CANTINFLAS

(Mario Moreno Reyes)

(1911-1993)

   It is impossible to deal with the career of Cantinflas in such a brief space. Mario Moreno, born in Mexico City in 1911, briefly tried various careers (including the army and professional boxing) before entering the entertainment world, first as a dancer and then as a comedian, in the early '30s. He came to fame in the "carpas," but really made his mark in the Follies Bergere theatre in 1935. For the rest of the decade, although he appeared in a number of feature films, Cantinflas was a far bigger stage star than film performer, but with Ahí está el detalle (1940), his movie career rapidly overshadowed all else. Cantinflas became an international sensation in Spanish-speaking nations (his two excursions in English were Around the World in 80 Days, a success, and Pepe, a failure), although his films after 1950 were increasingly critical failures. In his early years a labor activist - he served as president of ANDA (the actors' union), and first secretary general of the filmworkers' union STPC - Moreno turned to other interests in later life, investing his fortune in real estate, fighting bulls, and other ventures. Through it all, Cantinflas remained a favorite of the masses, and his films are still popular on video and television.