Imagine if Sergio Leone had directed Gone With the Wind: this may give some idea of how El compadre Mendoza (1934) connects and plays out. Set during the Mexican Revolution from about 1913 to about 1918 (these years show up on screen via calendars), it centers around hacienda owner Rosalio Mendoza (Alfredo del Diestro), a "thorn tree in the whirlwind" who aims to survive the Revolution by playing off both sides. In the area around his villa, the sides are comprised of Zapatistas vs. federales (Huertistas first, Carrancistas second). He alternates welcoming rival officers to his hacienda, making deals as he goes, conducting business in Mexico City as needed, traveling by train. At first he is cocky, even reckless about how he proceeds. But things take a turn during the celebration of his marriage to Dolores "Lolita" Garcia (Carmen Guerrero).
Mendoza barely escapes with his life during a Zapatista raid; he is saved by his friend, Zapatista General Felipe Nieto (Antonio R. Frausto), who develops an attraction to Lolita Mendoza that is mutual. Compadre Mendoza seems oblivious to their chemistry, or he is confident of its innocence. In fact, he becomes even fonder of Nieto, names his son after him and makes Nieto the boy's godfather. But Mendoza also maintains his agricultrual and businesss interests and retains his pragmatic relationships with governmental officials, including military officers in the area. Now compadre Mendoza has more than his hacienda and his own life to lose; he has Lolita and his son Felipe. In his own words, they have "made [him] a coward." The stakes mount as the Revolution drags on for years. Something's going to happen: it's inevitable.
A few other solid (archetypal) characters populate this excellent early sound film. There's Mendoza's assistant (played mostly for comic relief), two federale colonels, other Zapatistas, civilians in Mexico City and workers at the hacienda, most notably María (Emma Roldán), a deaf mute servant who silently bears witness to key events. María, in her own way, stands in for the audience and is a very effective character.
Today's Rune: Inititation.
5 comments:
Very clever political commentary for our current situation. Trying to play the game from the middle leads no where.
Thanks for the heads-up on the film-- just added it to the top of my Netflix queue. I've always enjoyed the movies you've recommended.
I don't know this early film, but I hugely enjoyed Viva Zapata.
...I used to hang around Anthony Quinn Quaxeda's old childhood digs in Mexico.
--Ivan
Whoops!
I got Anthony Quinn's baptismal name wrong.
It should be Antonio Rudolph Oaxaca Quinn.
December 20, 2010
Thanks all for the comments! Cool beans ~ gracias, indeed. Ivan, haven't seen Viva Zapata since video days, will check for DVD availability. Anthony Quinn was quite a character -- as was Brando.
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