<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: The spirit of old Mexico
Review: Another gem featuring the acting duo of Pedro Armendariz and Maria Felix in tale of choices. The focus is mostly on Maria Felix who is La Escondida(The Hidden One). She is the hidden one because she is the woman of a powerful military man during the turbulent Mexcian Revolution and it's aftermath power struggle. Pedro Armendariz is Felix's peasant lover who becomes a federal soldier and returns only to find her having moved on. The opening of the movie sets the stage with Maria Felix riding in a train as some poor vendors sell their wares through the windows which takes her back to her humble beginning in flash back to her days as a poor vendor. She stares out the window and in the reflection sees herself and the viewer suddenly sees a younger Maria Felix selling on board the train. From this point the story unfolds of a woman torn between her roots and the people she left behind. She confronts this issue in typical Maria Felix dramatic flair. She plays the uppity woman to the hilt . Eventually she must make a decision between Armendariz and her powerful military man. Armendariz is perfect and plays the proud macho who rejects her; or so we think. The cinematography is spectacular, especially some of the scenes where Armendariz is tied to the giant centurty plants, like Jesus on a cross and Maria Felix as his Mary Magdelen at his feet with amazing blue skies highlighting the imagery. Although the transfer is not great it is not all that bad either (hey, at least it is in sync!)since it reveals in color the true artistry of sets, camera work , huge casts and top notch performers in a celluloid synthesis that results in a great movie. The chaos and the power struggle of early twentieth century Mexico is a nice backdrop to a fine performances by Felix and Armendariz. Maria Felix, the ever passionate woman is as bold and beautiful as ever. The movie makes a social statement about class struggle after the Mexican Revolution. A great Mexican movie with some spectacular vistas, scenes with hundreds of soldiers engaged in combat or celebration and of course, one of the best actresses to emerge from Mexico, the late, great, Maria Felix, La Dona. Recommended for old time movie buffs.
Rating:
Summary: The spirit of old Mexico
Review: Another gem featuring the acting duo of Pedro Armendariz and Maria Felix in tale of choices. The focus is mostly on Maria Felix who is La Escondida(The Hidden One). She is the hidden one because she is the woman of a powerful military man during the turbulent Mexcian Revolution and it's aftermath power struggle. Pedro Armendariz is Felix's peasant lover who becomes a federal soldier and returns only to find her having moved on. The opening of the movie sets the stage with Maria Felix riding in a train as some poor vendors sell their wares through the windows which takes her back to her humble beginning in flash back to her days as a poor vendor. She stares out the window and in the reflection sees herself and the viewer suddenly sees a younger Maria Felix selling on board the train. From this point the story unfolds of a woman torn between her roots and the people she left behind. She confronts this issue in typical Maria Felix dramatic flair. She plays the uppity woman to the hilt . Eventually she must make a decision between Armendariz and her powerful military man. Armendariz is perfect and plays the proud macho who rejects her; or so we think. The cinematography is spectacular, especially some of the scenes where Armendariz is tied to the giant centurty plants, like Jesus on a cross and Maria Felix as his Mary Magdelen at his feet with amazing blue skies highlighting the imagery. Although the transfer is not great it is not all that bad either (hey, at least it is in sync!)since it reveals in color the true artistry of sets, camera work , huge casts and top notch performers in a celluloid synthesis that results in a great movie. The chaos and the power struggle of early twentieth century Mexico is a nice backdrop to a fine performances by Felix and Armendariz. Maria Felix, the ever passionate woman is as bold and beautiful as ever. The movie makes a social statement about class struggle after the Mexican Revolution. A great Mexican movie with some spectacular vistas, scenes with hundreds of soldiers engaged in combat or celebration and of course, one of the best actresses to emerge from Mexico, the late, great, Maria Felix, La Dona. Recommended for old time movie buffs.
Rating:
Summary: Best Version of Rare Classic
Review: I give the movie a 5. The DVD would get a 1. But this is the best there is out there of this classic film starring one of the great actresses of the Mexican cinema in one of her finest roles. The photography of Gabriel Figueroa is, as always, GREAT! It's almost sad to watch these classic films from The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema in such poor quality, but there is not yet a very big market for these films and, consequently, who is really going to spend the money to restore them to their former beauty. The price should be cheaper, however. But cinema lovers should really look into these Mexican classics, because they are as good as anything that was being made anywhere in the world at the time. I look forward to one day seeing good DVD versions of MARIA CANDELARIA with Dolores Del Rio and LA PERLA, two of the very finest Mexican films. Anything from Maria Felix's great period (1940s-1950s) should be considered a find. If you're looking for a flawless digital transfer, this is not it. But, otherwise, the film is quite worthwhile.
Rating: 
Summary: LA ESCONDIDA
Review: THE OPRESSION AND TRYRANNY URGED THE MEXICAN TOWN,THE SUBJECTION BECOMES MORE EVIDENT IN THE LARGE ESTATES,FARMS AND SMALL TOWNS IN WHICH THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE REASON FOR THE RIGHTS OF MEN.THE STOICAL GROUP OF LABORERS WOULD SUBMISSIVELY BITE THEIR DISGRACE IN SILENCE,MEANWHILE THE LASHING ACCUMULATES FOR THE PRIVILEGED CAST.THIS IS THE DRAMATIC EPISODE OF THE TURBELANT AND CONFUSED ERA.THE HISTORY OF A LOVE THAT WAS SWEPT AWAY BY A WHIRLWIND OF THE REVOLUTION..
<< 1 >>
|
