Enamorada

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.

A batallion of Mexican revolutionaries comes into a Mexican town and the leader of the band falls for the daughter of the of the town's wealthy class.

There must be some symbolism in there, but it's not transmitted very deftly.

The movie is mostly somber. There are a few pieces of questionably convoluted political dialogue as the characters argue with each other and plenty of executions by firing squad. What struck me most about the film is the fact that there are some real lapses in tone, such as when the general flies off a horse or a scene where there's some slapstick with a log.

The romance is not very well-developed. The guy catcalls the woman and she slaps him... and slaps him and slaps him... And he keeps pursuing her until she gets with him. Nevertheless, as with most of these old Ariel winners, it was probably meant to be a symbolic and not realistic movie - the poor and the rich finding peace with each other. But it's not particularly well-done.

It's a little better than the standard fare for the era and certainly watchable, but nothing special. Good battle scenes, though!

Honourable Mentions: White tiger (2021). A film about the plight of the poor at the hands of the cruel rich. Excellent movie.

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.

Looking at Emilio Fernández as Mapache in 'The Wild Bunch' it seems almost incredible that in his youth he was recommended by Dolores del Rio as the model for the Oscar statuette. What is indisputable is that he was one of Mexico's most powerful directors during its Golden Age.

Partly inspired by 'The Taming of the Shrew' and a traditional 14th Century Spanish tale this is the first of Fernández' three films featuring the indomitable Maria Félix and in Pedro Armendáriz she has found her ideal acting partner. Two strong personalities whose chemistry is palpable. The character of Beatriz is a quarry that can only be subdued by Love and although she may succumb to José she will of course never be truly 'tamed'. Indeed, why should she?

Believing that film represented 'the most splendid means of expression', Fernández found a soul mate in cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa, one of Cinema's great pictorialists whose images have been described as 'murals in movement.' He was also blessed to have the services of editor Gloria Schoemann who reigned supreme at a time when Mexican culture regarded editing as an unsuitable job for a woman.

Four years on came a remake entitled 'The Torch'. Despite having the same director, cinematographer and leading man, it is alas marred by an embarassingly coquettish performance by a thirty-nine year old Paulette Goddard. It is a sorry affair that simply serves to confirm the magnificence of the original.

Pedro Armendáriz is the most handsome man I ever know, he illuminated the screen, when he appear all the harts stop's and you don't think in anything just in him. In this film, he is a General or the Mexican Revolution who has an important mission, but he fall in love with Beatriz (María Félix) who is the rich woman in the town (Puebla). That confrontation with his love and the mission is so wonderful. Thats why I say that all have hart, everybody thought that the revolutionaries doesn't think in that, but love is love and the hart has reasons that the reason doesn't understand. This is my favorite film, great actors, excellent Director (Emilio Fernández), lovely photography (Gabriel Figueroa), spectacular natural stages. In this film doesn't have a lot of dialog, all is with the eyes and the feeling's of the actors. I also recommended "La Malquerida", "Las Abandonadas", "La Bandida", "Bugambilia". Thank's for all this art. Jacqueline Arch