The Golden Age of Mexican cinema was marked by various films that reflected the talent that existed in the country at that time. There were countless actors and actresses who took to the big screen with various genres; one of them was Mario Moreno, best known for his character 'Cantinflas', who positioned him as an actor and comedian, gaining international recognition and personalities such as Charles Chaplin.
WHO IS CANTINFLAS?
Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes, better known as "Cantinflas", was born on August 12, 1911, in the Barrio Santa María la Redonda, Mexico City. He was a prominent actor, mime, comedian, musician, TV presenter, record producer.
From his childhood he worked in trades such as postman, shoemaker, shoe shiner, taxi driver, boxer, dancer, bullfighter, at the age of 16, he enlisted in the army. He studied medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Mexico City, which he abandoned for financial reasons.
He began his artistic career in the traveling theaters (variety tents) in Mexico City.
The nickname of Cantinflas, was born when in a presentation a spectator annoyed by Mario's meaningless sentences, yelled at him "How much you inflate" or "in the canteen you inflate" for thinking things over a lot without getting to the concrete. The cry created the name of Mario Moreno "Cantinflas". He was also nicknamed "Mexican Chaplin" and from his way of speaking without saying anything clearly the verb "cantinflear" was born, which, according to the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language, means "to speak in a crazy and incongruous way and without saying anything".
Ranking of the 10 best Cantinflas films
10. Raquel's bolero (1957)
This is the comedian's first color film and one of the most successful of his career. In it, Cantinflas plays a shoeshine boy who has decided to take care of his best friend's son, who has recently died.
The man works to get out of poverty and, at the same time, begins to receive classes to train himself. So, he falls in love with his teacher Raquel.
This film contains one of the most memorable scenes of his career, in which the comedian dances the famous "Ravel's Bolero" with the dancer Elaine Bruce.
9. Go Up and Down (1959)
In this film full of good times, Cantinflas is an elevator operator who, entrusted by his boss, goes on a trip to get a million-dollar contract with an international champion. A series of events lead Cantinflas to be confused with the athlete Jorge Marciel. Despite everything, the protagonist decides to continue usurping the athlete's identity when a millionaire woman is interested in conquering him.
8. The Circus (1943)
In this film, Cantinflas plays a shoemaker who falls in love with a young circus worker. So, the protagonist decides to leave his job to get involved in the circus as a worker, where he does all kinds of jobs that lead him to screw up in different shows.
7. The Atomic Firefighter (1952)
In El bombero atómico, Cantinflas gives life to a firefighter who is left in charge of his goddaughter, who has just lost her mother. The girl is about to receive a large inheritance, however, a group of criminals intend to keep the young woman's assets and kidnap her.
6. If I were a deputy (1952)
Mario Moreno's cinema also contained criticism of the capitalist system. This movie is an example of that. In it, Cantinflas gives life to a barber who receives law classes from one of his neighbors in exchange for haircuts. Soon, he begins to advise the most disadvantaged in the courts and his fame leads him to be elected deputy.
5. Fly young! (1947)
It is a film belonging to the first stage of Cantinflas. Here he plays a young man who, taking advantage of a military leave, goes to see his girlfriend, a maid who works in a rich man's house.
Then, the landowner forces Cantinflas to marry his daughter, a young woman with whom he is not in love. When he returns to military training, Cantinflas tries to prevent the marriage, causing his arrest. While he is serving his sentence, he will mistakenly go flying with an air force ship.
4. The unknown gendarme (1941)
The unknown gendarme is one of Mario Moreno's first films, in which the character that made him so famous is discovered.
Here Cantinflas becomes a collaborator of the police when he manages to intercept a group of thieves who have stolen a valuable diamond.
3. Your Excellency (1967)
It is one of the comedian's highest grossing films. This film contains one of his most famous speeches, in which he criticizes the rulers of the world.
In this comedy, Cantinflas plays López, affectionately nicknamed “Lopitos”, a bureaucrat from the fictional Republic of Cocos. In this film, the Mexican comedian deals with political issues in a very subtle way.
2. Around the World in Eighty Days (1956)
It is an ambitious Hollywood production of the time, also Cantinflas's first film outside his homeland.
It is an adaptation of Jules Verne's novel of the same name that revolves around Phileas Fogg, a man who bets to go around the world in 80 days. On his adventure, he is accompanied by his butler, played by Cantinflas, and an Indian princess.
1. There's the Detail (1940)
It is one of the comic strips most praised by film critics. Here, Cantinflas has a relationship with a servant who works in the house of Mr. Cayetano. One day, the protagonist enters the house to get rid of a dog and is mistaken for another person. The situation unleashes a series of crazy circumstances.