El padrecito (1964) User Reviews

Charming, but you need to stick with this one...it gets better.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 2 November 2010]

KaiMiddleton's review called this film 'charming' and I don't think I could have chosen a more appropriate way to describe it. However, you really need to stick with this film, as it starts off very slow....so don't turn it off if you think the movie isn't particularly good.

Before I get into the review, I should mention that although Cantinflas was a bit of a beloved national character in Mexico, I have never seen any of his films. So I really had no preconceptions about him. I only learned more about him after I finished seeing "Padrecito". I was surprised to learn, for instance, that when he died, the nation went into an unsurpassed period of mourning. Wow.

The film finds an elderly priest being informed that a young priest (Cantinflas) will be coming to his parish to become his 'assistant'. However, to the elderly priest, this really means the young man is coming to take his job. Because of this, the elderly priest is somewhat cold towards Cantinflas. However, the priest's sister is downright hostile--as are most of the people of the town. To make it even harder for Cantinflas are his odd ways--very odd for a priest. He just doesn't act very priest-like. Some of his ways were simply eccentric--and the town found them easy to criticize. A few of the ways, however, are hard to defend--such as his gambling to get parishioners to do what he wants (and it sure seems like he's cheating!). It's all very mod and hip--especially with his calls for economic justice. But, it's also very endearing and sweet. I could say more but don't want to ruin the plot. Suffice to say that by the end, he's won over the town and fixed everything--like some sort of social worker or 'fix-it' man.

Overall, the film is quite cute and clever and is apparently a slight reworking of the Hollywood film, "Going My Way". Certainly not a must-see, but a pleasant little film that was far better than I'd expected. It's clearly one of the best Mexican films I've seen--and shows that the country made far more than just Aztec Mummy and El Santo films!

Good-natured and warmhearted Cantinflas comedy , here playing an atypical and likeable priest

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 15 May 2021]

Nice and entertaining farce upon a sympathetic priest with good intentions who comes in a tiny Mexican village to replace another oldest priest : Antonio Garasa . The Padrecito Cantinflas is a good-feeling reverend sometimes resorting to wordly solutions to problems . Along the way our Padrecito talks directly to God , makes good acts , helping people , fine assistance , and clashes repeatedly with Antonio Garasa. Meantime , the Padrecito takes on a powerful and nasty wealthy owner who eventually reunites neighbours to expel the rebel priest . Here Cantinflas is simply the coolest priest ever !

A gentle, satisfying and agreeable comedy with a lot of humorous, enjoyable sketches about an unconventional priest who delivers goodness , help and happiness . It is the hilarious all new adventure of that imprudent , impish , impossible droll role magnificently played by the splendid Cantinflas. Most laughs are supposed to come from watching the priest do such outrageous things as card playing , betting , brawling and organizing peculiar tricks to get his attractive purports . This is a successful , though overlong satire, and in my opinion it results one on the best Mario Moreno Cantinflas movies . Alongside Cantinflas there appears some human and credible roles , special mention for Antonio Garasa with whom Cantinflas formed couple in several occasions , both of them perform two priests with virtues and shortcomings but above all human beings confrontating from opposite sides , as a traditional priesthood and a modern priesthood . This is a simple fun and exhilarating film about an unusual priest versus a mean wealthy owner along with other adventures and misfortunes shown in a mass collection of vignetttes . Cantinflas' career was very long from the Forties to Eighties . Throughout his fruitful career Cantinflas performed good-tempered and kind people , mostly low-class characters . Equally , he played motley roles with all kinds of jobs, as he was street cleaner , a teacher , a doctor, an actor , an extra , a scientist , a clown, a fireman , a porter , an elevador operador, a photographer , a prospector , cowboy , a student , Hotel manager , an Ambassador , Bellboy , a police officer , magician , a priest , among others . These roles to be interpreted in films as El Profe , Bombero Atómico, El Supersabio, El Analfabeto, El Extra , Sube Y Baja , El Conserje , El Mago, Por Mis Pistolas , El Circo, Su excelencia, El Señor Doctor , El Señor Fotógrafo , El Patrullero, Por Mis Pistolas , and his last one : El Barrendero.

