Emma Roldan Movies
A pair of young Mexican boys ditch school in favor of catching an afternoon matinee, only to find themselves on an adventure wild enough to spawn a movie of its own in this richly textured children's adventure from director Jaime Humberto Hermosillo. Though they wanted to see a movie, these two hooky-playing grade-schoolers are promptly busted and nearly expelled. Though a ride home with a local truck driver seems to signal the end of their afternoon excursion, the stakes are soon raised when a gang of thieves hijack the truck and whisk the kids away on a breathless journey that's well worth the price of admission. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
A greedy family schemes to find a means of wrestling a hearty inheritance from the ailing family matriarch, only to discover that the mischievous grandmother has left everything to her ever-faithful feline friend in this dark comedy starring Emma Roldan, Fernando Lujan, and Maria Elena Velasco. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- María Elena Velasco
Jaime Humberto Hermosillo's The Passion of Berenice tells the tale of a widow who is still dealing with the physical and emotional scars left after the fire that killed her husband. She takes on the responsibility of caring for her godmother. Her repressed feelings are stirred when she begins to fall for her godmother's doctor. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1963
American "B"-movie mogul Jerry Warren can always be counted on to turn a cheap but fun horror import into a boring, unwatchable mess -- as proven by this tedious effort, originally produced in Mexico as The Aztec Mummy and later padded out with deadly-dull exposition. The original film is silly enough; the first of a popular Mexican series, it involves the awakening of the mummy Popoca to avenge the desecration of his tomb by infidels. As a cost-saving measure, instead of re-dubbing the Spanish dialogue, Warren added new scenes with American actors, who drone on about reincarnation and past-life regression and bring the action to a screeching halt. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- 1963
Cantinflas, known the world around for his Jerry Lewis-style antics, seems more like Peter Sellers in this hilarious Mexican comedy. Short on plot but long on laughs, the innocent comedian falls victim to excellently contrived cliches as a special delivery man caught in the middle of intrigue and spies. Cantinflas also expands into singing and dancing opportunities. The film also features a spectacular Latin dance sequence by Rafael de Cordoba. ~ Lucinda Ramsey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cantinflas, Gina Romand, (more)
The life of a powerful actress is examined in this tragedy. The film begins with her demise during a plane crash. Later, the men who loved her try to figure out why she was always so unhappy. Her story is told in flashback. It begins in a small town where she was a dress shop model. She used the money from that job to pay for her acting lessons. Later she is seen meeting the director of a theater group. This encounter eventually gets her involved with a Mexican film studio. As she becomes increasingly popular, she has a series of men in her life. Though she has become rich, powerful, and sought after, the woman still feels a great void in her life. To begin a new life, she takes a plane to Europe. Unfortunately the plane crashes and her life tragically ends. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Carlos Lopez Moctezuma, (more)
- 1959
Four of the best-known, most popular actors in Mexican cinematic history star in this drama about the Mexican Revolution by equally well-known director Ismael Rodriguez. Maria Felix is Refugio and Dolores Del Rio is Chabela, two women who love the same man and who are both equally dedicated to fighting in the revolution. Pedro Armendariz is Valentin, their lover, and an aging Emilio Fernandez is Antonio. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Felix, Dolores Del Rio, (more)
- 1958
The Mexican horror film La Llorona begins with a very happy young woman named Margarita (Luz Mara Aguilar) who is planning her wedding to the love of her life. Her uncle (Carlos Lopez Moctezuma) refuses to give his blessing to the union. She goes through with the marriage and soon gives birth to a son named Jorgito. When he gets older, Jorgito learns that the family suffers from a curse that causes woman to kill their children. In order to keep the curse from perpetuating itself, Jorgito begins plotting the murder of Margarita. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 1957
With a sub-barrel bottomed budget, this Mexican horror outing features wicked old Dr. Krupp, the crazed experimenter who caused trouble in this film's two predecessors The Aztec Mummy and Curse of the Aztec Mummy (both 1957), up to his old tricks. As in the former features, he is again trying to trick the Aztec mummy Popoca into leaving his crypt so the bad doctor can get at the treasure within. This time his scheme entails the invention of the title tin man (complete with incandescent light bulb ears), a device he equips with a human brain. A horrific battle ensues when the two monsters collide. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1957
