Silvia Pinal Movies
Distinguished Mexican stage actress Silvia Pinal made her earliest screen appearance in 1948. Best known for her classical roles, she was equally famous for her work in the films of Luis Bunuel, notably her performances as the title character in Viridiana (1961) and as the Devil in Simon of the Desert (1965). Almost as well-publicized as her acting career was her private life, specifically her four high-profile marriages to director Rafael Banquelis, producer Gustavo Alatriste, popular singer Enrique Guzman, and Mexican governor Tulio Hernandez. In addition to her acting credits, she has also flourished as a recording artist, and during her marriage to Gov. Hernandez was elected to public office herself. Several of Silvia Pinal's children have followed their mother's footsteps with show business careers of their own. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide- 2000
Surrealist master Luis Bunuel is a towering figure in the world of cinema history, directing such groundbreaking works as Un Chien Andalou, Exterminating Angels, and That Obscure Object of Desire, yet his personal life was clouded in myth and paradox. Though sexually diffident, he frequently worked in the erotic drama genre; though personally quite conservative, his films are florid, flamboyant, and utterly bizarre. This documentary, directed Jose Luis Lopez Linares, tries to illuminate some of these contradictions. It features interviews ranging from the historical -- Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes -- to the personal -- his wife and children. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Luis Buñuel
Years before, Carmen had a disastrous affair with her own brother which, when it was discovered, resulted in a rash of family suicides. Since then, she has been living a solitary, loveless existence on the remains of the family fortune, working from time to time as a radio announcer. One day, she finds out that she only has about a month to live. She finds a driver for her classic Cadillac and tools around the city with him. As they become acquainted, she shows him the city's cultural high points: museums, fancy restaurants, etc. In turn, he takes her out to some of the more exciting salsa clubs, and they dance and party into the wee hours. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvia Pinal, Alonso Echanove, (more)
When 11 friends work together to steal a fortune they encounter adversity. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1982
Unlike the suggestive title, this is a mixed-up trilogy of tales about a woman dying of cancer and the kidnapping of a petroleum magnate, the woman's memories about the tycoon, and the woman's imaginary vision of herself as someone living in the 1930s married to an arms dealer. All three stories intertwine to such a degree that the viewers, along with the dying woman, may start to confuse present reality from past indiscretions from wishful thinking. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Graciela Borges, Alfredo Alcon, (more)
- 1969
In this French/Italian co-production set in Mexico in 1746, Alastray (Anthony Quinn), a gunman on the run from the law, happens upon a Franciscan priest, Father Joseph (Sam Jaffe), while in flight. Father Joseph shows mercy on the fugitive and allows Alastray to stay with him, but when the locals find out that Joseph is harboring criminals, he's run out of town; Alastray travels with him, disguised as a monk. While approaching what appears to be a deserted village, Father Joseph is killed by a sniper, and Alastray heads into town. He is met by Teclo (Charles Bronson), a half-breed who calls the village home. It seems that a band of savage Yaqui Indians have been terrorizing the town and have a special hatred for men of faith; they intend to continue laying waste to the village until the residents beg for mercy and renounce Christianity. The Village leaders want to make Alastray their new spiritual leader, and despite his great reluctance, he agrees, mostly as a means of maintaining his cover. But when Alastray tries to organize the building of a much needed dam, as well as obtaining a stash of weapons so that the citizens may defend themselves, the Yaquis return in force, leading to a decisive confrontation. Guns for San Sebastian also features Anjanette Comer and Silvia Pinal. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, Anjanette Comer, (more)
La Hermana Trinquete concerns a professional thief who mares a living ripping off the guests who stay at a five-star hotel in Acapulco. It takes a smart secret agent to figure out that that her persona of being a nun is nothing but a ruse to allow her access to her booty. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
In this actioner, a gun runner gets a job as a marine biologist while stranded in the Middle East. He quickly finds out that his new employer and his wife are really treasure seekers looking for bullion. Unfortunately, the gold lies in deep, shark-filled water. Tragically, while the movie was being shot, a stuntman really was killed by a shark. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
When her husband is taken away by government troops at the time of the Mexican Revolution, La Soldera Sylvia Pinel tries to follow him and takes to the highway. After he dies, she joins up with other women in her situation to fight for the revolution. Reviewers characterized the acting style of the performers, particularly the star, as being highly melodramatic. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvia Pinal, Jaime Fernandez, (more)
- 1965
This outing follows a hard-working gold digger on her hunt for a handsome and wealthy husband. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Forty minutes is more than enough screen time for Spanish director Luis Buñuel to state his case in Simon of the Desert. Claudio Brook portrays fifth-century Christian Simon (later St. Simon Stylites) who dispenses religious sagacity while standing on a tall column in the middle of the desert. Typical of Buñuel's hatred of the Church, the Devil (Silvia Pinal) is a far more entertaining and articulate spokesperson for his point of view than Simon is for Christianity. An abrupt, ill-suited ending suggests that Buñuel either tired of the subject and wanted to move on to other things, or that he ran out of money and had to wrap before the process servers showed up. This Mexican film was originally titled Simon del Desierto. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claudio Brook, Silvia Pinal, (more)
