Reviews

"Vacations". Also called "Stronger than Love" is a play by M.L.Regas and J.Albornoz who adapted for the screen and signed the script. An intimate comedy-drama carefully filmed. Luis Mottura, who was a prestigious theatre director, shot about seven films between 1943 and 1956. Mecha Ortiz worked in the theatre under his command during nearly two decades. In this occasion Mottura surpasses as a film technician.A clever view of an upper middle-class woman and her family. Shades and brightness share the different sequences according to each situation. Passion is lighted by fresh moments in which the young people are involved. Approaching the end the film gets to its best. Mecha Ortiz as Estela shows the different emotions in her character through the film which she knows how to make them real. Beauty, smartness and the touch of her distinct deep voice accompanying her. As her partner, Francisco Martinez Allende plays her lover John.Amalia Sanchez Ariño, Manuel Collado, Maruja Gil Quesada, Leticia Scury, Jesus Pampin and the young people: Susana Canales, Ricardo Duggan, Juan Carlos Altavista, Luis Zabala, Norma Gimenez and Lilian Valmar.Outstanding photography by Mario Pages.Setting by Gori Muñoz and Francisco Cardenas. The score by Alejandro Gutierrez del Barrio.

An ambitious film, well made with a luxurious setting and the proper atmosphere of the times. Rich costumes and an interesting plot. Ernesto Arancibia, a fine director, makes a dense and long picture which includes scenes of strong action, dramatic tension and romantic spirit as well. We can also find beauty in their landscapes. Arancibia knew Mecha Ortiz very well and the way she'performs her character is remarkable. Some of the shots are long and without any cuts. Her seductive personality, dramatic contention and how she gets to a hysterical scene in the middle of a battle show her artistic height. Enrique Alvarez Diosdado is her companion along with his well known acting that his character requires. It is based on a novel which takes the same title and was awarded in its time and was written by the Argentinian Virginia Carreño and Constanza De Meneses. A remarkable cast includes: Jose Maria Gutierrez, Horacio Priani, Bernardo Perrone, Olga Casares Pearson, Elsa del Campillo and Pola Alonso.

Within this context the film shows an epic character.It is based on a play by Alarcon.It was adapted for the screen by A.Pageo and the script were written by L.F.Ardavin.A high quality photograph by Ballesteros and Valentin Javier along with a luxurious setting by Burmann y Asencio.Benito Perojo offers a good version. Perhaps one of the most outstanding scene in the film is that of the erection of the Mayor of the town, topic that inspired quite a few of Spanish writers. The main character was covered by the Argentinian actress Mecha Ortiz who plays her part showing her well known strength, gentleness and unique personality as the Alcaldesa Teresa Marquesa De Pinorrey. E.A.Diosado as a Spanish soldier in a first order performance. Other characters and playing supporting parts Julio Peña, Susana Canales, Julia Caba Alba y Marisa De Leza. It was released in El Palacio De la Musica in Madrid on November 10th 1950. This film was not shown in Argentina because of the similarity of the main character with that of Eva Peron.

Gustavo Flaubert wrote Madame Bovary in five years' time (1851-1856). It is a realistic and lyric novel,ironic and psychological.Flaubert's landscape plays an important part in his work.The writer was prosecuted for moral damage to show how a woman's desire get free through the passion. The French cinema had made a version with Valentine Tessier (1934).Many years afterward they filmed another picture on the same novel starring Isabelle Huppert. American cinema made two more (J.Jones-1948 and B.Davis a free version -Beyond the Forest- 1948).In this Argentine film the main character is played by Mecha Ortiz who reaffirms to be as in "Margarita. . ." and "Safo" the great tragic and romantic heroine of the 30's and 40's.A luxurious work which has a neat script and language.Valuable costumes and the setting which respects the environment of a French Village in the 19th century.C.Schlipper was a comedy director and man of a very good taste. In drama he got fun by making Ortiz to suffer as Bovary.Magnificent photograph and score. Remarkable A.Bello as C.Bovary. The intensity given by E.A.Diosdado is another high point in this film. R.Escalada plays one of the Bovary's lovers.

