Search - Angelitos Negros on DVD

Black and white in sepia

Alejandra Vernon | Long Beach, California | 08/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This classic melodrama from the golden age of Mexican cinema was directed by Joselito Rodriguez in 1948, and stars the great Pedro Infante.
It's the same story as Fannie Hurst's "Imitation of Life", first filmed in '34 with Claudette Colbert, and then in '59 with Lana Turner.The plot centers around a woman who does not realize her heritage, that she is actually the daughter of the black maid, and the "patron". Born blonde, she was brought up as the wealthy patron's daughter, and never told the truth. Infante plays the famous singer who marries her, and the video box claims this is his most dramatic role...it is perhaps also his sweetest, bordering on the saccharine, but he is wonderful as always, and gets to sing several songs: "Si, Dice Si", "Mi Primer Amor", "Tus Ojitos", Danza Sagrada" (this number is definitely not Pedro at his best !), "Belen", and a marvelous rendition of one of my favorite songs, "Angelitos Negros". The beautiful melody of this song is played as a theme throughout the film.The cast is excellent. Emilia Guiu (who can still be seen in telenovelas, like the recent "Abrazame Muy Fuerte"), plays the deluded, obstinate wife, and Rita Montaner, who was a very well known Cuban singer in the 20's and 30's, is the mother/nanny. She does this in "black-face", as do many of the cast members, including the director's daughter, Titina, who plays the little girl with much charm.A story of prejudice and sacrifice, it's quite moving, and gets better with repeated viewings.
One of Infante's biggest box office hits, it's a good film to remember this much loved star with, who died in 1957 at the age of 39, in a plane crash...also highly recommended is "Los Tres Garcia", where he gets to show his fabulous comedic talent."

IMITATION OF LIFE...MEXICAN STYLE

Lawyeraau | Balmoral Castle | 06/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Filmed in 1948, this Mexican movie is a cinematic gem. The film is sepia toned, rather than black and white, which gives it a very old-fashioned quality. Yet, the themes touched by this film are sure to move the audiences of today, just as it did those of yesteryear.

The film takes place in Mexico and tells the story a wealthy, blond, Mexican beauty, Ana Luisa de la Fuente. She is an orphan who is taken care of by a black woman whom she calls Nana. This woman has taken care of Ana Luisa since she was little, and she adores and loves Ana Luisa as if she were her own. Unfortunately for Nana, Ana Luisa is a selfish woman, who looks down on those who are black or mulatto.

A famous Mexican singer, Jose Carlos Ruiz, who also happens to be an orphan, falls head over heels in love with the autocratic Ana Luisa at first sight. He finally proposes, and she accepts. Nana is horrified and tries to stop the wedding from going forward. She is charmed, however, by Jose Carlos, who ends up o getting his way, as Juan Carlos is as democratic as Ana Luisa is autocratic. Instead, Nana ends up telling a priest her reasons for wanting to stop the wedding from going forward.

It turns out that she is actually Ana Luisa's mother. She had an affair with Ana Luisa's father, who was white. When Ana Luisa's father saw that the child was born white with blond hair and looked like him, he decided that he would keep her and bring her up as his own. The condition was that Nana could never tell her that she was really her mother. Instead, she would be her nanny. Ana Luisa has no idea that the woman she calls Nana is her biological mother.

Though the priest counsels Nana to tell the engaged couple the truth, she refrains from doing so for fear that Juan Carlos would not marry Ana Luisa were the truth known. Shortly after the wedding, Ana Luisa gets pregnant, much to Nana's horror and dismay. Sure enough, when the baby is born, the baby is clearly not white, and Ana Luisa rejects the child, a daughter, blaming Juan Carlos. Juan Carlos is also surprised when he sees the child, and Nana finally reveals her secret and tells him the truth. The priest now counsels Juan Carlos to make believe that it is his mother who was black, to account for the child's color, as Ana Luisa has gone off the deep end over giving birth to a child who appears to be black. The priest tells him to wait until Ana Luisa learns to accept the child, and then tell her the truth about her parentage.

This sets into play years of hell on earth for all those involved in this tragic state of affairs, as Ana Luisa will simply not accept the child. The charade continues, and as the child grows up, she realizes that her mother does not seem to love her, even though her father and Nana clearly adore her. How, when, and why the issue is finally resolved makes for some very dramatic, cinematic moments.

Make no bones about it, this is a five hanky tear jerker, with fine performances by the entire cast. Is the film sentimental? Sure, but that is one of its charms. It also has some fine, period music, as an outgrowth of the role of Juan Carlos. In order to view this film, it is recommended that the viewer understand Spanish, as the film does not seem to be available with English subtitles. Movie lovers who enjoyed such films as "Imitation of Life" (1934), "Imitation of Life" (1959), and "Pinky" will, undoubtedly, enjoy this little known, cinematic treasure. Bravo!"

I think this is a beautifulmovie.

Lawyeraau | 05/20/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great movie it talks about the differences between colors wich are none. And how we should love each other nomatter what color we are, it also talks about a mother whom loved her daughter so much she could not tell her she was really her mother for she was black and the little girl was white, and my favorite part was when the little girl got older and had a little girl of her own and she was black, but that little girl could not understand why her mom did not want her, so she put white powder on her face and said she wanted her mom to love her more.This was just the most beautiful movie I ever saw and I was just about ten years old am 26 now but I never forgot this great movie I recomended 100%."

Absolutely Wonderful!

Lawyeraau | 12/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is when movie making was at its best! It shows the unimportance of skin color and the ultimate sacrifice some mothers make for their children and more importantly the unselfish love of a father for his child - which is rarely portrayed in movies. This is an ultimate tear jerker and if the movie industry is interested in a great remake - this is one they should really consider. The storyline would still work today."