María Félix

A nice overview from wiki

OP's wind in hair thing was big among Romance Language filmmakers.

In addition to acting, she was peerless in wearing jewelry and smoking.

I remember Thalia being awkwardly at her grave.

La Doña. Grand divas have to have grand jewelry, and Felix doesn't disappoint. By Cartier.

That floozy and cunt Kim Kardashian stole her style from her. All of it. Cultural appropriation at its worst.

¡PUTA!

My favorite of her pictures has a title DL can easily relate to: THE KNEELING GODDESS (1947).

Her only film in English is BEYOND ALL LIMITS (1958), in which Jack Palance was her leading man.

If her films were more widely available and subtitled she'd be better known in North America

Beyond All Limits is a gorgeous film.

Is this the only one she did in English?

Elvira Quintana was beautiful too. She died at 33 of multiple health problems after getting a primitive boob job with silicone injections.

I recall reading somewhere that Bette Davis made sexual advances toward her.

MF apparently didn't go for it.

Thalia paying her respects at the funeral, praying in vain that Marimar would not be the cornerstone of her career.

I recall Salma Hayek there as well.

gorgeous

Maria Felix music video.

That video is a riot.

She was a fucking STAR.

She did films in France for a while as well.

Here she is putting that cigarette-flavored voice to use singing in French on a talk show where everyone sits on gilded thrones.

Every time I see Thalia, I think of Dobie Gillis and the beautiful but money hungry Thalia Menninger

She usually looked like a million bucks on screen thanks to the genius cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa.

^Gabriel Figueroa gets cited in the link at r8.

What are some of his best-known films?

The collapse of Mexican cinema is one of the most fascinating things in the history of the world film industry. It never recovered. To go from Maria Felix and beautiful Dolores Rios to Telenovela actresses ?? Dolores is rolling in her grave !

Figueroa's genius is at its greatest in THE PEARL (46), THE FUGITIVE (47), LOS OLVIDADOS (50), and THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL (62).

The LA County Museum of Art's exhibition (2014) catalogue is available for your coffee table.

Dolores seems to be channeling her rival Maria as the bitchy twin in LA OTRA (46), whereas the mousy twin is very much DDR's own persona.

Horrible music but another Maria Felix compilation that suggests she was the Joan Crawford of Mexican cinema - she's doing lots of shooting and bitch-slapping.

[quote]I recall reading somewhere that Bette Davis made sexual advances toward her.

Bette was too vanilla for Maria. Both Dolores Del Rio and Maria Felix had affairs with Frida Kahlo, Chavela Vargas, and Georgia O'Keeffe.

It appears the Lez back then had better standards than today...

Where did her jewels end up? She owned a huge Ashoka diamond that she sold for a million bucks in 1984.

OK I googled a bit. It seems Cartier bought some back for their museum?

My grand uncle worked in the 1950's film "Abajo El Telon" and apparently Maria came to set, watched this girl perform, and then took her home.

Maria was not even part of the film.

^ At about 1:45, I can see why Felix had to have her. That gradual but urgent resurgence was hot as fuck.

R21, speaking of Dolores Del Río -

Another actress from the era, Columba Domínguez, has plenty to say about both MF and DDL. Nothing good about the former, but she respected the latter, even though Dolores delivered an onscreen slap that must have still been stinging decades later.

Interview in Spanish is here, but you don't need any Spanish to appreciate the wallop that comes in the clip at about 1:40, which would rival and perhaps best the Joan Crawford staircase slap I've seen on DL numerous times.

Chavela Vargas does not have much good to say about María Félix either.

Chavela would know... She fucked half of the entertainment industry ??

Wow! La Malquerida is a film I saw many years ago on TV in Puerto Rico while visiting my grandmother. I was mesmerized by it and being that I love Classic Hollywood films , it didn't take much to hook me. That is a pparently a 3 part video interview. She said that the 3 actresses did actually make a film together. .

Why did the Mexican film industry collapse?

Dolores del Río and María Félix were in La Cucaracha as nemeses in 1959.

Del Río is in her mid-50s here and still has a classic beauty. She holds her own on the screen against the more mercurial Félix with an inner calm.