In this Mexican horror outing, the sequel to 1963's Aztec Mummy, wicked Dr. Krupp busts out of prison and conspires to purloin a sacred Aztec treasure from an old temple. He manages to stay free and reach the pyramid, but unfortunately, he doesn't realize that the treasure is being guarded by the fearsome Popoca, an ancient Aztec mummy. As soon as Popoca pops out of his tomb, he locks Krupp in a venomous snake-filled room. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
This typical Mexican melodrama is set in a coastal fishing village where a wealthy fisherman (Pedro Armendariz) lives with his wife (Maria Felix) and young son (Juanito Musquiz). Their lives are turned upside down when an American of dubious morality (Jack Palance) comes into town. The American and the fisherman's wife had been lovers years and years ago -- and now the fisherman begins to suspect that the son he always thought was his, is really the offspring of this foreign intruder. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jack Palance, Maria Felix, (more)
- 1956
True to its title, Canasta de Cuentos Mexicanos (Basket of Mexican Tales) is based on a series of short stories, all written by reclusive The Treasure of the Sierra Madre author B. Traven. The first story concerns the marital travails of Pierre (Arturo de Cordova) and Lorraine (Lorraine Chanel). The second stars Pedro Armendariz and Maria Felix in a Latino variation of "The Taming of the Shrew." The final tale focuses on an Indian basket-weaver (Jorge Martinez de Hoyos), who proves a bit too clever for a pair of glib American tourists (Jack Kelly, Mari Blanchard). The all-star cast of Canasta de Cuentos Mexicanos enabled the film to secure good bookings on both sides of the border. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Arturo de Cordova, Lorraine Chanel, (more)
The English-language title of this Mexican musical was The Third Word. Singer Pedro Infante stars as a pampered young man who is sheltered by his doting aunts. Deciding that their darling boy needs an education, the ladies hire pretty schoolteacher Marga Lopez. Upon discovering that her pupil is 28 years old, Marga is momentarily nonplused, but then settles into her duties. Inevitably, romance blossoms between Pedro and Marga, much to the aunts' dismay. The fact that Pedro Infante had won the Mexican equivalent of the Oscar in 1955 hurt the box-office prospects of La Terera Palabra not in the slightest. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pedro Infante, Sr., Marga Lopez, (more)
This Mexican musicomedy was released in English-speaking markets as Watch Out For Love. Pop star Pedro Infante plays a happy-go-lucky young man whose romantic misadventures are the heart and soul of the film. Our Hero leaves home at the beginning of the story in search of true love, finding it in the form of a young lady who is unwillingly affianced to an older, richer man. The boy saves the day by miraculously coming up with his own reserve of cash. Co-starring with Infante is the estimable Elsa Aguirre, who in one cunningly photographed scene displays ample portions of her torso for the benefit of her fans. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pedro Infante, Sr., Elsa Aguirre, (more)
- 1955
El Seductor is a charming but totally amoral artist, played by Ramon Gay. Specializing in nude studies, Gay is able to make the acquaintance of several willing young damsels. One of these is Amanda del Liano, daughter of a couple whose deaths were indirectly caused by the artist. Though her affection for Gay seems sincere, it turns out that she has other plans in mind for the lascivious Gay. In Mexico, the principal attractions of El Seductor were the musical interludes by Ana Luisa Peluffo and Los Bribones; in the U.S., the film's nude scenes were the big come-on. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ramon Gay, Amanda del Llano, (more)
Hijos De Maria Morales stars Pero Infante and Antonio Badu as two brothers who do what they want, when they want. Not until they fall for a member of the fairer sex do they begin to calm their boisterous ways. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pedro Infante, Sr., Antonio Badú, (more)
- 1950
One Way Street stars James Mason in a variation of his Odd Man Out role. Mason plays Doc Matson, a gangland physician who has stolen $200,000 from powerful mob boss Wheeler (Dan Duryea). Forced to go on the lam, Matson takes Wheeler's girl Laura (Marta Toren) along. Knowing he is doomed from the start, the Doc dispenses reams of fatalistic philosophy, so much so that one wishes Laura would shout "Enough, already!" Finally finding a purpose in life tending to impoverished Mexican peasants, Doc decides to go back to LA and return both the money and Laura to Wheeler. Not surprisingly, the mobster isn't in the mood to forgive and forget. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Märta Torén, Dan Duryea, (more)
