boy would like to marry the girl, but his social standing won't permit it. Things come to a dramatic head when the hero fights for the dancer's honor with a libidinous playboy (Julio Villereal). The predictably tragic ending is straight out of Under Two Flags, by way of Destry Rides Again. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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