Cantinflas or Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno Reyes, one of the most famous Latin American comedian and popular icon, started his career with variety entertainment performances in traveling tents or Carpa, then graduated to stage-performances and films.
Moreno’s character ‘Cantinflas,’ often portrayed as an impoverished, good-hearted peasant, was always at the core of his other characters like butler, musketeer, street-sweeper, patrolman.
Moreno’s debut film was Mexican comedy-drama ‘Don’t Fool Yourself Dear’ (1937). He had a substantial role in ‘Such is My Country’ (1937), followed by ‘Heads or Tails’ (1937), ‘The Sign of death’ (1939) and several Mexican short-films which established the character ‘Cantinflas.’
Moreno became a star after hit comedy-film ‘You’re Missing the Point’ (1940). Following parody-film ‘Neither Blood nor Sand’ (1941), he starred as police officer (Patrolman 777) in ‘The Unknown Policeman’ (1941)directed by Mexican director-screenwriter Miguel Delgado, who went on to direct 33 of Cantinflas movies, the next being ‘The Three Musketeers’ (1942) which was entered into ‘Cannes Film Festival’ (1946).
Thereafter, Moreno starred in a series of parody-films ‘The Circus/El Circo’ (1942) a tribute to Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Circus,’ ‘Romeo & Juliet’ (1943), ‘Gran Hotel’ (1944), ‘A Day with the Devil’ (1945), ‘I Am a Fugitive’ (1946), ‘Fly Away, Young Man’ (1947), ‘The Genius’ (1948) and ‘The Magician’ (1949), wherein Cantinflas is hired to fill in for a look-alike absentee magician.
Moreno’s further movies were— ‘The Doorman’ (1950), comedy-Western ‘El Siete Machos’ (1951), ‘If I Were a Congressman’ (1952), which had likenesses to Chaplin’s ‘The Great Dictator.’ He reprised his ‘Patrolman 777’ role in ‘The Atomic Fireman’ (1952), then starred in ‘The Photographer’ (1953), ‘A Tailored Gentleman’ (1954), and ‘Drop the Curtain’ (1955).
Moreno made his Hollywood debut with epic adventure-comedy ‘Around the World in 80 Days’ (1956) and earned ‘Golden Globe for Best Actor,’ and global stardom. His next Hollywood film ‘Pepe’ (1960), with many star guest-appearances, fetched Golden Globe nomination, but was not successful as his Spanish-language humor lost its effect in English-translation.
Moreno’s next Mexican starrers were ‘El Bolero de Raquel’ (1957), ‘Sube y baja’ (1959), ‘The Illiterate One’ (1961), ‘The Extra’ (1962). In ‘Immediate Delivery’ (1963) Cantinflas, an ordinary mailman, is compelled to become a spy. Further, he appeared in several movies including, ‘Su excelencia’(1967), ‘El Profe’ (1971), ‘El petrullero 777’ (1978) third in ‘Patrolman 777 trilogy,’ and more. His last film was ‘El barrendero’ (1982).
The film is about the story of a barber who goes on to gain support as a congressional candidate from the majority of people in his neighbourhood for helping the poor. Another factor working in his favour is a lack of tough competition: the only people rooting for the other candidate are his own bodyguards.
Cantinflas is a clumsy fireman, who takes up the job of caring for a little girl after her mother passes away. Eventually, he decides to quit his job, and becomes a policeman. Things go well, till the girl is kidnapped by a group of gangsters due to a monetary inheritance.
This comedy drama film tells the story of Cantinflas, a Lupitos, who is assigned to the role of ambassador for his country. Soon, he begins to express opinions that are not appreciated.
Around the World in 80 Days is an Oscar winning adventure comedy film which is based on a novel of the same name by Jules Verne. The story revolves around Phileas Fogg, an English gentleman, living in the 19th century, who makes a bet that he can travel around the world in eighty days. Along with his French valet Passepartout, he sets out on an adventurous journey.
After arriving in El Romeral, a small town, a teacher realizes that he has several obstacles in front of him, because many people doesn’t want the children to be educated, so that they can continue exploitation of the people.
This Western comedy adventure film tells the story of Fidencio Barrenillo, who discovers the property deeds of an old silver mine in Arizona, belonging to his great-grandfather. Therefore, he decides to set off to Arizona, hoping that he can claim the property.
This comedy drama film tells the story of a humble street sweeper, who becomes the only witness to a crime committed by art thieves.
A Mexican comedy centered around an intern at a law firm who ends up causing a lot of problems when he sets out to help others.
Mateo Melgarejo is a notary public as well as a scribe for the illiterate people of Santo Domingo, a neighborhood north of Zocalo, in Mexico City. He is quite frustrated with the government bureaucracy in his country, and he writes a letter to the cabinet minister, Don Antonio, hoping that he can earn an audience with him, and discuss about reforming the bureau.
Diogenes is a police officer, who tries to do things the right way, despite the fact that he is surrounded by a corrupt police department that does not care for the citizens.
Ranch hand Pepe’s world is turned upside down when alcoholic Hollywood director Mr.Holt buys his beloved friend, a white stallion from its owner. Pepe then goes on an extraordinary adventure through Hollywood, meeting celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante, Zsa Zsa Gabór, Bing Crosby, and others before being reunited with his beloved stallion.
Cantinflas Awards
| Around the World in 80 Days | Best Actor - Comedy or Musical | 1957 |
