Evening star., 1943-06-27
Puckish Idol Of Latin America
Bv z. A. Ediaer.
MEXICO GETTY.


A former prize-fighter, who plays
Romeo in baggy pants hitched
around his thighs with q rope. is
the present "star Of stars" In Mex
ico's rapidly expanding motion pic
ture industry.
He is Cantinfias, born Mario Mo-
reno the son of a mail carrier, and
is one of the pegs oh which Mexico
hangs its hope Of taking from
Buenos Aires the title OF Hollywood
OF Latin America"
Motion picture production is at an.
all-time peak here. Last year Mexico
produced so feature pictures, to IS
for Argentina, but production here
is on the upgrade while going down
in Buenos Aires. Two things are
largely responsible Argentina has
been cut of the United States pri-
ority list for raw Aim, and there Is
a shortage, while Mexico, active ally
in the war, is well-supplied. Also,
Mexican films are gaining in popu-
larity, even in. the United States,
and Cantinflas can outdraw nearly
anything produced anywhere, so
far as the Mexicans are concerned.
The story of Cantinfias itself
would make movie script. (The
father, Pedro's calling cards bear
the imprint father of Cantinflas.'o
After his student days in Mexico
City, young Mario became q prize
fighter. He defeated all corners, but
was not satisfied with the profess
sion. He wanted to be bullfighter
and was adept in the bull ring, but
destiny had other ideas.
The Audience Laughed.
Even as boxer Cantinfias was
funny, and an impresario who saw
him offered him 10 pesos a day "a
peso at present is worth 81 cents, U.
S., but was worth more them to
work in his cent show. So Cantinfias
became a Snowman. One night,
while working as an extra in
theater, he was called upon to sub
stitute for the master of ceremonies.
Il got stage fright, and became
all balled up," Cantinflas explains,
so The audience laughed. In fact,
they roared. The next night they
laughed again, and then it dawned
upon me that I might stand
chance as comedian"
First three pictures were failures.
so Mario joined the Follies.
But Santiago Reachi, advertising
agency owners, needed a comedian
for advertising shorts. And offered
Cantinf1as a five-year contract.
Better not waste your time on
me-" the funny man said sadly. I'm
a flop in pictures.
Reachi insisted, however. and the
first short, in which Cantinflas as
taxi driver puolicized the merits of
a 1889 model car, was so successful
that 1t netted 54.500 pesos the first
year-although it was intended as
an advertisement. Other pictures
followed, and soon Reachi sold his
advertising agency to organize Posa
Films.
Cantinflas' last two pictures. THE
Three Musketeers" and The Cir
Gus" outdrew Hollywood pictures
three to one in Mexico, and also
topped Hollywood productions in
Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru,
Chile and the Central American re-
publics, Reachi reported.
Currently a Stakeholder.
Last year the actor earned a mil
lion pesos. At the age of 81, he now
is vice president of Posa Films,
Reachi having given him 80 per cent
of the stock as start.
The next Cantinf1as picture, a
burlesque version of Romeo and
Juliet" will be released in August,
Reachi said. Even as Romeo, the
comedian wears his standard make
'em-laugh ''uniform"-a wooden
undershirt and baggy pants.
Posa Films brought Lupe Velez
from Hollywood to take the role
Of Juliet, but plans were changed,
and instead of the fiery, expert
enced Lupe. the heroine is Maria
Elena Marquee, relatively inexpe-
rienced ssweet young thing"
Lime tban ccy,tro ofa al RI ctar II,