(Spanish CNN) — This Thursday marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Cantinflas, an icon in the history of Mexican cinema. The comedian, best known for his famous “There Are the Details,” died of lung cancer in 1993. He had a long and prosperous career that made him an integral part of the culture of the Latin American country. Here is a look back at his life and work.
The man behind Cantinflas
Mario Fortino Alfonso Moreno, better known as Cantinflas, was born on August 12, 1911 in Mexico City. He was an actor, comedian, screenwriter and filmmaker. Today he is considered one of the most famous comedians in the history of Mexico.
Before starting his acting career, he was a boxer and also made a living as a street comedian in a hiking tent, CNN recalls in this retrospective of his life. He then worked in a theater where he met a drunk man who would later inspire the character Cantinflas.
The actor became known for his character, in which he played a simple man from the slums of Mexico and became a symbol of the country’s national identity.
This enabled him to have a successful film career that even reached Hollywood productions, as noted by the City Archives of San Miguel el Alto, Jalisco.
When he died in 1993, the US Congress held a minute’s silence for him.
(Image credit: FPG/Getty Images)
cultural impact
During a conference at the 2013 Los Angeles Book Fair, Mexican researcher and writer Maricruz Castro said that Cantinflas’ films could run for up to four months in Los Angeles theaters and that they would be seen primarily by the Latino community.
This admiration led to the creation of exclusive theaters for Mexican films, previously seen only in Hollywood productions, Castro said.
In 1987, Mario Moreno, “Cantinflas,” won the Ariel de Oro award from the Mexican Academy of Cinematic Arts and Sciences for valuable contribution to national filmography.
Before his death from lung cancer, Cantinflas actively participated in various initiatives focused on child development, according to the University of Guadalajara.
In 2014, the biographical film Cantinflas was released, which tells the story of the artist’s life and his ability to improvise as an actor. The film was directed by Mexican Sebastián del Amo and starred Spanish actor Óscar Jaenada.
A very brief account of his cinematic journey
These are some of the films that have propelled Mario Moreno to international recognition in the world of comedy, according to the IMDb count:
Don’t Fool Yourself, Honey (1936) – Directed by Juan Bustillo Oro. This film debuted him in a supporting role and has yet to be credited as Cantinflas. It’s about a man who thinks he’s terminally ill and decides to have fun, gain confidence, and deal with a few things before he dies.
There’s the Detail (1940) – Also directed by Juan Bustillo Oro. Thanks to the film’s success, he became the comic idol of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. Cantinflas also begins to be associated with the phrase “there is the detail”.
The Seven Men (1950) – Directed by Miguel M. Delgado. In this film he plays two different characters, Margarito (Cantinflas) pretends to be the famous outlaw Siete Machos, so called because “he’s worth seven machos”.
Around the World in 80 Days (1956) – Directed by Michael Anderson. It was a Hollywood production and Cantinflas’ first recording outside of Mexico. Recreates Jules Verne’s classic book of the same name. The film won five Oscars.
Your Excellency (1967) – Directed by Miguel M. Delgado. It was one of Cantinflas’ most successful films. It is a film that tells the way politics is made in the “Republic of Coconuts”, where a capitalist and a communist leader fight for power.