The motion picture was competently directed by Miguel Maria Delgado in his usual style , and he was Cantinflas' ordinary filmmaker . Rating : 7/10. Above average Cantinflas movie . A childhood favorite , appointed to tremendous fans of the great Cantinflas. Essential and indispensable seeing .

Charming, touching and funny

[zutterjp48 · 8/10 · 25 April 2019]

"El Padrecito" is maybe one of the best films of Cantinflas !! When you live in U.S.A. , Mexico or Central America you can see this film at least every month on the local TV channels !! And the people enjoy it very.Now some words about the story: Padre Sebastian is sent to a small town and then all the people are quite surprised by his way to practice his mission !! It's a real storm in small town and some people don't agree with his behavior and his social message !! This film is really great for the performance of Cantinflas (Padre Sebastian), but also the performances of great Mexican actors and actresses such as Angelines Fernandez (Sara,the sister of Damian), Angel Garasa (Padre Damian) and Jose Elias Moreno (Don Silvestre Manzano) !!

Charming

[KaiMiddleton · 9/10 · 31 December 2004]

My 72 year old mother-in-law loves Cantinflas so we rented this movie among several others of his. I admit I wasn't looking forward to it but I found the clear way in which the main character did good somewhat refreshing after the edginess of modern films. Some might see "El Padricito" as formulaic but I enjoyed it much more than Denzel Washington's modernly formulaic "Out of Time" (I really didn't like that movie). Cantinflas' picture shows a character that must have been a bit avante-garde for his time and was innocent (or naive) in the basic humanity that everyone was able to achieve.

Here is a plot summary: Diminutive Mexican film legend Cantinflas (a cross between Italian funnyman Roberto Benigni and silent film star Buster Keaton) stars as an unconventional priest who's assigned to a new position in a small town. The townspeople are skeptical of the new arrival, and the priest's own unconventional ways do little to boost his popularity.

The Priest

[angeleyez2003 · 10/10 · 19 April 2005]

In this movie Mario Moreno portrays a new priest that has been sent to a town to begin gaining experience in ministry. When he arrives he does not receive such a great welcome because the towns people and the old priests' family think he was sent to take over the church. As usual Cantinflas has to overcome the greedy villains and stubborn people. The movie is filled with a lot of funny comments made by cantinflas. Although he is a priest he has a mind of his own and he tells people exactly what he is thinking. The DVD is excellent. Both the audio and picture are perfect. Subtitles are optional and there are even a few present day film trailers. You can rest assure that through out the movie you'll encounter the unique charm of Mario Moreno.

Not the Best Cantinflas,but the "good" one

[treada73 · 1 February 2009]

Once again Cantinflas explore a new Profession, this time so out of the common one, as a Priest as almost anybody could imagine him in the beginning of his career,Miguel M.Delgado his usual director put him in a rural environment with all the necessary ingredients for a familiar and nice comedy ,however its conventionalism, the mean tyrant(Jose Elias Moreno) who opposite to any progress of the town and obviously Cantinflas as the new priest confront him with everything against him inclusive the people who see him as an usurper of the place of the old priest place(Angel Garasa) in times which this profession was more respectable Cantinflas became the conscious of the town however his renovate ideas which Angelines Fernandez supposes (not without some reason) as socialism after listen him give a speech. Cantinflas refuse to baptize a baby just because he does not like his future name(Nepomuceno) and denied the banns to a couple because the guy look like lazy(according to him) and the lady does not know cook, no matter of these ,catholic church saw with good eyes and enthusiasm this movie in its time.

some of Cantiflas Best Films

[edgar-guzman · 10/10 · 15 June 2006]

Many people that had seen this movie, don't realize that Cantiflas was making a hard critic to the Catholic Church. In this movie he acts as a priest and has to solve many problems, like create a school for the town, and encounter some villain, and also plays dices with a store manager (glambling is forbid to priest), and in some part of the movie he reject naming a child "Napomuceno" that is the name of a Saint, but to him the name is so ugly that decide not to do it. You have to see the master peace, form the point of view that Mexico was at the time under control of Catolic church and parties and between laugh makes some specifics critics.