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La Valentina (1966 film)

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Wikipedia article




'La Valentina' is a 1966 Mexican romantic comedy film directed by Rogelio A. Gonzlez, produced by Gregorio Walerstein, and starring Mara Flix and Eulalio Gonzlez in the leading roles. The supporting cast features Jos Elas Moreno, Jos Venegas, and Ral Meraz. The film is a dramatization of the Mexican Revolution corrido of the same name.

Plot



In early 20th century Mexico, in the midst of the Mexican Revolution, the beautiful yet feisty Valentina Ziga marries an unnamed serviceman. Though she is part of the rural upper class, Valentina is a fervent supporter of the Revolution. At the same time but in another place, a smuggler named Genovevo Cruz Garca sells defective arms to the federal Mexican army.

During Valentina's wedding night, gunshots are heard outside her bedroom window. This frustrates her, as she believes it is a waste of ammunition. Her newlywed husband, however, believes that the guns are shot in celebration to their wedding. As he approaches the bedroom balcony to stop the gunshots, Valentina's husband is shot multiple times and killed. The next day, at the burial of her husband, Valentina desires vengeance.

When Genovevo's deceit becomes known, since his faulty arms were the cause of multiple casualties, the federals decide to execute him by a firing squad. As he is executed and falls to the ground, an elderly couple ask for his body so that they may give him a Christian burial. Genovevo's body is driven away on the couple's donkey and it is later known that the execution was false. Federal military captain Luis Bentez, the man who headed the firing squad, tells Genovevo that he was shot with rubber bullets and saved from death for a reason. Bentez starts to explain that he has fallen in love with Valentina Ziga, ordering Genovevo to kidnap her for him. Genovevo agrees but bursts into laughter. Responding to Genovevo's laughter, Bentez states that Valentina is worth the dangerous attempt of kidnapping, as she is beautiful, affectionate, and sweet.

Genovevo therefore travels to Valentina's village, concocting a clever plan to kidnap her. As Valentina and her father and brothers are short of ammunition, they send for Genovevo, who quickly agrees to sell them arms on the condition of taking Valentina with him to the place where his merchandise is located. Her father refuses, but Valentina decides to go and she is accompanied by her two brothers. Upon arrival at the location of Genovevo's merchandise, Valentina's brothers fall into Genovevo's trap and he successfully kidnaps her.

Cast



*Mara Flix as Valentina Ziga

*Eulalio Gonzlez as Genovevo Cruz Garca (credited as Lalo Gonzlez Piporro)

*Jos Elas Moreno as Don Juan Ziga

*Jos Venegas as Epigmenio Ziga

*Ral Meraz as Captain Luis Bentez

*Graciela Lara as Lupita

*Carlos Agost as Valentina's husband

*Vctor Alcocer as the federal Colonel

*Ricardo Carren as the federal Sergeant

*Carlos Len as Melitn Ziga

*Juan Ferrara as a federal soldier

*Jorge Lavat as Erasmo

*Victor Sorel as Bedulo

*Hugo Avendao as a revolutionary singer

*Graziella Garza as a revolutionary singer

*Manuel Dond as the man giving the eulogy (uncredited)

*Manuel Vergara as the prisoner at the betting (uncredited)

*Manuel Alvarado as the bartender (uncredited)

*Mercedes Carreo as the maid of the Zuiga household (uncredited)

*Agustn Isunza as the corrido vendor (uncredited)

*Roberto Meyer as Don Quintn (uncredited)

Production



's municipal cemetery

In January 1965, Mara Flix and Eulalio Gonzlez "Piporro" were reported to be Mexico's top box-office stars of 1964, and Gonzlez later said that Flix herself wanted to work with him in a comedy film and therefore the film came to be. Around late February and early March 1965, it was officially announced that Mara Flix and Eulalio Gonzlez would star opposite each other in a film.

On 4 May, the press announced that the National Association of Actors gave Gonzlez the necessary permission so that he could work with Flix, and that the film was in the stages of pre-production and financial approval. On 17 May, the press announced that the film's credit was approved by the Banco Cinematogrfico, and principal photography began the same day.

The film's script was exclusively written by Gonzlez so his "Piporro" character could alternate with Mara Flix. The film's background is the Mexican Revolution, an armed conflict between the government and the peasantry during the early 20th century. Hints of the story's setting in the film suggest that the film took place in the state of Jalisco, since Flix's character remarks her hometown as Tepatitln,Valentina (Mara Flix) reveals her hometown when Genovevo (Eulalio Gonzlez) nicknames her the "Rosa de Xochimilco", and Valentina steps on him reminding him that she is the "Rosa de Tepatitln". After they flee the town in disguise Genovevo once again says "Nice work, my 'Rosa de El Bajo'", and Valentina again corrects him and says "of Tepatitln", and a song in the film mentions Guadalajara."El gero aventao" by Eulalio Gonzlez.

Release



'La Valentina' premiered at the Mxico and Mariscala cinemas in Mexico City on 10 February 1966. Its United States premiere was at the Million Dollar and United Artists theaters in Los Angeles, California.'Los Angeles Times', Issue May 1, 1966.

Critical response

One contemporary critic, writing for the Mexican 'Poltica' magazine, criticized the film as "tragically stupid and revealing of the hallucinating level of our commercial cinema."

Accolades



Music



*"La Valentina" (public domain) performed by Hugo Avendao and Graziella Garza.

*"Tengo ganas" written and performed by Eulalio Gonzlez.

*"El gero aventao" written and performed by Eulalio Gonzlez and Mara Flix.

*"La nortea" written by Eduardo Vigil y Robles and performed by Hugo Avendao and Graziella Garza.

References




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