The little town of Topolobampo, in the Northern state of Sinaloa, Mexico, is the setting of this 1959 film that showed recently on an international Mexican cable channel. Not having seen it, it gave this viewer a chance to take a look at one of the most radiant women in the Mexican cinema, Maria Felix, whose beauty was legendary. The film is directed by Roberto Gavaldon.
The story is based on a Vicente Blasco Ibanez novel, adapted for the screen by himself with the help of his wife Libertad and Edwin Blum, Inigo de Rivera, and Julian Silvera. It was probably a vehicle for Ms. Felix, who was in her fifties at the time the film went into production, but her good looks were still much intact.
Jim Gatsby, an American shrimp boat captain, and his assistant, Pendergast arrive in the tiny fishing village trying to sell a new device he hopes to sell to his friend, Pepe Gamboa, who by now has become a prosperous man. Pepe introduces his small son, Pepito, who is his pride and joy. Little does he know that Pepe's wife, Magdalena, wants him to go away. Her quiet life is to take a nose dive because of the romance she had with Jim after Pepe was hauled to jail for a year.
"Flor de mayo" is fun to watch, even with limited Spanish, because of the intensity generated by Roberto Gavaldon's direction. Jack Palance is Jim, who surprises with his command of the language. The great Pedro Armendariz appears as Pepe Gamboa. Maria Felix, has to go through different emotions struggling against decency and the man she really loved. Paul Stewart, a veteran American actor, is seen as Pendergast.
The production was photographed by Gabriel Figueroa, a man whose excellent work behind the camera enhanced any production in which he was asked to photograph. The musical score is by Gustavo Cesar Carrion.
The story is based on a Vicente Blasco Ibanez novel, adapted for the screen by himself with the help of his wife Libertad and Edwin Blum, Inigo de Rivera, and Julian Silvera. It was probably a vehicle for Ms. Felix, who was in her fifties at the time the film went into production, but her good looks were still much intact.
Jim Gatsby, an American shrimp boat captain, and his assistant, Pendergast arrive in the tiny fishing village trying to sell a new device he hopes to sell to his friend, Pepe Gamboa, who by now has become a prosperous man. Pepe introduces his small son, Pepito, who is his pride and joy. Little does he know that Pepe's wife, Magdalena, wants him to go away. Her quiet life is to take a nose dive because of the romance she had with Jim after Pepe was hauled to jail for a year.
"Flor de mayo" is fun to watch, even with limited Spanish, because of the intensity generated by Roberto Gavaldon's direction. Jack Palance is Jim, who surprises with his command of the language. The great Pedro Armendariz appears as Pepe Gamboa. Maria Felix, has to go through different emotions struggling against decency and the man she really loved. Paul Stewart, a veteran American actor, is seen as Pendergast.
The production was photographed by Gabriel Figueroa, a man whose excellent work behind the camera enhanced any production in which he was asked to photograph. The musical score is by Gustavo Cesar Carrion.
