Emilio "El Indio" Fernández Romo (Spanish: [eˈmiljo feɾˈnandes ˈromo]; 26 March 1904 – 6 August 1986) was a Mexican film director, actor and screenwriter. He was one of the most prolific film directors of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. He is best known for his work as director of the film María Candelaria (1944), which won the Palme d'Or award at the 1946 Cannes Film Festival.[1] As an actor, he worked in numerous film productions in Mexico and in Hollywood. He was the father of the Mexican actor Jaime Fernández.

Emilio Fernández
Emilio Fernández in the film The Soldiers of Pancho Villa (1959)
Born
Emilio Fernández Romo

(1904-03-26)26 March 1904
Sabinas, Coahuila, Mexico
Died6 August 1986(1986-08-06) (aged 82)
Mexico City, Mexico
Years active1928–1986
Spouse(s)Gladys Fernández
Columba Domínguez

Early life edit

Born in Sabinas, Coahuila, on 26 March 1904, Emilio Fernández Romo was the son of a revolutionary general, while his mother was a descendant of Kickapoo natives. From his parents, he inherited Mexican customs and indigenous beliefs. When he was a teenager, a fatal event[clarification needed] forced him to flee his home and enlist in the ranks of the Mexican Revolution. Later, he entered the Mexican Military Academy (where in 1954, he gained the rank of colonel). In 1923, he took part in the uprising of Adolfo de la Huerta against the government of Álvaro Obregón, but this insurrection failed and he was sent to prison. He escaped and left Mexico to go into exile, first in Chicago and later in Los Angeles. There he earned his living as a laundry employee, bartender, longshoreman, press assistant and finally as a stonemason for Hollywood studio construction, a circumstance that favored his foray into film as an extra and as a double for stars like Douglas Fairbanks.[2]

Career edit

 
Tribute poster at the Cineteca Nacional de México to Emilio "Indio" (Indian) Fernández for his 80 years, 1984.

His initial career was encouraged by De la Huerta, who told him: Mexico does not want nor need more revolutions Emilio. You are in the Mecca of film, and film is the most effective tool we humans have invented to express ourselves. Learn to make movies and you return to our homeland with that knowledge. Make our films so you can express your ideas, so they reach thousands of people.[2] In 1930, he had an experience that significantly marked his career as a creator: his stay in the United States coincided with the arrival in the country of Sergei Eisenstein (Soviet film director). He went to private screenings of Eisenstein's films, which impressed him, revealing a style that was different from that used in Hollywood aesthetics. Three years later, he was influenced by seeing fragments of Que viva Mexico! (an Eisenstein film made in that country), which consolidated his desire to make films.

He returned to Mexico in 1933, thanks to an amnesty granted by the government, with the decision to continue his film career, but during the first year he made a living as a boxer, a diver in Acapulco, a baker and an aviator. In 1934, he appeared as a bandolero (robber) in the film Cruz Diablo, directed by Fernando de Fuentes. His looks also landed him a starring role playing a native in Janitzio by Carlos Navarro.

Fernández continued to perform melodramas and folklore films. In 1941, with the financial support of General Juan Francisco Azcárate and the encouragement of his friend, the actor David Silva (then a law student), he filmed La isla de la pasión (a.k.a. Passion Island) with which he made his directorial debut.

In 1943 he was contacted by the Mexican film Studios Films Mundiales. Emilio Fernández (director), Mauricio Magdaleno (writer), Gabriel Figueroa (photographer), Dolores del Río and Pedro Armendáriz (actors) formed the team that would go on to make Flor silvestre, the film that debuted Dolores del Río in the Mexican cinema. Then, Fernández filmed María Candelaria (1944), for which he was awarded the Palm d'Or at Cannes[1] along with Gabriel Figueroa.

In 1945, based on the history of American writer John Steinbeck (who adapted the screenplay in collaboration with him), Fernández filmed La Perla (a.k.a. The Pearl), an allegory about the limits of wickedness of man in his greed and desire for power. It won the award for Best Cinematography, and a mention for Best Film contribution to progress in the Venice Film Festival (1947). It also received the Silver Ariel (1948) for Best Picture, Directing, Male Performance and Photography; the award of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (1949), and the award for Best Cinematography at the Festival of Madrid (1949).

He directed three films with María Félix: Enamorada (1946), Río Escondido (1948, winner of Best Cinematography in the Karlovy Vary in Czechoslovakia) and Maclovia (1948). His then wife Columba Domínguez starred in Pueblerina (1948). Fernández worked as co-producer on The Fugitive (1947), a Hollywood film made in Mexico by director John Ford, which also featured del Río and Armendáriz and was shot by Figueroa. In 1949, Salon Mexico won the award for Best Cinematography at the festival in Brussels, Belgium. He followed these in 1950 with urban films, Víctimas del Pecado, starring Ninón Sevilla, and Cuando levanta la niebla, with Columba Dominguez and Arturo de Córdova. In 1950, he made his only film in Hollywood The Torch, a remake of Enamorada starring Paulette Goddard.

