Encyclopedia of the best of Mexican cinema
This list was created to spread and rescue from oblivion the cinema of a country that has been ignored in lists that encompass the best of world cinema when its tapes are of equal or superior quality that those exposed in those "top 10" or "top 100 "; this country is: Mexico.
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- DirectorEnrique RosasStarsJoaquín CossJuan de HomsManuel de los RíosA gang terrorize Mexico City's high society in 1915. Murder, kidnapping and robbery are their trademarks. One police inspector (Cabrera) follows the gang's crimes and eventually sends them to jail.
- DirectorSergei EisensteinFootage of the aftermath of the January 14 1931 Earthquake in Oaxaca, Mexico.
- DirectorAntonio MorenoStarsLupita TovarCarlos OrellanaJuan José Martínez CasadoWoman turns to prostitution after her beloved soldier leaves her.
- DirectorGrigoriy AleksandrovSergei EisensteinStarsFélix BalderasSara GarcíaMartín HernándezHaving revolutionized film editing through such masterworks of montage as Potemkin and Strike, Soviet director Sergei Eisenstein emigrated west in hopes of testing the capabilities of the American film industry.
- DirectorFernando de FuentesStarsAlfredo del DiestroLuis G. BarreiroAdela SequeyroEl Prisionero 13 (Prisoner 13) is part of the trilogy of films made by Fernando Fuentes concerning the Mexican Revolution. The film centers on the drunkard Colonel Carrasco, whose wife Marta leaves him taking his young son. The child, Juan, grows into an admirable and well-mannered young man. Having been promoted to a higher rank of power amidst the Mexican Revolution, the indulgent and corrupt Colonel accepts a bribe to free a revolutionary, Felipe Martinez, from his prison. Martinez has been sentenced to execution at the hands of a firing squad. Carrasco asks to have the revolutionary replaced by absolutely anyone. In a twist of fate, that anyone turns out to be his own long lost son Juan. Upon receiving this news, Marta races to the prison and explains the predicament to Carrasco. He subsequently desperately attempts to prevent the gunning down of his son by his very own government officials.
- DirectorRamón PeónStarsRamón PeredaVirginia ZuríCarlos OrellanaIn modern day Mexico, a man on the street is supernaturally killed after hearing the eerie sound of a wailing woman. We then arrive at the manor of an upper class family, who are celebrating their young son's birthday. A mysterious cloaked figure is eavesdropping on them, taking advantage of secret rooms and passages. Eventually, the intruder (who appears to be possesessed) kidnaps and attempts to murder the boy at a pagan altar using a sacrificial knife and stone. While this story unfolds, two flashbacks to the Elizabethan and Inquisition era are related, explaining the origins of the "wailing woman". In one, a woman with an illegitimate child has been abandoned by her lover. His formerly faithful friend forces him to a duel over this betrayal. The woman kills her baby and herself, and upon her death a wraith ascends skyward from her corpse. In the other story, an Indian woman has her baby taken from her by the authorities, and she descends into madness and suicide, with her spirit also leaving her body upon death. An ancient ring worn by the principals, as well as the knife and stone, are the bonds between the stories.
- DirectorArcady BoytlerRaphael J. SevillaStarsAndrea PalmaDomingo SolerFrancisco ZárragaRosario (Palma) becomes a prostitute after losing her father and discovering her boyfriend had a liaison with another woman. In Veracruz, Rosario lives above a sordid cabaret "selling her love to the men coming from the sea." One night, sailor Alberto (Soler) rescues Rosario from the dirty hands of a drunk man. They get along and go to Rosario's room. After making love, they begin to talk and Rosario discovers they're siblings...
- DirectorJuan Bustillo OroStarsVíctor UrruchúaCarlos VillatoroMagda HallerWhen the Monk Javier acts violently in a gothic monastery, the Prior asks the Monk Juan to calm him down since he believes that Javier is possessed by demons. When Juan comes to Javier's cell, they recognize each other and Javier runs after him. Javier reaches Juan and hits his head with a heavy crucifix, and returns to his cell. Later, Javier confesses to the Prior that Juan was his best friend when he was a tubercular musician and how their friendship ended when his beloved fiancé Ana died. Then, Juan confesses to the Prior that Javier's confession is correct, but he would like to tell the same story through his eyes.
