THE MEXICAN FILM BULLETIN Volume 18 Number 6 (November-December 2012) the Mexican Film Bulletin
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THE MEXICAN FILM BULLETIN Volume 18 Number 6 (November-December 2012) The mexican film bulletin Volume 18 Number 6 November-december 2012 Obituaries Leblanc appeared live, on television, and in films, mostly in comedy roles although he could also do drama when Fernando Cas anova dies required. In the early 1960s he would produce and direct Actor Fernando several feature films. After an auto accident in the early Casanova, who ‘80s, Leblanc retired from performing; in 1994 Leblanc appeared in received an honorary Goya Award for his long career. Mexican films over However, he returned to the screen in Torrente, el brazo seven decades, died tonto de la ley (1998—for which he won a Best Supporting on 16 November Actor Goya) and 3 sequels, in addition to a long run on the 2012 in a Mexico TV series “Cuéntame.” City hospital. Leblanc appeared in two Mexican-Spanish co- Casanova had been productions shot in Spain: Mi noche de bodas (1961), suffering from opposite Luis Aguilar, and Cómo atrapar a un don Juan prostate cancer for (aka El dinero tiene miedo , 1970), in support of Mauricio several years, and Garcés. the disease apparently spread and caused his Emilio aragón “miliki” death. Emilio Aragón Bermúdez, better-known under his Fernando Gutiérrez López was born on 24 November artistic name “Miliki,” died 1922 in Guadalajara. He originally wanted to be a of pneumonia on 17 bullfighter and spent several years as a novillero before November 2012 in Madrid. moving on to acting. El toro negro (1959) was based on Born in the province of Casanova’s experiences in the bullring. Sevilla on 4 November Casanova began appearing in films in the mid-1940s, 1929, Aragón formed a rising from bit parts to supporting roles. In 1953 he was comedy team—“Gaby, Fofó cast as the masked Western hero “El Águila Negra,” y Miliki”-- with his brothers eventually making 6 films in the series. Throughout the Gabriel and Alfonso and rest of the decade and the Sixties, Casanova had leading worked as clowns in the roles in a number of films, mostly Westerns and Circo Price (their parents rancheras . Although he was off-screen for most of the were both in show business). They worked throughout 1970s, he returned to films in the 1980s, working in action Latin America for many years before returning to Spain in pictures like El Federal de Caminos, Pistoleros famosos II, the 1970s, where they became very popular on television. and El secuestro de Camarena . He continued to appear in After the team broke up, Emilio Aragón worked with his films and videohomes until 2007. daughter and as a solo act. He wrote and directed the Fernando Casanova is survived by his widow and 3 feature Yo quiero ser torero (1987). Miliki’s last acting children. role was in Pájaros de papel (2010), directed by his son Emilio Aragón. Gaby, Fofó y Miliki appeared (without clown makeup) Tony leblanc in the Mexican film El nieto del Zorro (1947) in support of Spanish actor Tony Leblanc died of a heart attack on 24 Adalberto Martínez “Resortes.” They also starred in Tres November 2012; he was 90 bárbaros en un jeep (Cuba, 1955) and several Argentine years old. Ignacio Fernández feature films in the early 1970s. Sánchez Leblanc was born in Madrid on 7 May 1922. He made his acting debut in the lizardo díaz mid-1940s, and achieved Colombian actor Lizardo Díaz died on 8 November leading man status after a 2012 in Bogotá, after a long series of illnesses. Lizardo decade of smaller roles. Díaz Muñoz was born on 29 January 1928 and first entered the entertainment world as a musician, but in 1954 met 1 THE MEXICAN FILM BULLETIN Volume 18 Number 6 (November-December 2012) Jorge Ezequiel Ramírez and formed the comedy team “Los Guillermo Alcayde; Asst Dir: Jorge López Portillo; Film Tolimenses.” Díaz played “compadre Felipe” and Ed: Alfredo Rosas Priego; Art Dir: Ramón Rodríguez; Ramírez was Decor: Felipe Becerril; Lighting: Mariano García; Camera “compadre Emeterio,” Op: Manuel Santaella; Makeup: Carmen Palomino; rural Colombian types Music/Re-rec: Rafael Esparza; Dialog Rec: Eduardo who sang and told Arjona jokes in multiple Cast: Fernando venues (live, radio, TV, Casanova ( Raúl film) to great acclaim Zárate, el Águila for more than 40 years. Negra), Perla Eventually, the team Aguiar ( Carmen broke up (Ramírez, Maldonado ), Lalo who had problems with González alcohol, died in 2001) "Piporro" ( Pedro and Díaz forged a solo Artigas), Nora career, including a Veyrán ( Lupe "La significant career as a film actor, director, and producer. Generala" ), “Los Tolimenses” starred in two features, Y la novia dijo... Víctor Alcocer (1964) and the spy spoof Amenaza nuclear (1981, edited (Mario Moncada ), by Mexican film veteran Carlos Savage). Díaz co- Miguel Inclán produced and appeared