 
Fernández with Marilyn Monroe in 1962

Around the mid-1950s, Fernández returned to his role as actor. Although he did little directing in the 1960s, he had several roles as an actor, appearing in: The Soldiers of Pancho Villa (1959), La bandida (1962); The Night of the Iguana (1964, directed by John Huston, where he shared credits with Richard Burton and Ava Gardner); Return of the Seven (1966); The Appaloosa (1966, with Marlon Brando), among many others. His 1967 film A Faithful Soldier of Pancho Villa was entered into the 5th Moscow International Film Festival.[3] He also acted in three films directed by Sam Peckinpah: The Wild Bunch (1969), Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974).

Later life edit

During the last years of his life, he did not direct, although he continued to act. In the late 1970s he was imprisoned in Torreón after he was found guilty of the death of a farmer. He was released after 6 months probation. Missing weekly sign-ins, due to an accident, caused him to be imprisoned again. After finishing his prison sentence, he returned to his house in Coyoacan.

In early 1986, Emilio Fernández suffered a fall at his home in Acapulco, which caused a fracture of the femur. According to his daughter Adela, in the hospital he received a blood transfusion that was infected with malaria. Emilio Fernández died on 6 August 1986.[4]

Legacy edit

His film legacy has been awarded with the Ariel Award, the Colón de Oro in Huelva, Spain, and with a chair in his name at the Moscow Film School. With photographer Gabriel Figueroa, writer Mauricio Magdaleno, and actors Pedro Armendáriz, Dolores del Río, María Félix and Columba Dominguez, Romo conducted various productions that promoted both national customs and the values associated with the Mexican Revolution.

Fernández directed 43 films between 1942 and 1979. Starting with Cielito Lindo (1936), he was recognized as a screenwriter on 40 films. He also worked as a second unit director on American films made in Mexico, including The Magnificent Seven (1960), when he was sent to the American crew by the Mexican film industry to guarantee that images of Mexicans were neither racist nor insulting. In 2002, La Perla (a.k.a. The Pearl) was added to the National Film Registry of the United States Library of Congress by the National Film Preservation Board as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

On the 100th anniversary of El Indio's birth, Emilio Fernández and his colleague Gabriel Figueroa were recognized during the inaugural Puerto Vallarta Film Festival of the Americas, held in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in November 2004.[5]

He was portrayed by Joaquín Cosio in the Mexican biographical film Cantinflas.

Fernández is rumored to be the model for the Oscar statuette, but this is not confirmed.[6] The legend suggested that MGM art director Cedric Gibbons, one of the original Motion Picture Academy members tasked with creating the Academy Award trophy, was introduced to Fernández by actress Dolores del Río and persuaded him to pose nude.[7]

Personal life edit

Gladys Fernández, a 16-year-old Cuban girl, became his first wife in 1941. Their relationship was affected by Emilio's passion for Hollywood diva Dolores del Río and Gladys ended up leaving him. Emilio and Gladys had a daughter, the writer Adela Fernández y Fernández.

His most stable relationship was with the actress Columba Domínguez. They were together for seven years, but the relationship collapsed because Columba became pregnant, and he did not want more children. She decided to have the baby without his consent, they broke up. Their daughter, Jacaranda, died in 1978 after falling from the top of a building.

His marriage to Gloria De Valois Cabiedes produced another daughter, Xochitl Fernández De Valois.

Fernández was infatuated with the British-American actress Olivia de Havilland, whom he never met. Fernández asked the then-president of Mexico, Miguel Alemán, to extend a street in Coyoacán to his mansion, and to name it Dulce Olivia, 'Sweet Olivia'. Thus, he would always have her symbolically near, transformed into a street, and always at his feet.[8]

 
The door of his house at Calle de la Dulce Olivia, 1, Coyoacán.

After the death of Fernández, a lawsuit broke out between his daughter Adela and Columba Domínguez. Adela had been named sole heir of her father and took possession of his house, a fortress in the neighborhood of Coyoacán in Mexico City, which Columba claimed as her own. According to Columba, Adela was not a biological daughter of Fernández, but was adopted by him when she was abandoned by her mother. Adela's death in 2013 left the legal situation unclear.[4]

The House-Fortress of Fernández, managed by his daughter Adela until her death in 2013, became a space dedicated to various cultural activities in Mexico City, and has served as a backdrop for filming over one hundred Mexican and foreign films.