- DirectorFernando de FuentesStarsMarta RoelEnrique del CampoCarlos VillatoroAlfonso (Del Campo), Eduardo (Villatoro) and Eduardo's wife Cristina (Ruel) get lost when visiting a forest. A strange monk finds them and takes them to an ancient convent. There, the three amigos suffer personality changes, specially Cristina who tries to seduce Alfonso in a strange coincidence to a story told by an old monk. After some efforts to escape, Alfonso is trapped inside a jail and more strange and macabre situations happen.
- DirectorJuan Bustillo OroFernando de FuentesStarsAlfredo del DiestroCarmen GuerreroAntonio R. FraustoDuring Mexican Revolution, Rosalio Mendoza (Del Diestro) survives by making and winning favors from both factions, the governmental forces and Zapata's Army. His hacienda welcomes everybody, and Mendoza is considered a good friend of his guests. Eventually, the situation becomes unsustainable and he has to take sides. Betrayal and deception overcome and Mendoza's dark side surfaces.
- DirectorJosé BohrStarsJosé BohrAnita BlanchCarlos Villatoro
- DirectorFernando de FuentesStarsTito GuízarRené CardonaEsther FernándezA "comedia ranchera", where two good friends fall in love with the same girl.
- DirectorEmilio Gómez MurielFred ZinnemannStarsSilvio HernándezDavid Valle GonzálezRafael HinojosaA story of burgeoning labor rights amongst poor fishermen in a small village in Mexico.
- DirectorFernando de FuentesStarsAntonio R. FraustoDomingo SolerManuel TamésThe Mexican Revolution is on its way when six brave peasants, known as "Los Leones de San Pablo", decide to join Pancho Villa's army and help end the suffering in their community by assisting in the struggle. After several battles and valiant heroics, the original group is eventually reduced to the leader Tiburcio Maya (Frausto) and young Becerrillo (Vallarino). When Becerrillo is infected by smallpox, Villa orders Tiburcio to kill him and burn the corpse. After reluctantly doing his duty, Tiburcio is ordered to leave the army, and returns home.
- DirectorAdolfo Best-MaugardStarsEstela IndaJosé CasalHeriberto G. BatembergA dancer and prostitute in Mexico City is unsaddled by guilt about her raunchy life and even tries to find happiness.
- DirectorArcady BoytlerStarsCantinflasManuel MedelMargarita MoraWhen three orphans that were raised together and love like brothers knows about plans to be separated and work outside, they escape and live in the street. They sell lottery and newspapers. When older, they became artists.
- DirectorJuan Bustillo OroStarsEnrique HerreraJoaquín PardavéGloria MarínA scared horror writer is sent to what he believes is a sanatorium to treat him for his fears, but it turns out to be a haunted castle where he becomes embroiled in a rich family's internal battles for a coveted inheritance.
- DirectorJuan Bustillo OroStarsFernando SolerMarina TamayoEmilio TueroIn a Mexican city at the end of the 19th century, Don Francisco, a gambler and a bohemian, almost forgets his wedding and is late. The bride, who is pregnant, is sent to Paris by the snubbed family.
- DirectorJuan Bustillo OroStarsCantinflasJoaquín PardavéSara GarcíaThe boyfriend (Cantinflas) of the servant of a rich industrial man, gets into the house in order to kill a mad dog. Suddenly this man appears so the servant tells him that Cantinflas is his wife's brother (Leonardo), who had been lost for years. The rich man then remembers that his father in law's testament could only be paid when all brothers get together, so treats Cantinflas, a real bum, as a king.
- DirectorCarlos ToussaintStarsCantinflasChelo GómezWilfrido MorenoCantinflas appears flirting with a lady until her lover arrives. Angry, Cantinflas call the husband causing a number of situations.
- DirectorFernando A. RiveroStarsCantinflasChelo GómezWilfrido MorenoWe see a young Mario Moreno making us laugh while he trying to fight against an opponent on a ring.
- DirectorJoselito RodríguezStarsJorge NegreteGloria MarínCarlos LópezA touching tale of love and revenge in the Mexican countryside.