^ Good scene together at 4:50.

She loved pearls and knew how to finger them.

Note: the odd number of strands -- as is proper in the Western Hemisphere

R32 - many great, national film industries collapsed. My lefty film professor taught us that it was Hollywood capitalists fighting hard and dirty all over the world for market share. Happened over a few decades.

Ego supreme!

Love her - from a safe distance.

I doubt that Chavela and Felix were lovers, they were both too Butch and too queen bee-ish.

Thanks r37

R40, you are far too easily sated.

We need a real explanation for the decline of the Edad de Oro in Mexican cinema.

I never "lady-spreaded" in my many artistic portraits. The Mexican puta who imitated me did not know any better, so I can not be too critical.

Juan Gabriel serenades María Félix while she relentlessly upstages him with her reactions, ranging from pensive to piqued.

At around 1:49, she licks her lips aggressivly and reveals something not quite nameable but essential about her persona.

Also, Juan Gabriel looks really cute here.

She sang very occasionally.

She can't carry a tune, but I could imagine her having more of a nightclub act with more opportunity for Sprechgesang like Marlene Dietrich did.

She needs something considerably less challenging than this tango, though I think she is performing here closer to the end of her life, so I cut her some slack for being in her eighties.

La Devoradora.

Pablo is really handsome.

She was married four times. Like Cary Grant.

The arched eyebrow is intense even though a net.

Many great quotes that are true to her essence.

"Better to inspire envy than pity."

And to a journalist who asked about her sexuality: "If all men were as ugly as you, of course I'd be a lesbian."

A study in understatement.

Love the quotes. She was more Talulah than Dietrich- fast with a quip, especially one that would leave men shut down, hat in hand, tail between legs.

"Flowers! I hate flowers! They last one day but you have to spend the rest of your life being thankful for them."

Pretty thorough blog post in Spanish just about her jewelry.

Great photos.

"Do not feel bad if someone rejects you, people usually reject the costly because they can not afford it"

"Money is not happiness, but it's always better to cry in a Ferrari ..."

"An original woman is not one who imitates no one, but one that no one can imitate"

"Do not give me advice, I can make mistakes alone"

Never heard of her.

I don't know her 🤔

My God, she was a fierce, fabulous, stunning bitch.

No one like her ever and never will be.

I'll admit to loving her Tizoc movie.

It was heartbreaking. Pedro was magnificent in it as well.

She didn't have any descendants, did she? Her son was beyond fey. Great actor in his own right, though.

She left her estate to two gay men and an ex in France.

Vivat.

I loved that super-arched brow.

Made her look even more calculating and made you think she was assessing you and finding you seriously lacking.

Her son Enrique Álvarez Félix was married to a man, as Julissa (a famous actress from the 70's) went on to say.

Neither María Félix nor Dolores del Río in their prime could hold a candle to my exquisite beauty.

Miroslava was the true beauty of Mexico's Golden Age Cinema.

And her husband beded half of the Mexican and Spanish Toreros.

Miroslava and Antonhy Quinn, she really was beautiful.

Miroslava's reel

I find Felix to be a female equivalent of macho men. A lot of swagger, but not much nuance. Almost a self caricature. But she was good looking

Miroslava committed suicide at 30.

Everyone talks about the women of the Golden Age of Mexico but the men were also quite good.

Julio Aleman in the horror movie El Escapulario is a fine example. The scene (which I cannot find anywhere) of death riding on a horse is quite suspenseful even today.

Pedro Infante as a carpenter . I loved his voice.

Sarita Montiel was more of a gay fever dream than even María Félix.

Pedro Almodóvar's Mala Educación is a great film, and the worship of Montiel's surreal glamor as a means of escapism and deceit is key in the story.

Sara Montiel kept going even into the disco era.

She recorded a few songs in English, including this stab at imitating Donna Summer's Love to Love You Baby or perhaps Bardot/Birkin's Je t'aime...moi non plus.

The use of green screen is quite stunning - or startling - at times in this video.

Maria Felix tried so hard to imitate Sara Montiel but she failed miserably.

MF was never a great actress; she was a great star. On the screen, she might be most comparable to Joan Crawford for Classic Hollywood, though she was thankfully less rigid than than JC.

