Enamorada

This might or not be a Mexican "Taming of the shrew", but certainly it's a classic from the Mexican golden era. Some might remember it as a Felix/Armendariz movie, but I can assure you it is a Fernandez/Figueroa movie for two reasons; "Enamorada" and "The Torch". By this time, Fernandez, Figueroa and Armendariz were already well known in Hollywood, not only because of their recent success of "Maria Candelaria" (with the former Hollywood star Dolores Del Rio) obvious reasons to bring a lot of attention. Maybe that's why it wasn't equally distributed and popularized in USA, perhaps someone fall in love with it, to the point of buying it and redo it in an English version. An English version that excluded Maria Felix, but included a former Mrs. Chaplin (who also produced) and Pedo Armendariz with some of the original crew, and Cholula and the volcanoes of Puebla in the background. But no matter what version you see first, this one is by far better, but not much more realistic, considering what was the reality of the Revolution years.

Romantic melodrama at its best, if you ask me! I still remember the reaction of the international audience who saw this motion picture as part of the homage to Fernández in La Habana Film Festival, half a century after its original release: as the word "Fin" appeared on the screen, people stood up and applauded in a mix of emotion, humor and excitement. Because watching a celebrity as "La Doña" hit the dusty road as a common soldadera, following the officer she loves during Mexican revolution in 1910, is something to cherish, laugh at and applaud. In Cholula, a general falls for the beautiful, haughty daughter of a landowner, engaged to an American, so it is "The Taming of the Shrew" time once again. And believe me, it is a pleasure to watch the duel between Félix and Armendáriz as the Trío Calaveras sings. Ariel Awards for Best Direction, Actress, Cinematography (Gabriel Figueroa), Film Editing, sound and new actor (Eduardo Arozamena). A special Golden Ariel was given to director Fernández.

When two very independent persons from opposite backgrounds fall in love, what can you expect?? Nothing but trouble. This love story takes place during the Mexican Revolution times(Early 1900's), but could very well take place in any other place or time in the world. The beauty of this picture is mainly due to the the great work of art performed by its photographer, Gabriel Figueroa that captures incredible moments, when by only looking at the main actress' eyes everything is said and understood. The Director, who else but Emilio, El Indio, Fernandez is said to have made this picture, as a reflection of his own life. A Revolutionary General that falls in love with the town's most beautiful and richest lady, someone perhaps too high above his social level. It is an entertaining movie where you can feel the rejection of the upper classes to the dominant peasants invading forces. The main actor was one of Mexico's greatest from its "Golden period": Pedro Armendariz, and the leading lady, Mexican Goddess, Maria Felix. As an added piece of information, due to the "Indio Fernandez" great international fame, a second version of this movie was filmed in English and directed by him in Hollywood in 1949 under the title: The Torch. Pedro Armendariz, who was born and raised in the USA repeated his role as in the original movie, along with Paulette Goddard(Charlie Chaplin's former wife). This second version was not quite as good as the original one.

Armendáriz was terrific in this. I won't repeat the praises from prior reviews, I concur.

My only problem with this film is that it wasn't true to the revolution. In that sense, it was indeed a Fernandez film as neither was he true to the revolution. He gave a Cristero slant to the issues of Church/State and redistribution of wealth. Just take it as a love story set in the revolutionary period and try to ignore the political bias. Jeeze, you'd think he'd have shown more gratitude having been pardoned by Lázaro Cárdenas for his treason.

Pedro Armendáriz, María Felix and the town of Cholula were the great stars of this film. The exteriors were certainly shot in Cholula.

There were some snippets of revolutionary period music (La Adelita and El Tren) and an anachronistic performance of Malageña Salerosa when he had mariachi serenade María Felix. That song is so lovely, I didn't mind.

The film is a cinematographic gem, one of the best films in Mexican cinema. Figueroa's photography is simply magical, it manages to portray the beauty of María Félix in all its splendor. Emilio Fernández as director is magnificent, he manages to awaken the romanticism of a determined and calculating Pedro Armendariz. He also directs a María Félix who manages to be comical and rude at the same time, her performance is hypnotic, she does not need to say a word to fall in love, her only presence and her gaze is enough for it. All the elements are so well constructed and directed that they make this film unforgettable.