Leyendas Del Cine Mexicano, Volume 3

Last Minute Sales & Specials

Arturo De Cordova, (1908-1973) suave leading man from the 1930s through the 1950s, Arturo de Cordova was born Arturo Garcia Rodriguez in Merida, Yucatan, of a Spanish father and Mexican mother. De Cordova grew up and was educated in various locations, including New York, Cuba, and Argentina. As a young man he returned to Merida and began to work as a radio announcer and emcee. His radio work eventually led to film roles, beginning with "Celos" ("Jealousy,"1935). The handsome young actor soon became one of the most popular stars in Mexican cinema, and during the 1940s worked in Hollywood as well, appearing in "For Whom The Bell Tolls" (1943), "Frenchman's Creek" (1944), and "A Medal For Benny" (1945), among other titles. He later worked in Argentine, Brazilian, and Spanish films as well. Between 1946 and 1958, de Cordova won the Best Actor Ariel three times - more than any other actor - for his roles in "En la palma de tu mano" ("In The Palm Of Your Hand," 1950), "Las tres perfectas casadas" ("The Three Perfect Marriages," 1952) and "Felizano, amor mio" ("Happy New Year, My Love", 1955), and was nominated for the top prize four additional times. He worked for many of Mexico's best finest directors, including Luis Bunuel ("El-Him," 1952), Juan Bustillo Oro ("El hombre sin rostro" - The Man Without A Face," 1950) and Roberto Gavaldon ("En la palma de tu mano"). However, the general downward trend in the industry and de Cordova's advancing age led to a series of lesser roles in the 1960s, and in the late 1960s he suffered a stroke which left his left arm and leg partially paralyzed. However, he gradually recovered and in 1970 appeared with his close friend and co-star Marga Lopez in the Cantinflas vehicle, "El Profe" ("The Professor"). This guest star spot would prove to be the last film role for the great star, who died in 1973. His son, Alonso de Cordova, made a few film appearances in the early 1960s.