Film made by Manuel Romero.It is a kind of revival of his former "Los Muchachos De Antes no Usaban Gomina" shot in 1937. More than a decade had passed; a character that was a myth of the time: Mireya along with the correspondent environment: music, places and the city of Bs.As as context. To assure a successful result, he counted with a cast which did their best to fulfill the expectations of the audience: Mecha Ortiz, Fernando Lamas, who a short time after wards would reach the stardom in the U.S., Elena Lucena, Severo Fernandez both of them proved to be solid comedy actors playing supporting parts. Mecha Ortiz was emotionally balanced playing the main character (Mireya). Introducing a young and beautiful Analia Gade as Mireya's daughter. The setting by Jorge Beghe rebuilt Paris, Buenos Aires and Hansen, a place where people of the time used to go to dance tango and also to fight. . .Well photographed by Antonio Merayo. The score by R. Schiamarela, Manuel Pizarro orchestra and the tango singer Antonio Maida.

This film takes place within the ballet world keeping the Russian style of the time say "Ballet Street" (aka Spanish title)starred by Galina Ulanova. Music and drama are related topics in this love triangle: two women and a young dancer(the teacher's lover). Although a couple of mistaken shots included may be presented to please broader audiences they don't affect the results. The film fulfills its aim: fresh entertainment and good taste.The direction by E.Arancibia shows his aesthetic value. Arnova's Argentine film debut. Her virtues as a dancer of the time are well known. She was prime ballerina in Italy (Opera Theatre in Rome). Her playing as Vera Varalli was intensely performed. Mecha Ortiz along with her temperament an dominion plays the choreographer Irina Galowa; clash shots between Ortiz and George Rivier, the young dancer Mitia Legrand.At the end of the film Tchaicovsky's Pathetic Sinphony recreates the eternal identification between this composer's music an the old actress.

It is Manuel Romero's first film which belongs to the saga about B.A. past time and it is also about the feelings of nostalgia which were felt by the people who lived in Paris.A brilliant picture of B.A. city in the early 1900's. A colorful film with an environment inhabited by different personalities. A film that brings emotions, hilarious situations and the pleasure of enjoying very good performances from the actors and actresses in it. The tango "Tiempos Viejos" is the musical lei-motive which is sung by Hugo del Carril and Roberto Páez. The script written by Romero is based on the play of the same title by Romero and Mario Benard (1926).A high level setting by Ricardo Conord and magnificent costumes.The photographer F.Mugica made a good work. Mecha Ortiz's first role. She is remarkable playing the blonde Mireya who was a famous tango dancer. She enriched the personage with her deep and suggestive voice.Her character is similar to Garbo's performance in "Camille". Florencio Parravicini was carefully directed by Romero. He is perfect as Gervasio (Mocho)the same as Santiago Arrieta playing Alberto Ponce.

The Mexican director Roberto Gavaldon was in charge of this film.He is one of the greatest Latinamerican directors of the '40s and '50s. He made "La Barraca" after the novel by Vicente Blasco Ibañez (Valencia, Spain, 1901). He gave this melodrama extra values, a clear photography, a moving camera, a realistic location by the Riachuelo bank in Buenos Aires and beautiful views of the Mar del Plata city. He also filmed scenes in one of the oldest theaters in Bs.As., the Liceo Theater. The setting by Gori Muñoz follows the script faithfully according to its symbolic connotations. Roberto Gavaldon and Tulio Demicheli adapted the play written by the Italian Alejandro D'Stefani: "The Miracle's Angel". Their work kept the dramatic structure of the play.Excellent score by Alejandro Gutierrez Del Barrio. Suggestive photography by Mario Pages and Americo Hoss. Neorealism and romantic styles interlaces with surrealism. In this way, symbolism is given through the dreams. We are not far from the psychoanalytic source which was common in those years. The scenes among M.Ortiz, E.Grammatica and G.Battaglia show the clash with strong personalities.Ortiz y C.Cores make a suggestive couple of different ages and appearances.

The director Daniel Tinayre achieves a very interesting technical aspect. Paul Perry, the photographer, makes a very good work, the same as the painter Gregorio Lopez Naguil and his modern setting. Another valuable point is the score by the composer Francisco Balaguer. The strong Mecha Ortiz and Sebastian Chiola's personalities enrich this film noir. George Rigaud is perfect in his role. A new version of "Monte Criollo" (1935) by Arturo S. Mon who wrote the script for this picture and features by Nedda Francy, Florindo Ferrario and Francisco Petrone. Malena (Mecha Ortiz) takes part in a triangle who cheats people by gambling. Two of the men (Rigaud and Chiola) play cards and the one who wins will have the woman...