The great screen surrealist Luis Buñuel co-wrote and directed this dark, bitterly witty satire. A group of people in formal dress arrives at an elegantly appointed home for a dinner party. However, once dinner is over and the guests retire to the drawing room, they discover that the servants have gone away, and for some reason they cannot leave. There is no explanation why -- there are no locked doors or barred windows preventing them from going home -- but the guests are convinced that they're stranded. Left to their own devices, they slowly but gradually degenerate into genteel savagery, taking an axe to a water pipe for drinking water, killing and eating a sheep that was to be part of the post-dinner entertainment, hiding the bodies of dead guests in the closet, dabbling in witchcraft, and burning the furniture. Buñuel's dry, quixotic wit is abundantly displayed in this film. Leading the cast was Silvia Pinal, the renowned actress who starred in several of Buñuel's Mexican films (she was married to noted producer Gustavo Alatriste, who produced several films with Buñuel). Other than the short subject Simon of the Desert, El Angel Exterminador proved to be Buñuel's last film made in his adopted homeland. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvia Pinal, Jacqueline Andere, (more)
After 25 years' exile, Luis Buñuel was invited to his native Spain to direct Viridiana -- only to have the Spanish government suppress the film on the grounds of blasphemy and obscenity. Regarded by many as Buñuel's crowning achievement, the film centers on an idealistic young nun named Viridiana (Silvia Pinal). Just before taking her final vows, Viridiana is forced by her mother superior to visit her wealthy uncle Don Jaime (Fernando Rey), who has "selflessly" provided for the girl over the years. She has always considered Don Jaime an unspeakable beast, so she is surprised when he graciously welcomes her into his home. Just as graciously, he sets about to corrupt Viridiana beyond redemption -- all because the girl resembles his late wife. It is always hard to select the most outrageous scene in any Buñuel film; our candidate in Viridiana is the devastating Last Supper tableau consisting of beggars, thieves, and degenerates. As joltingly brilliant today as on its first release, Viridiana won the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvia Pinal, Fernando Rey, (more)
- 1959
Teetering between slapstick and off-the-mark humor, this thin comedy by director Tulio Demichelli stars Silvia Pinal (about to become internationally famous in Bunuel's 1961 Viridiana). Pinal plays a pampered young woman who is used to getting what she wants and does not always behave in an exemplary manner. Because she is especially beautiful, men tend to chase after her and so an active social life has never been a problem. But settling down to one true love might be. Just when the field of suitors is reduced to only one man, troubles start to brew like never before. First there are the problems with a potential father-in-law, and next, those that crop up from simple misunderstandings ... ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvia Pinal, Ruben Rojo, (more)
Taking its title from the dance craze of the era, this routine, 1920s romantic comedy stars Mexico's popular Silvia Pinal as Beatriz, a woman whose troubles are brought on by the fact that she has two wildly different suitors. Her fiancé (Pastor Serrador) is a well-placed, cultured though timid individual with an interest in modern abstract art. Her other boyfriend (Alberto Closas) is a macho playboy type and, needless to say, the two men do not appreciate each other's claims on Beatriz. This classic triangle leads to the expected confrontations, misunderstandings, and requisite moments of romance. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvia Pinal, Alberto Closas, (more)
- 1957
Director Fernando Cortes puts a comedic twist on the familiar tale of the Phantom of the Opera in this comedy about a Cuban dancer who is staked by a demented madman while headlining a stage production of "Fantasias Mexicanas." ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- German "Tin Tan" Valdéz, Silvia Pinal, (more)
- 1956
Jorge Mistral brings his considerable star power to the murky Mexican melodrama Cabo de Hornos (Cape Horn). Mistral plays the captain of a whaling ship who arrives in port with his pockets full and his heart empty. He meets a pretty, equally lonely bar girl (Silvia Pinal), who for some reason does not appeal to Mistral at all. Even so, he spends the night with her, and the following day takes her with him on his next whaling excursion. The strange, sterile relationship between the two stars is complemented by (symbolic?) stock shots of whales being harpooned and hauled aboard ship by rope. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jorge Mistral, Silvia Pinal, (more)
La Sospechosa concerns a woman named Regina who returns from a vacation to find that her mother has disappeared. As she begins to investigate what happened, she begins to suspect that her stepfather knows more than he is letting on. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Silvia Pinal, Miguel Torruco, (more)
Mexican screen legend Pedro Infante takes the lead for this high-concept Spanish-language comedy that finds a well-to-do woman forced marry a gruff mechanic, and then pass off the lowly grease-monkey as a blueblood nobleman. En route to her parents vacation house ring in the New Year, a beautiful young woman (Silvia Pinal) hits a roadblock when her car suddenly dies. Though a local mechanic (Infante) is more than willing to help her get back on the road, the pair soon have too much to drink and end up passing out. When the woman's parents arrive and discover the pair together, a marriage is soon arranged with the intent of a quick divorce. This is no marriage of convenience, however, because in the next few days this grease-stained auto repairman will have to assume the guise of a European nobleman as his new bride's family struggles to find a means of rupturing their daughter's recently officiated nuptials. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