I don't see MF as an imitation of Sara Montiel at all.

Maria Felix was always on. I think her public persona was really her.

[quote]Maria Felix tried so hard to imitate Sara Montiel but she failed miserably.

Err no, Maria Felix and Dolores Del Rio had they image and fame way before Sara Montiel became an actress. Actually, one of Sara's main influences was Dolores Del Rio. Sarah Montiel's fame took of when she came to Mexico in the 1950's, by the most of the female stars of the Mexican golden era were already established.

Sarita Montiel was a stunner though. There was a poise and elegance in her that was quite captivating. Once the film industry changed in Latin America she transitioned to Hollywood.

by then"

their not they*

Christ! I need to go to bed.

You can see Sarita Montiel in Samuel Fuller's 1957 RUN OF THE ARROW (on Turner Classic Movies and Warner Archive DVD) play a Native-American beauty. Angie Dickinson's voice comes out of her mouth.

She's in "Serenade" which changes one of the love interests from male to female, that that, unlike the Cain story, the protagonist is no longer bi.

Sara Montiel could sing, but she was a train wreck in real life. She ended up broke and desperate for attention, doing appearances on lowly talk shows to engage in feuds with another actress.

Maria Felix would never have climbed down from her pedestal. And she had the jewelry to keep her solvent if need arose.

Pedro Infante will forever be my one and only in Mexican cinema.

No one has EVER come close to his level of talent, both as a singer and as an actor.

He worked with Maria, Dolores and Sarita as well, I believe.

For another Spanish version of La Vie en Rose, look no further than Thalia, who takes a five-minute shit all over the classic - while cavorting like a sex kitten with a homosexual harlequin and a creepy music box doll.

This was on Siempre en Domingo, which was absolute shit that made Sábado Gigante look brilliant by comparison.

And back to María Félix: The ancient host of Siempre en Domingo called Thalia out after her appearance/performance at MF's funeral, saying she was only there for publicity like on a red carpet. He didn't think Salma Hayek had any business being there either.

^ Comments on the funeral attendance.

This article disputes the lack of connection between Maria Felix and Thalia. It says they met because of Thalia's friendship with the fey son, which seems totally probable.

Thalia has been buying up shit from Maria Felix's estate, including this giant portrait painted by Felix's last lover, who was a few decades younger than she was.

I guess Thalia has money to burn, so she's amassing her own collection from her idol's estate.

R71, that spoken word song is very reminscent of "Justify My Love."

Thalia is married to Tommy Mottola. He was Mariah Carey's first ex husband. So she has a shit ton of cash to burn.

How about Silvia Pinal? Long career, including Bunuel films, and also very involved in liberal politics. Someone substantial.

I find MF humorless and insufferable.

How beautiful is this backyard from Maria Felix's home, La Casa de Las Tortugas in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The arches are framed by azulejo tiles (blue & white).

Sara was her own worst enemy. The woman had the beauty, charisma, and talent to make it anywhere but girl had some major issues. Didn't they say she was sexually abused in Spain and that's why she headed to Mexico?

Re Golden Era

Even thought by the 60's the Golden era was long gone, there were some good films that came out during that decade. I loved "Asta El Viento Tiene Miedo" and "El Libro De Piedra."

Has anyone been to Cuernavaca?

They say it's one of the most beautiful states in MX

Television Academy

El Libro De Piedra

^ Joaquín Cordero is hot as fuck. That voice...

Silvia Pinal is still living. Her daughter is Mexican rock star Alejandra Guzmán, who I think people are far more familiar with now than her mother.

Every time I see Thalia, I think of Thalia Getty

Pedro Infante

Best thread in months

Ricardo Montalban in the 40s!

Ricardo Montalban in "Nosotros"(1945) with Emilia Guiu. He was a skinny little goof back then lol.

I wish these films had English subtitles. It would enhance the viewing experience.

Ugh, the first two movies on R96's link have got to be the saddest, most miserable movies ever. I hardly watch them. Too fucking depressing.

ATM is comic gold, though. They forgot the Garcia movies. Those are fantastic as well. Los Tres Huastecos is also brilliant. He plays three different characters!

