The Lincoln Center in New York City is hosting a special retrospective featuring 22 notable films from Mexican popular cinema, created during the vibrant years of the 1940s to the 1960s. This period was marked by extraordinary creativity and is recognized for its significant filmmakers and iconic stars, providing a captivating look into an important era of Mexican film history.
The event is titled “Daily Show: Mexican Popular Cinema” and runs from Friday, June 26, through August 8 at the Walter Reade Theater. It is organized by Film at Lincoln Center and the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. The latter previously showcased these Mexican films, which are now being presented to an audience in New York.
According to a statement from Cinema Tropical, one of the organizers, “The years between the 1940s and 1960s were an exceptionally creative time in Mexico, leading to a monumentally prolific era with great filmmakers such as Roberto Gavaldón, Emilio Fernández, Julio Bracho, Alejandro Galindo, and Chano Urueta.”
This retrospective also emphasizes the period’s outstanding stars, including Cantinflas, Fernando Soler, Tin Tan, Ninón Sevilla, Santo (the wrestling character), Pedro Infante, and the diva MarÃa Félix. The series aims to explore the most prominent works of the time, showcasing a rich tapestry of innovative cinema. It highlights a fascinating yet sometimes underestimated era, presenting an exceptionally diverse range of films that captivated generations of film lovers and artists alike.
The selection includes a variety of genres, from film noir and comedy to “scrappy melodrama,” often mixing elements within single films. Audiences can expect everything from 3D sword-fighting to horror films featuring wrestlers and vampires, as well as a lucha libre superhero film. These genres collectively influenced popular culture, taking viewers into worlds filled with wrestling rings, cabarets, nightclubs, grand estates, bustling cities, and diverse landscapes of Mexico.
Among the notable films showcased are prestigious works by renowned directors. Viewers can look forward to a newly restored version of Julio Bracho’s “Llévame en tus brazos” (1954) and Emilio Fernández’s “Pueblerina” (1949). Alejandro Galindo’s “Espaldas mojadas” (1955), Roberto Gavaldón’s “La noche avanza” (1952) and “DÃas de otoño” (1963), and Matilde Landeta’s “Trotacalles” (1951), a melodrama regarding sex work, also make the list. The program will also feature Mexico’s first 3D film, “El corazón y la espada.”
The series beautifully encapsulates the numerous genres and unforgettable stars who defined popular cinema during these three decades. Noteworthy comedies headlined by cultural icons Cantinflas and Tin Tan, such as “El gendarme desconocido” (1941) and “El rey del barrio” (1949), will also be screened, alongside the bloody western “El rÃo y la muerte” (1960) by the Spanish-born filmmaker Luis Buñuel, who was naturalized in Mexico.
For cinephiles and casual viewers alike, this retrospective promises a deep dive into the remarkable legacy of Mexican popular cinema, showcasing its impact and charm.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/cultura/2024/07/24/el-cine-mexicano-brilla-en-nueva-york-presentan-una-retrospectiva-del-periodo-de-excepcional-creatividad/