Filmography edit

As director edit

Year Original title English title Production country Language Cast Award nominations
(Wins in bold)
1941 La isla de la pasión The Island of the Passion México Spanish Pedro Armendáriz, Isabela Corona
1942 Soy puro mexicano I'm a Real Mexican Mexico Spanish Pedro Armendáriz, Andres Soler
1942 Flor Silvestre Wild Flower México Spanish Dolores del Río, Pedro Armendáriz
1943 María Candelaria (aka Xochimilco) Portrait of Maria Mexico Spanish Dolores del Río, Pedro Armendáriz Cannes Film FestivalPalm d'Or
1944 Las Abandonadas The Abandoned Mexico Spanish Dolores del Río, Pedro Armendáriz Ariel Award – Best Actress
1944 Bugambilia Bugambilia Mexico Spanish Dolores del Río, Pedro Armendáriz
1945 La Perla The Pearl Mexico Spanish Pedro Armendáriz, María Elena Marqués Venice Film FestivalGolden Lion
Ariel AwardsGolden Ariel, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Cinematography
Golden Globe – Best Cinematography
1945 Pepita Jiménez Mexico Spanish Ricardo Montalbán, Rosita Dáz Gimeno
1946 Enamorada In Love Mexico Spanish María Félix, Pedro Armendáriz Ariel Award – Best Actress
1947 The Fugitive (producer) The Fugitive United States English Henry Fonda, Dolores del Río
1947 Río Escondido Hidden River Mexico Spanish María Félix, Carlos López Moctezuma Karlovy Vary International Film Festival – Best Photography
1948 Maclovia Maclovia (aka Damn Beauty) Mexico Spanish María Félix, Pedro Armendáriz
1948 Pueblerina Small Town Girl Mexico Spanish Columba Dominguez, Roberto Cañedo Cannes Film Festival – Official Selection
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival – Best Photography
1949 La Malquerida A Woman without Love Mexico Spanish Dolores del Río, Pedro Armendáriz
1950 Salón México Mexico Lounge Mexico Spanish Marga López, Miguel Inclan Brussels Film Festival – Best Photography
1950 Duelo en las montañas Duel in the Mountains Mexico Spanish Rita Macedo, Roberto Cañedo
1950 The Torch United States English Paulette Goddard, Pedro Armendáriz
1950 Un día de vida One Day of Life Mexico Spanish Columba Domínguez, Roberto Cañedo
1951 Vìctimas del Pecado Victims of the Sin Mexico Spanish Ninón Sevilla, Rodolfo Acosta
1951 Maria Islands Mexico Spanish Pedro Infante, Jaime Fernández
1951 La bienamada The Beloved Mexico Spanish Columba Domínguez, Roberto Cañedo
1952 Siempre tuya Always Yours Mexico Spanish Jorge Negrete, Gloria Marín
1952 Acapulco Mexico Spanish Elsa Aguirre, Miguel Torruco
1952 Cuando levanta la niebla When the Fog Lifts Mexico Spanish Columba Domínguez, Arturo de Córdova
1953 La Red (aka Rossana) The Red Mexico Spanish Rossana Podestà, Armando Silvestre Cannes Film Festival- Best Narration
1953 Reportaje Report News Mexico Spanish
1953 El Rapto The Rapture Mexico Spanish María Félix, Jorge Negrete
1955 La rosa blanca The White Rose Cuba Spanish Jorge Mistral, Rebeca Iturbide
1955 La Tierra del Fuego se apaga Tierra del Fuego is off Argentina Spanish Jorge Mistral, Bertha Moss
1958 Una cita de amor An appointment with love Mexico Spanish Silvia Pinal, Jaime Fernández 8th Berlin International Film Festival – Official Selection
1962 Pueblito Little Town Mexico Spanish Columba Domínguez, Lilia Prado San Sebastián International Film Festival – Las perlas del Cantábrico
1963 Paloma herída Wounded Dove Mexico/Guatemala Spanish Patricia Conde, Columba Domínguez
1967 Un Dorado de Pancho Villa A Faithful Soldier of Pancho Villa Mexico Spanish Emilio Fernández, Maricruz Olivier 5th Moscow International Film Festival – Official Selection
1969 Un Crepúsculo de un dios A Twilight of a God Mexico Spanish Emilio Fernández, Guillermo Murray
1974 La Choca la Choca Mexico Spanish Pilar Pellicer, Gregorio Casals Ariel Award – Best Direction, Best Supporting Actress, Best Photography, Best Edition
Karlovy Vary Film Festival – Best Direction
1976 Zona Roja Red Zone Mexico Spanish Fanny Cano, Armando Silvestre
1979 México Norte Mexico North Mexico Spanish Patricia Reyes Spíndola, Roberto Cañedo
1979 Erótica Erotic Mexico Spanish Jorge Rivero, Rebecca Silva

