Cinema Retro has received the following press release from Sony:
SONY
PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT DEBUTS
11
CLASSIC TITLES STARRING
MEXICAN COMEDY LEGEND CANTINFLAS
 The Collection Includes Seven
Films Making Their DVD Debuts:
A Volar Joven~ El Circo~ El Gendarme Desconocido~
El Mago
El Senor Fotografo~ Los Tres Mosqueteros ~ Si Yo
Fuera Diputado
Plus Four of Cantinflas’ Biggest Hits:
El Bolero de Raquel ~ El
Analfabeto ~ El Padrecito ~ Su ExcelenciaÂ
Each Slapstick Classic will be Available Separately on DVD
May 11
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEÂ
Â
CULVER CITY, CALIF.
(March 15, 2010) –
Mario Moreno, aka “Cantinflas†created a simple, universal character whose
roundabout phrases and meaningless speeches confounded those around him, but
delighted Spanish-speaking audiences for decades. On May 11, Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment will debut seven comedy classics starring the beloved Mexican
comedian that have never before been released on DVD: A Volar Joven,
El Circo, El Gendarme Desconocido, El Mago,
El Senor Fotografo, Los Tres Mosqueteros, and Si
Yo Fuera Diputado. In addition, four titles are being re-released: El
Bolero de Raquel, El Analfabeto, El Padrecito,
and Su Excelencia. Each title in the Cantinflas collection will
be available separately for $14.94 SRP.Â
                                                       Â
Mario “Cantinflasâ€
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) in 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.
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As a pioneer in the
Mexican film industry, he helped usher in its golden era. His foray into
American cinema landed him a Golden Globe® as Best Actor for his
role in Around the World in Eighty Days (1956), but his comedic presence
shined brightest in his Spanish language films. People everywhere identified
with the struggles of this winsome ragamuffin, and when he died in 1993,
thousands endured a violent downpour in order to touch his casket as it lay in
state. His funeral was a national event, lasting three days and attended by the
presidents of Mexico, Peru, and El Salvador, and the United States Senate held
a moment of silence for him.
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El Gendarme
Desconocido (1941, aka The Undercover Policeman)
Cantinflas captures three
bandits who had robbed a bank the night before. Considered a hero, Cantinflas
is given the title of Agent 777 because of his ability to disguise himself in
many different forms. In his ultimate assignment, he transforms himself into a
wealthy jewel collector to set up a group of gangsters. The film has a
runtime of 108 minutes and is not rated.
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Los Tres
Mosqueteros (1942, The Three Musketeers)
Cantinflas sneaks into a
cabaret where an actress is in the audience. He persuades her to dance with
him, but, at the same time, thieves steal her valuable necklace. The actress is
grateful when Cantinflas retrieves the necklace. When she invites him to the
studio where she is filming The Three Musketeers, he is mistaken for an
extra. Â The film has a runtime of 136 minutes and is not rated.
Â
El Circo (1943, aka The Circus)
Cantinflas is a lowly
jack-of-all-trades in a circus. He is infatuated with its glamorous female
star, and his hapless bumbling disrupts the performances and the circus falls
on hard times. The only thing that can save the circus is a daring trapeze act.
Cantinflas volunteers to do the act and is hilarious on the trapeze, creating
such a sensation that a wealthy man decides to buy the circus. The film
has a runtime of 90 minutes and is not rated.
Â
A Volar Joven (1947)
Cantinflas is a member of
the Military Aviation Academy on a 24 hour leave. He goes back to the ranch
where he left his sweetheart and his former employers. While there, his
employers try to marry him off to their daughter whom he finds unattractive. To
avoid having to marry the girl, Cantinflas tries every trick in the book to get
himself in trouble. The film has a runtime of 113 minutes and is not
rated.
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El Mago (1949, aka The Magician)
Cantinflas goes from the
streets of Mexico to the fabulous palaces of the Far East. Overnight, he
becomes a Caliph, then a magician, then several other fascinating characters,
each one providing another facet of Cantinflas’ unique human comedy. The film
has a runtime of 100 minutes and is not rated.
Â
Si Yo Fuera
Diputado (1952)
Cantinflas stars as the
owner of a barber shop, who is studying law with the help of Tio Juan (Andres
Soler), once a very successful attorney who is now too ill to practice. Before
long, Cantinflas begins his law practice and goes on to win many cases. Eventually
he runs for office against the local political machine. Â The film has a
runtime of 95 minutes and is not rated.
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El Senor Fotografo (1953,
aka Mr. Photographer)
Cantinflas,
a photographer, is captured by gangsters while trying to steal flowers for his
girlfriend. The gangsters mistake him for the assistant to a scientist who has
discovered a formula for a new atomic bomb. Cantinflas convinces the gangsters
that a rubber ball he is holding is the real atomic bomb. Â The film has a
runtime of 100 minutes and is not rated.
Â
El Bolero de Raquel (1957)
After arriving late and
tipsy to his friend's funeral, Cantinflas is left in charge of his friend's son
by the widow. Cantinflas and the boy, Chavita, meet Chavita's teacher, who
convinces Cantinflas that he should also go to school. When Cantinflas meets
the teacher again they confess their love. The film has a runtime of 101
minutes and is not rated.
Â
El Analfabeto (1961, aka The Illiterate One)
Cantinflas plays a young
illiterate who receives a letter informing him that his rich uncle has passed
away leaving him a great fortune. However, he'll need to learn to read and
write before understanding the letter. The film has a runtime of 128 minutes
and is not rated.
Â
El Padrecito (1964, aka The Little Priest)
Cantinflas stars as the
new priest in a town set in its ways. Thinking he is going to take the place of
their beloved priest, none of the townspeople like him. While there, he stirs
up controversy with his eccentric way of doing things. The film has a runtime
of 130 minutes and is not rated.
Su Excelencia (1967, aka His Excellency)
Cantinflas works at the
embassy for his native Los Cocos, distributing visas to those wishing to visit
his homeland. At this time, the world is divided into two sections: those
countries that are red and those that are green. Because both sides are evenly
matched and Los Cocos has the deciding vote, Cantinflas becomes the Ambassador
of Los Cocos and both sides try to persuade him to join them. The film
has a runtime of 133 minutes and is not rated.