Fernando A. Rivero
Directing
Biography
Fernando A. Rivero (Mexico City, February 9th 1902 – April 20th 1975) was a Mexican set designer, film director, painter, actor, and writer, regarded as a foundational figure—“the father” of Mexican film scenographers. He studied architecture but left the program for financial reasons, worked at the jewelry shop El Nuevo Mundo, emigrated to the United States in 1927 to work as a draftsman for advertising companies and newspapers, and returned to Mexico in 1931. After inheriting money upon his grandfather’s death, he founded the Compañía Anunciadora Mexicana; a later press note also states he was orphaned at age four and adopted by relatives, and that he began professionally in advertising, following the example of his father, Pedro Rivero Noriega. In 1931 he declared his company bankrupt and entered the film industry as a set designer on Santa (1931), continuing as a scenographer throughout his career on 34 films and occasionally appearing on screen (including roles as a “corpse” and a “suicide” in early-1930s productions). He worked for a period in Argentina and Spain, but the Spanish Civil War forced his return to Mexico in 1937, arriving aboard the ship “Durango” and rejoining the industry with La paloma (1937). Rivero also described and tested a movable-set system of his own invention—designed to free camera and actor movement by separating lighting rigging from set walls—and later announced a business renting these “sets movibles”; he was also among the technicians who co-founded the Unión de Trabajadores de los Estudios Cinematográficos de México (UTECM) in 1933. He debuted as a director in 1938 with El beso mortal—a film adapted from Paul Gury’s play that drew controversy for its focus on venereal disease—and he went on to direct 20 films, closing that directing filmography in 1952 while continuing set-design work. His directing output included Cantinflas short films (1939–1940), documentaries, and features such as La posada sangrienta and Seda, sangre y sol (1941), Los miserables and Mi reino por un torero (1943), La casa embrujada and Nosotros (1944), Perdida (1949), and La extraña pasajera (1952). After leaving cinema, he returned to advertising work as a draftsman.
Known For
Cantinflas Ruletero is one of his most famous short films, where the great comedian acts as a taxi driver, making his passengers work without taking them to their destination.
Cantinflas Ruletero
The tragic romance between a woman with a dubious past and a young thief who reforms his life for love.
Nosotros
No description available.
Desecration
Adaptation of a Spanish operetta about a love triangle between two fisherman and a human female.
Marina
A 1933 film.
La calandria
He shows us a poor Cantinflas like a rat that walks with a sad hatter and ends up in a bar where he will have a clash with the dangerous bandit "Ojo Tapado" (Covered Eye).
Jengibre contra Dinamita
Santa is a beautiful and very humble young girl living in Chimalistac, a small and quiet spot south of the 1930's Mexico City. After Santa is cheated by arrogant soldier Marcelino, she's rejected by her family and friends and expelled of Chimalistac. Santa finds shelter in a whorehouse and becomes a cinic and bitter woman, mistreated by bullfighter "Jarameno" and silently loved by blind pianist Hipólito.
Santa
During a long train trip, the Police has discovered jewelries in the personal bag of an actress, but she turns out to be innocent.
La extraña pasajera
Alfonso, Eduardo and Cristina get lost when visiting a forest. A strange monk finds them and takes them to an ancient convent. There, the three amigos suffer personality changes, specially Cristina who tries to seduce Alfonso in a strange coincidence to a story told by an old monk. After some efforts to escape, Alfonso is trapped inside a jail and more strange and macabre situations happen.
The Phantom of the Monastery
A 1932 film.
Hand to Hand
Her father dies... her fiance dumps her... and she can't find a job... so she covers the waterfront. And then one night...
The Woman of the Port
A burglar and a bar girl fall in love and decide to go straight, but complications.
Los amantes
Blind nightclub pianist takes in a young singer/entertainer when she hits bottom... but once she gets stable and starts thinking about maybe a boyfriend, his unspoken intentions start to surface.
Coqueta
Local oligarch has the hots for a small-town schoolteacher; to escape from the problems he causes them, she and her boyfriend both move to Mexico City... but they lose contact with each other, and complications.
Good night my love
Her stepfather rapes her and she runs away to home. After that, she's exploited by a series of men, and...
Perdida
We see a young Mario Moreno making us laugh while he trying to fight against an opponent on a ring.
Cantinflas boxeador
No description available.
Dinero maldito
The bride of a Federale colonel rejects him on their wedding night, and begins extramarital relations with a strapping young leader of the peasant revolution against which the colonel is fighting.
Enemigos
A down on his luck opera singer, prevents the suicide of a young girl and falls in love with her. She inspires him to manage a successful come back but his plans to marry her are abruptly reject it with disastrous consequences.
Su última canción
Mexican romantic musical.