La sombra del Caudillo (1960)

The movie situated in post-revolutionary Mexico describes the way politics were done in those times. Ignacio Jimenez is chosen as the candidate of the Partido Radical Progresista, but he ... See full summary »

Director:

Julio Bracho

Writer:

Martín Luis Guzmán (book)

Stars:

Tito Junco, Roberto Cañedo, Tito Novaro

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tito Junco	...	General Ignacio Aguirre
Roberto Cañedo	...	Presidente Camara de Diputados
Tito Novaro	...	Diputado
Tomás Perrín	...	Diputado Axcaná González
Bárbara Gil	...	Rosario
Miguel Ángel Ferriz	...	El Caudillo
Ignacio López Tarso	...	General Hilario Jiménez
Carlos López Moctezuma	...	Emilio Olivier Fernández
Víctor Manuel Mendoza	...	General Elizondo
Fernando Mendoza	...	Diputado Juan Manuel Mijares
Agustín Isunza	...	Remigio Tarabana
Prudencia Grifell	...	Madam
Kitty de Hoyos	...	La Mora
José Elías Moreno	...	Gobernador Catarino Ibáñez
Víctor Junco	...	General Domínguez

Storyline

The movie situated in post-revolutionary Mexico describes the way politics were done in those times. Ignacio Jimenez is chosen as the candidate of the Partido Radical Progresista, but he isn't so sure about it, because he knows his boss,El Caudillo has chosen another candidate. Several political moves are done between the parties, leading to a thunderous climax.

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Plot Keywords:

mexico | 1920s | based on book

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Details

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Company Credits

Production Co:

Sección de Técnicos y Manuales del Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Producción Cinematográfica de la República Mexicana a cargo de Rogelio González Chávez (STPC de la RM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

This movie was deemed too controversial by official censors, since it portrays the massacre that gave birth to Mexico's ruling party. It was commercially released until the year of 1990, thirty years after original final version that was never shown to the public.

User Reviews

The evergreen style in Mexican politics

In Mexico, "La sombra del caudillo" was a prohibited film by government of PRI during decades. It is clearly identify with political corruption under PRI government, specially with the facts of Plutarco Elias Calles presidential period, around 1920s. PRI was the only party in power for seven decades and "La sombra del caudillo" reflects the way they always work.

Fidelity, traitors and of course, the hand of the President, called "el Caudillo", were the forces reigning the political destiny of a nation. Being against "el Caudillo", even in a supposedly clean election, was a risk, no matter how important the person were. "El Caudillo" was over everyone. Here, two Military Generals have the chance to be the next president, but "el Caudillo", not the population will decide.

Julio Bracho, the director, paints the politics world so cruel. For example, the only person capable of loving is destined to died in hands of their traitor friends. But no one is saved. At the end, it is not a classical fight of the good versus the bad candidate. It is simply a fight of two forces, of two generals coming from the same place, they both are the same thing, but (we never know why) one of them will be blessed with the favor of el Caudillo, and the other not.

Acting is great, but the main character, played by Tito Junco, the opposing General, has the majority of the scenes. So, great actors as Ignacio Lopez Tarso or Carlos Lopez Moctezuma are barely notable, and some others, like Roberto Canedo, Noe Nurayama or Antonio Aguilar have almost incidental parts. All of them with important careers in Mexican cinema. The ephemeral presence of el Caudillo is so sordid, and his powerful personality can be fill in the few moments appearing on screen, looking almost omnipotent. We can see him in intimate talks, alone with the opposite General, and still fill his strength.