El esqueleto de la señora Morales

Master of the macabre Arthur Machen loosely based his novel 'The Islington Mystery' on Dr. Crippen's murder of his wife Cora. Although he retained some of the circumstances he changed the characters to Mr. & Mrs. Boale. In this adaptation by screenwriter Luis Alcoriza, they have become Dr. Pablo Morales and his wife Gloria.

There seems to be an unwritten law which exists to this day that when a wife is murdered or missing, presumed dead, the prime suspect is invariably the husband. Taxidermist Morales has more cause for murder than most as his wife subjects him to relentless mental and emotional torture whilst presenting herself as the victim to her hideous relations, his brutal brother and an over-zealous Catholic priest. Morales confides to a friend early on in the film that to commit a murder, be tried for it and acquitted is the ultimate achievement. Our hero almost makes it but of course there is always the unexpected............

This is definitely for those who like their comedies 'black'(apologies to the 'woke' patrol) The camera angles, lighting effects and Raúl Lavista's score add immeasurably to the film's gruesome nature.

It is the performance of Artúro de Cordova as Morales that carries the day. He has always excelled at characters with an 'edge' and his casting here is a masterstroke. This film was made as Mexico's Golden Age, of which he was one of the brightest stars, was rapidly coming to a close and he himself in his early fifties. Sadly incapacitated by a stroke in 1967, this is, to my knowledge, the last of his great roles. The part of his insufferable spouse Gloria is a difficult one to play and Amparo Rivelles convinces as a woman who must at some stage have been an engaging partner before disease and excessive piety took their toll.

Luis Alcoriza had a fruitful working relationship with Luis Bunuel which included 'Exterminating Angel' and 'El', the latter gifting de Córdova another marvellous role. Although Rogelio A. Gonzalez does a pretty good job here one cannot help but wonder how Bunuel would have handled this material.

Both this film and the works of Arthur Machen have had a strong influence on director Guillermo del Toro. One is hardly surprised.

This film is charmingly macabre, about a taxidermist with a sincere love and lust for life, and his terrible antithesis of a wife. The performances are absolutely convincing, and the pompous catholic padre is unforgettable during the confession at the end, as is the lead character. The attention to detail makes it a pleasure to watch this film again and again.

It's a very nice example of Mexican black humor. The story is shocking as it is original and relatable, which makes the viewer reflect on the moral dilemma presented.

Even if you're not interested in Mexican cinema this is a must see.

Laced with morbid humour and effortlessly sustaining its macabre wit throughout, The Skeleton of Mrs. Morales is a pitch black comedy horror that's competently crafted, intelligently narrated & brilliantly acted as it takes its time to acquaint us with the taxidermist's charm & persona and also compels us to root for him after he takes his marital woes borne out of his overbearing wife to the extreme. As demented as it is amusing, the story is further enriched by crisp photography & steady pace while it captures the longstanding effects of a toxic marriage and despite turning dark, it never loses its funny side. One of the better examples of its genre(s) and surely amongst the finest works of Mexican cinema. Highly recommended.

The taxidermist Dr. Pablo Morales (Arturo de Córdova) is a good man that loves children and animals and to drink a few beers with his three best friends. He has been married for fifteen years with the wicked, frigid, cruel and manipulative self-righteous Gloria Morales (Amparo Rivelles), who has one leg with poliomyelitis, and turns his life into hell on Earth. She lies to the Priest Artemio Familiar (Antonio Bravo) and his nosy and gossipy neighbors and sister and brother-in-law from her congregation, telling them that Dr. Morales is an abusive man that beats her. Indeed, Dr. Morales loved her and has paid the mortgage of his old house where they live to please her and now is saving money to buy a camera that is his dream. When Gloria tries to poison his pet, their servant Meche (Rosenda Monteros), who treats Dr. Morales very nice, does not allow and is fired and expelled by Gloria. She tells her to leave the house immediately, otherwise she will accuse Meche of theft. When the seller reduces her commission to allow Dr. Morales to buy the camera, the object becomes his pride and joy. Soon Gloria breaks his camera into pieces and Dr. Morales kills her. How will he explain the absence of his wife?

"El esqueleto de la señora Morales", a.k.a. "Skeleton of Mrs. Morales", is a Mexican masterpiece of black humor. This film is a must-see for fans of this genre, since it is impossible to describe the cruel treatment of Gloria Morales to her husband. The viewer will certainly hope that he is considered not guilty in the trial. His confession to the nosy priest and the black humor in the end is very funny and unique. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Esqueleto da Sra. Morales" ("The Skeleton of Mrs. Morales")