El mago

Cantinflas, the Mexican Charlie Chaplin, is a lazy administration at a lookalike agency. When a weary spiritualist (referred to throughout as "a magician") wants to take a holiday without abandoning his regular customers, he hires a double from the agency. However, the double gets spooked when gangsters show up at the spiritualist's temple, but he somehow manages to sucker the hapless Cantinflas into taking his place.

Meanwhile, it turns out "the magician" really is from the mysterious east, and is the rightful ruler of the kingdom of Arichi, following the death of his father. A group of missionaries are sent out to find him, but they of course pick up the clueless Cantinflas instead. To add to the intrigue, one of the missionaries is actually a traitor who supports the late king's brother, and intends to finish off the true heir. Add the mob (who want to use the spiritualist's skills in their crimes) and a gold digging temptress (Leonora Amar), and hilarity soon ensues...

The comedy relies heavily on fish-out-of water antics, as the classless Cantinflas presides over his cringing subjects and makes nonsensical comments to the international media. He comically fawns after the beautiful Amar, and a drink with the mob ends in chaos.

Cantinflas' comedies are always worth a watch (if you understand Spanish or can find a subtitled version), and 'El Mago' is no exception. As usual, it's the charisma of the star that is the main drawing point, but there's also a madcap creativity behind his films that put them at least on par with many contemporary American comedies. The fantasy elements are minimal though, pretty much amounting to the real magician's fortune telling abilities not actually being discredited – but that's not really surprising since he's not in it much.

Nice and fun farce upon the likeable Cantinflas as an employee with good intentions who works at a lazy office , a lookalike agency , then he becomes a magician . Here Cantinflas goes from the streets of Mexico to the fabulous palaces of the Far East . When a weary spiritualist or magician wants to take a holiday without leaving his regular clients , he hires a stand-in from the agency . However, the double results to be a botcher adviser who tells fateful councils , resorting to wordly solutions to problems , while making botched works and all kinds of activities . Overnight, he becomes a Caliph, then a magician, then several other riveting characters, each one providing another facet of Cantinflas' unique human comedy. He is a sui-generis fortune teller with virtues and shortcomings , but above all , a complete human being . Meanwhile, it results out to be "the authentic magician" is really descendant of a powerful king , who's the ruler of a remote Eastern kingdom , and that's why he is the rightful heir , succeeding to the death of his father , while the clueless Cantinflas taking his place . After that , group of Arabs are sent out to find him, but they meet his double , Cantinflas , instead . Along the way , he is mercilessly pursued by both , a gang of mobsters and the Arabs , but the good-feeling and friendly Cantinflas manages to escape . To add to the suspense , one of of them is actually a traitor who supports the late king's brother , and he shoots Cantinflas but wrongly killing a Fakir . Eventually , Cantinflas is appointed as king and in the haren , along with a large plethora of charming women , he dances a hilarious dance with a concubine , being the highlight of the film . Here Cantinflas is simply the coolest magician one eacher ever !

Cantinflas recital in which he usually wears his baggy pants , his two-piece mustache and talks nonsensical sentences . Dealing with a bungler clerk who is given a thorny assignment : to be a magician double who's actually an inheritor of a wonderful kingdom , which begins off a series of diverting and twisted events . Along the way our friend Cantinflas falls for a young woman : the beautiful Leonora Amar , makes good acts , helping people , fine assistance , and clashes repeatedly with the usual villains : some gangsters and the king's brother who has ambitious plans . Charming comedy dealing with his amorous adventures, here playing an atypical and good-tempered stand-in magician . A gentle, satisfying and agreable comedy with a lot of humorous, enjoyable sketches about an unconventional counsellor/magician who delivers tips, teachings , advises , goodness , help and happiness . Of course , in this slapstick fantasy , Cantinflas using his comedy routine consisting of engaging in drawn-out, nonsensical chatter , as well as his physical aspect as two-piece mustache with wide, clean-shaven gap in the middle . The attractive plot is similar to other successful Cantinflas movies . El Mago or The Magician (1949) is the hilarious all new adventure of that imprudent , impish , impossible droll role magnificently played by the splendid Cantinflas , a childhood favorite . Most laughs are supposed to come from watching the especial magician do such outrageous things and organizing peculiar tricks to get his amazing purports . This is a successful , though overlong satire , but in my opinion it turns out to be inferior than others Mario Moreno Cantinflas entries . Alongside Cantinflas there appears some human and credible roles , special mention for the gorgeus Leonora Amar as the gold digger who goes after Cantinflas , thinking of be a wealthy prince .

This is a simple fun and exhilarating film about an unusual good guy versus a bad boys along with other adventures , romance and misfortunes shown in a mass collection of vignetttes . Cantinflas' career was very long from the Forties to Eighties . He is responsible for more than one word that is in the modern Spanish language dictionary, including the verb "Cantinflear", which roughly means to talk a lot but say nothing of substance. Cantinflas represents the humble Mexican who wants to overcome himself and accomplish something in life. Throughout his fruitful career Cantinflas performed good-tempered and kind people , mostly low-class characters . Mario "Cantinflas" Moreno, whom the legendary comedian Charlie Chaplin dubbed "the funniest man in the world," began his career in the 1930s in the "carpas" (tent shows) of Mexico City. After early attempts to find his comedic voice, he embraced his own heritage as a lowly slum dweller, and audiences enthusiastically endorsed this comic persona. With his tiny mustache tipping the corner of his mouth, a cockeyed cap over dark, disheveled hair, dirty vest and a rope for a belt, Cantinflas became the idol of the masses by satirizing the police and politicians . In 1936 Cantinflas made his first film, a two-reel advertisement for a trucking company. A year later, he appeared in his first movie for the nascent Mexican film industry, "Asi Es Mi Tierra" : "That's My Country" . Equally , he played motley roles with all kinds of jobs, as he was street cleaner , a teacher , a doctor, an actor , an extra , a scientist , a clown, a fireman , a porter , an elevador operador, a photographer , a prospector , cowboy , a student , Hotel manager , an Ambassador , Bellboy , a police officer , magician , a priest , among others . These roles to be interpreted in films as El Profe , Bombero Atómico, El Supersabio, El Analfabeto, El Extra , Sube Y Baja , El Conserje , El Mago, Por Mis Pistolas , El Circo, Su excelencia, El Señor Doctor , El Señor Fotógrafo , El Patrullero, Por Mis Pistolas , and his last one : El Barrendero.

The motion picture was professionally directed by Miguel Maria Delgado in his usual style , and he was Cantinflas' ordinary filmmaker . Delgado directed him in a lot of movies as El señor doctor, El patrullero 777, El profe, Por mis pistolas, El supersabio, Gran hotel, El señor fotografo, Los tres mosqueteros, El Gendarme desconocido, among others. The picture will appeal to Cantinflas fans . Rating : 6/10. Acceptable and passable Cantinflas movie , but neither extraordinary , nor notable , but decent . Appointed only for tremendous fans of the great Cantinflas. Essential and indispensable seeing for Cantinflas enthusiasts.