in Un ángel de la calle (1966), a (Ciriaco ), Mexican-Colombian co-production starring Sofía Álvarez, Alejandro Parodi José Elías Moreno, and Díaz’s wife Raquel Ércole. (Lagartija ), Ricardo Fuentes ( Anselmo ), José Loza ( Armando Zárate ), Genaro de Alba ( Manuel Zárate ), Ángel Merino Alejandro parodi (Fernando Zárate ), Celia Viveros ( Nana ), José Muñoz (belated obituary) (don Francisco Maldonado ), Jesús Gómez ( man with Actor Alejandro Parodi died on 26 August 2011, but I whip ), Victorio Blanco ( servant of Moncada ), Manuel managed to miss this news (despite reading several Sánchez Navarro ( don Cosme, gold buyer ), Marina Mexican newspapers every day), and only discovered it Camacho ( La Tejanita ), Mariachi México, Mariachi while looking at Pulido, Guillermo Alvarez Bianchi ( cantinero-hotel mgr ), IMDB in conjunction Ignacio Peón ( don Ramón ), Rubén Márquez ( man in with this issue’s cantina ) review of El Águila Notes: this was the first of three Águila Negra movies Negra . made back-to-back in 1953, all directed by Ramón Peón Alejandro Parodi and starring Montaño was born in Fernando Casanova the state of Sonora in and Piporro (who, July 1929. A student although a young of acting coach Seki Sano, Parodi appeared on the stage, in man, was somewhat films, and on television in a career than spanned more than stereotyped as an 50 years. His final movie was Bodas de oro (2005). older comic relief Parodi was first nominated for an Ariel for La mujer X sidekick in this (1954), and won his first prize (for Best Juvenile period, due to his Performer) for his role in El buen ladrón (’56). He successful roles in eventually won 4 more Arieles-- Llámenme Mike (Best Ahí viene Martín Corona and El enamorado with Pedro Actor), Nocaut, El imperio de la fortuna (both Best Co- Infante). Basically imitation B-Westerns, these films were Starring Actor), and El misterio de Trinidad (Best apparently popular since the character returned for three Supporting Actor)—and was nominated two additional more movies in 1956. Although the Águila Negra wasn't times. He received the Ariel de Oro for his career in 2009. the first Mexican "Western" series (arguably, one could count the Charro Negro and El Lobo as predecessors--El Lobo even wore a mask--plus the two "Martín Corona" Fernando Casanova films pictures), it was the first to closely emulate Hollywood B- Westerns by eschewing almost all "folkloric" traits (except El Águila Negra [The Black Eagle] (Prods. Rosas for the mariachis in the musical numbers, Mexican-style Priego, 1953) Prod : Alfonso Rosas Priego; Dir-Adapt: outfits are only briefly glimpsed when some apparent Ramón Peón García; Story: Mario García Camberos, rurales pursue Raúl as he flees town). Alfonso Rosas Priego; Photo: Ezequiel Carrasco; Music : El Águila Negra is a fairly well-produced and – Antonio Díaz Conde; Corrido de El Águila Negra: Cuco directed film, but the script is curiously disjointed, doesn’t Sánchez; Prod Mgr: Mario García Camberos; Prod Chief: feature the masked hero enough, and contains some rather 2 THE MEXICAN FILM BULLETIN Volume 18 Number 6 (November-December 2012) odd aspects. There’s a bit too much music, although to be unbelievable scene, they fall in lust and spend the night fair several of the songs are tuneful—especially the together. The next morning, Lupe attempts to convince corrido of El Águila Negra, heard over the credits and later Raúl to betray Pedro, but he refuses and leaves. Pedro sung by some mariachis in shows up but before he can kick Lupe out, the cabin is a cantina. The Rosas attacked by Moncada’s men Priego family (albeit (who followed Pedro from another branch, under the town). Lupe is mortally "Rosas Films" banner) was wounded by a stray bullet, also responsible for the but the arrival of El Águila long-running "Maurico Negra drives the outlaws Rosales, el Rayo" series in away. Pedro decides to the 1950s and the "Felipe turn himself in to the law Reyes, el Justiciero" series for the killing of Lupe’s in the 1960s--both were imitation B-Western series with former lover, but vows to meet Raúl again some day. similarly-catchy theme songs for their heroes. Raúl goes back to town (not wearing a disguise or Raúl Zárate and his 3 brothers live on a ranch in anything) and thrashes Lagartija in a nicely-staged saloon northern Mexico. Their father is away, somewhere, and brawl, forcing him to confess to murdering Maldonado. writes for his oldest son Fernando to join him. While Raúl Raúl then drags the outlaw to the church, where Moncada escorts Fernando to the train station, his younger brothers and Carmen are emerging, having just been married! booze it up in the local Learning the truth, Carmen apologises for doubting Raúl cantina. Ciriaco and and drives off in a wagon, while Moncada is arrested. Anselmo pick a fight with Raúl and Pedro reunite and ride off into the sunset them, on orders of together.