*sigh* I love this man.

Cuernavaca is the capital of Morelos. Morelos is beautiful, but has turned into a play ground for people from the capital. Cuernavaca is also one of the most dangerous cities in the country now.

Loved Pinal in Viridiana. When I was living in Mexico, she used to host a show called Mujeres: casos de la vida real - every episode ended with a woman crying about how terrible her life was, then to cap it off a moral by Silvia. Serious subject matter - abuse, etc.- but, as with most Mexican media, an unmistakeable tinge of camp.

My favotire was "Sobre Las Olas" about the famous Mexican Waltz composer Juventino Rosas. A lot of his work was stolen or credited to European composers.

Pedro could emote so many emotions with just one facial expression.

More from the same film:

But my favorite scene of his is with Maria Felix.

Thanks for info on Juventino Rosas, of whom I had never heard. Just listened to the waltz "Sobre Las Olas," which I "recognized" as "The Man on the Flying Trapeze." Rosas died at 26.

Thanks to the poster of "Nosotros." Ricardo=muy guapo!

Her son is the one on the left.

The ultimate showdown.

Those headdresses on the women are beyond beautiful, R104.

Beautiful scene.

Does the necklace she's wearing contain a photo of herself?

How very Norma Desmonda!

She really was the Joan Crawford of Mexico.

The necklace has a photo of herself in on side and of the lover who gifted it on the other.

I wonder if the lover's side ever saw the light of day.

too bad alla these stars are not more globally known. They are all stunning. And can you imagine the fights between all these glamorous, crazy latina bitches?? They would scare ISIS soldiers!

Well they were internationally known, especially Maria Felix, not so much in the US though.

Yeah, a lot were internationally known.

I remember watching ETonight one time and Leonard Maltin happened to mention Cantinflas!!

I had no idea He was known outside of Mexico.

Cantinflas had a huge part in Around the World in 80 Days.

Cantinflas did have a huge part.

¡Bah! María era una loca, estúpida, majadera y tonta.

Now, Columba, don't be so shy. Feel free to tell us what you REALLY thought about her!

All Americans know Cantiflas since Robin Williams imitated him off in all his movies.

But did Robin Williams have as big a part as Cantinflas had?

Here's Columba Domínguez with Marilyn Monroe and El Indio Fernández.

Las leyendas.

Were they pals?

That photo of Marilyn was probably taken not long before she died. She had gotten so thin.

Marilyn visited Mexico City in February 1962.

She looks so wispy there. She must have been tiny in person at that point.

Most Americans of a certain age know Cantinflas.

80 Days was a huge international hit and won Best Picture.

He's very entertaining and charming in it and plays wonderfully well with David Niven.

Sort of related

Does anyone know the song "La Paloma?" Just exquisite. There's a version of it on youtube that is part of a scene from the movie "Juarez," with Bette Davis as Empress Carlotta. A google for "juarez, la paloma, film" should find it.

R127, I love Mireille Mathieu's version.

María Félix is the Google doodle today!

I did it better...

The bracelet even got gold in the b/w doodle.

I didn’t realize that she died on her birthday. I think we had a thread at one point about matching birthday/deathday figures.

Maria Mix.

Oops, just saw that compilation was previously posted!

I wish Dan-0-Rama had scored that other, Color & B&W compilation . Is Dan-O-Rama even around anymore?

Favorite Maria Felix quotes:

"Money is important in life. It does not give you happiness, we all know, but it sure calms the nerves."

"I cannot complain about men. I have had tons of them and they have treated me fabulously well. But sometimes I had to hurt them to keep them from subjugating me."

I used to love Tere Velasquez. "Quinceanera" was one of Mexico's first teen movies. As for the collapse of Mexican cinema, I think it correlates with Mexico's collapse of culture, wealth, and government. Entering the 50s they had some pretty ruthless presidents that censored a lot of Mexican entertainment and then there was the Hollywood buy out that pretty much finished Mexican cinema for good. People forget that the Spanish immigration during the Franco years is what kept the Mexican entertainment alive, though it never recovered.

Great thread.

Is this Jennifer Lawrence gif inspired by the María Félix image at the OP?

MF as Catwoman.