Slow-timing scenes give this film emotional distance. Directed by the French Jacques Remy it is a strange picture carefully photographed by Pablo Tabernero with Ralph Pappier's modern setting and the leading character by Mecha Ortiz performed in her well-known expressiveness and a very intense Nury Montse in which is perhaps her best work for the golden screen. They are accompany by the French actor George Rigaud as the main character's husband. New version of "Conflict" by Leonide Emogui.Script by Tulio Carella. The score by the composer George Andreani.A human theme about a couple whose marriage begins to fall down and her idea about having a baby could save this situation.

The French Jacques Constant started this film which was continued by the American director John Reinhardt with Tinayre's technical help. It is a lighted-rhythm film and has a modern technical make. Remarkably photographed by the French Paul Ivano. George Rigaud, the Spanish actors Pedro López Lagar and Ernesto Vilches, Irma Cordoba and Juana Sujo play the supporting roles. Mecha Ortiz features the main character Albareda. She plays the "femme fatal" two years before "Safo" shot in 1943 which brought her to an absolute stardom among the Spanish-speaking audiences. This film follows the French poetic realistic style.Curiously began to be filmed in France as "Dernier Refuge" with Mireille Balin and George Rigaud.The production was canceled because of the SWW. Then it was made in Argentina from April 1941.

The cynical expression of the original play by the Spanish writer Enrique Jardiel Poncela is adapted for the screen by the same author and Mugica's help, its director, obtaining a lighted overcome (with a romantic touch) of the well-known plot. Farce on "La dame aux camellias" - París 1848 - by Alexandre Dumas in which this thesis is expressed: If Marguerite and Armand's love had been encouraged, tediousness would not last to come out. Francisco Mugica, its director, gave smartness and a very good taste to the film, movement, excellent setting by Ricardo Conord and the beautiful landscapes photographed by Jose Maria Beltran.The film counts with the hilarious-ironical Florencio Parravicini's performance as Armand's father and Ernesto Raquen as his son, the youngster who falls in love with Marguerite. The principal character is played by Mecha Ortiz who gives to her role intensity and deepness. There is an admirable close-up at the end 0f the film. Unforgettable! The score belongs to Enrique Delfino. The film begins with the view of the end of "Camille", George Cuckor's film with Garbo as her heroine.

A high quality movie, with an excellent visual level. Christensen fulfills great moments in several sequences; Cinema is there, no doubt. From the scene when Mecha Ortiz comes up it is understood that the film will go round this queer personality and her relationship with the other characters. The main character introduces a a strange environment almost artificial. Passion arises between Flora (Ortiz) and Miguel Angel (R.Escalada)along with their sufferings. The way the camera works the different scenes speaks about a director who really knows his job. An example of this is when Flora decides to commit suicide. One of the most sincere performances she gave to the cinema.

Film shot by two directors : Saslavsky and Tinayre. It is about a neurotic, seductive and ambitious woman. As in a puzzle the facts are told and showed step by step to clarify Laura Simrok's tragic end. The flash-backs explain the whole story. Mecha Ortiz's magnetic acting (Laura)reminds Bette Davis' style in "The Letter", Joan Crawford's performance in "Possessed" and Barbara Stanwyk in "Double Indemnity". Film noir with attractive qualities.A splendid photograph and a good setting.Saslavsky may have been inspired by Billy Wilder's or William Wyler's works. Adapted from Gina Kaus' novel it is one of the most beautiful film of this genre.

A film that keeps intact its mysterious glamor. Mecha Ortiz playing the main character established as the "femme fatal" symbol. Carlos Hugo Christensen directed this film using different symbols such as the cobweb to represent the man trapped and swallowed by the woman. Christensen gave to the photography of this picture a curious combination of lights and shades. He filmed a splendid masks ball, interiors in an expressionism style, the use of the sloping camera, a magic environment and the locations in Mendoza (province of Argentina)of a great lightness.The musical score by George Andreani is represented by a slow, melancholic and disturbing waltz. A good adaptation of Daudet's novel. . .