La perla (1947)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Director:

Emilio Fernández

Writers:

John Steinbeck (novel)
John Steinbeck (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

12 September 1947 (Mexico)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Quino is a Mexican diver that discovers a pearl at the bottom of the sea. He and his wife Juana, and...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Pedro Armendáriz	...	Quino
María Elena Marqués	...	Juana
Fernando Wagner	...	Dealer 1
Gilberto González	...	Aid 1
Charles Rooner	...	Doctor
Juan García	...	Aid 2
Alfonso Bedoya	...	Godfather
Raúl Lechuga	...	Dealer 2
Max Langler	...	Peasant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luz Alba
Richard Anderson
Guillermo Calles
Columba Domínguez
Andrés Huesca
Margarito Luna
Pepita Morillo
Beatriz Ramos
Enriqueta Reza
Carlos Rodríguez
Victoria Sastre
Irma Torres

Also Known As:

The Pearl (USA) (review title)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

Mexico | USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico

Company:

Film Asociados Mexico-Americanos

Trivia:

Emilio Fernández, who was in love with Olivia de Havilland, thought she was the ideal actress to play the female starring role. De Havilland never knew of his secret love, but the director was able to get the government of Mexico City to change the name of the street he grew up on to "Dulce Olivia" (Sweet Olivia).

Quotes:

Narrator: This is a story that old men tell to children. They aren't sure where it happened or when.

I never knew this existed

Adaptation of John Steinbeck's "The Pearl". I had to read the short novel in junior high. I found it bleak and depressing but powerful. I never even knew there was a film of this until TCM showed it tonight. I was very impressed.

It's a Mexican film and the story was changed to fit into that environment. I never even knew Mexico had a film industry back in the 1940s--films like this are never shown. That's a shame because this film was great. The acting was just OK but that's good--if it had been better acted this might have been unbearable. They didn't lighten up the book or change the ending like Hollywood would have done. And the direction and cinematography were just beautiful--this film should be seen just for the imagery alone. From the opening shot of the women in white robes standing silently by the sea the movie pulls you right in.

This is not for everyone. It's dark and depressing but just great. Despite the change of setting it retains all the power of the short novel. The only debit I could think of was the sometimes intrusive music score--some scenes would have worked much better silently. Still, well worth seeing. I give it an 8.