/ARTS WEEKLY/FILM-MEXICO: Dolores del Rio – Diva and Film Star

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Diego Cevallos

MEXICO CITY, May 4 2004 (IPS) - Mexico’s Dolores del Río, who in the 1920s and 1930s achieved diva status in Hollywood and a place among the artistic saints of her own country, is being remembered in a series of conferences, film festivals and expositions 100 years after her birth.

The agenda gets under way in May with conferences and debates on Del Río’s career, and will continue through the rest of the year with an exhibit of her personal effects, a fashion show in tribute to her affinity for dressing well, and the premiere of a documentary about her life, among other commemorative events.

"It was time to pay tribute to the first Mexican actress to triumph in Hollywood and the most beautiful one of all," David Ramón, an expert on film and Del Río biographer, told IPS.

Del Río acted in both silent and sound movies. She was born Aug. 3, 1904 in Mexico to a wealthy family, and died in April 1983 in the United States after a long career riding the crest of fame.

She acted in 86 films made in Hollywood, Europe, Mexico and Argentina, and in some 20 plays. Del Río and María Félix (who died in 2002 at the age of 88) are considered the leading 20th century Mexican actresses of international scope.

With her exotic beauty, delicate gestures and great elegance, Del Río achieved such fame that she was ultimately compared with stars like Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich, Gloria Swanson, Mae West, Bette Davis and Ingrid Bergman.

She was able to show off her dancing talent in films like "The Dove (Girl of the Rio)" (1932) and "Flying down to Rio" (1933). Also in "Bird of Paradise" (1932), in which her scantily clad performance was considered quite shocking for the era.

But among film historians and critics, there is disagreement when it comes to the quality of her acting ability. For Ramón, there is no doubt that she was a good actress, but critic Gustavo García says Del Río achieved diva status due to her looks, not her acting.

Author Guadalupe Loaeza says Del Río spent a great deal of her career fighting to move from diva to being recognised as an actress.

Beyond the world of entertainment, Del Río also made an impact in culture and philanthropy. She founded the Cervantes Festival, which since 1972 has been an annual success in the central Mexican city of Guanajuato. She also established a children’s centre and a foundation to support artists.

One of the most talked about periods of her life was her romantic relationship with the famed U.S. actor and director Orson Welles.

They say that Del Río was an obsession for Welles. "Her black hair and enormous dark, expressive eyes, surrounded by long, thick lashes, and her beautiful, aristocratic indigenous profile" captivated Welles, wrote Loaeza.

"The relationship with Welles is the focus of attention, but it was just a passage in the life of the actress, who turned all of her energy to acting and seeking success. One must not forget that she was the first Mexican actress to triumph in Hollywood," said Ramón.

Del Río was active in the U.S. film industry for 17 years, beginning her career there. But she continued in Mexico, where her existing fame was enough to ensure her a place among the local stars. Mexico’s golden age of film extended from the 1940s to the 1960s.

She participated in several U.S.-made television series, and by 1967 her fame in the region was recognised by the Organisation of American States. Then U.S. president Jimmy Carter presented her with an achievement award in 1978.

Some of her best-known films include "The Fugitive" (1947), directed by John Ford, who also directed her in "Cheyenne Autumn" (1964). Both will be re-released for screening in Mexico’s cinemas in August.

Among the films she made in Mexico, the standouts include "Flor silvestre" and "María Candelaria" (both from 1943), "Selva de Fuego" (1945), "La malquerida" (1949) and "El pecado de una madre" (1960).

Paying tribute to this 20th century star are Mexico’s National Society of Actors, the Artistic Treasury Defence Society of Mexico (which she co- founded), the government’s National Institute of Fine Arts and the cultural centre of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

The exhibit "Recuerdos de Lolita" (Memories of Lolita), May 23-Jun 7, will display personal items that belonged to the actress.

The University of Guanajuato will host a photo exposition as part of the International Cervantes Festival, and a cultural festival organised by the eastern state of Tabasco will award a posthumous prize to Del Río.

Also on the agenda is President Vicente Fox’s unveiling of a new postage stamp bearing the beautiful face of the diva.

And a fashion design contest as well as a fashion show are slated to recognise Del Río as one of the most elegant and best-dressed women of her era.

"We’ll do anything for Dolores del Río, who is the pride of all Mexicans," says an unequivocal Ramón.