As actor edit

  • 1928: El destino
  • 1930: Oklahoma Cyclone – Pancho Gomez (uncredited)
  • 1930: The Land of Missing Men – Lopez – aka Black Coyote
  • 1930: Headin' North – Mexican Gambler (uncredited)
  • 1931: Sunrise Trail – Pancho (uncredited)
  • 1932: The Western Code – Indian Joe
  • 1933: Laughing at Life – Revolutionary (uncredited)
  • 1933: Flying Down to Rio – Dancer (uncredited)
  • 1934: La buenaventura – Boris
  • 1934: Corazón bandolero – Chacal
  • 1934: Cruz Diablo – Toparca, bandolero
  • 1935: Martín Garatuza
  • 1935: Tribu – Itzul
  • 1935: Janitzio – Zirahuén
  • 1936: Celos – Sebastián
  • 1936: María Elena – Bailarín de La Bamba
  • 1936: Marihuana (El monstruo verde) – El Indio
  • 1936: Allá en el Rancho Grande – Dancer
  • 1937: El superloco – Idúa
  • 1937: El impostor
  • 1937: Las cuatro milpas
  • 1937: Las mujeres mandan – Bailarín
  • 1937: Almas rebeldes
  • 1937: Adiós Nicanor – Nicanor
  • 1939: Juan sin miedo – Valentin
  • 1939: With Villa's Veterans – Mayor El Indio Fernández
  • 1940: El fanfarrón: ¡Aquí llegó el valentón! – Aguilucho (Juan José)
  • 1940: Los de Abajo – Pancracio
  • 1940: El charro Negro – Emilio Gómez
  • 1941: El Zorro de Jalisco – Ernesto
  • 1941: Rancho Alegre
  • 1942: La isla de la pasión
  • 1943: Wild Flower – Rogelio Torres
  • 1959: The Soldiers of Pancho Villa – Coronel Antonio Zeta
  • 1962: Pueblito – Coronel (uncredited)
  • 1963: La bandida – Epigmenio Gómez
  • 1963: Paloma herida – Danilo Zata
  • 1964: El revólver sangriento – Félix Gómez
  • 1964: The Night of the Iguana – Barkeeper (uncredited)
  • 1964: Yo, el valiente
  • 1964: Los hermanos Muerte – Marcos Zermeño
  • 1965: The Reward – Sgt. Lopez
  • 1965: La conquista de El Dorado
  • 1965: Un callejón sin salida – Moran
  • 1966: La recta final – Don Lucio
  • 1966: Duelo de pistoleros – Pancho Romero
  • 1966: The Appaloosa – Lazaro
  • 1966: Los malvados – El coyote
  • 1966: Return of the Seven – Francisco Lorca
  • 1967: A Covenant with Death – Ignacio
  • 1967: Un tipo dificil de matar
  • 1967: The War Wagon – Calita
  • 1967: A Faithful Soldier of Pancho Villa – Aurelio Pérez
  • 1967: El silencioso – Emilio Segura
  • 1968: Guns for San Sebastian
  • 1968: El caudillo – Coronel
  • 1968: Un toro me llama
  • 1969: The Wild Bunch – General Mapache
  • 1969: Duelo en El Dorado – Indio Romo
  • 1969: El crepúsculo de un Dios – Himself
  • 1970: The Phantom Gunslinger – Sheriff
  • 1971: La chamuscada (Tierra y libertad) – Coronel Margarito Herrero
  • 1971: La sangre enemiga – Juan
  • 1972: Indio – Victorio
  • 1972: El rincón de las vírgenes – Anacleto Morones
  • 1973: Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid – Paco
  • 1974: Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia – El Jefe
  • 1974: Breakout – J.V.
  • 1975: Lucky Lady – Ybarra
  • 1975: Detras de esa puerta – Police Director
  • 1976: Zona roja
  • 1979: Erótica – Hernández
  • 1980: Las cabareteras
  • 1982: Una gallina muy ponedora
  • 1983: Mercenarios de la Muerte – Maestro tata
  • 1984: Under the Volcano – Diosdado
  • 1985: Treasure of the Amazon – Tacho / Paco
  • 1985: Lola la trailera – Leoncio's Bodyguard
  • 1986: Los Amantes del Señor de la Noche – Don Venustiano
  • 1986: The Kidnapping of Lola – Commander Prieto
  • 1986: Ahora mis pistolas hablan
  • 1987: Arriba Michoacán (final film role)

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Festival de Cannes: María Candelaria". festival-cannes.com. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  2. ^ a b Emilio Fernández biography
  3. ^ "5th Moscow International Film Festival (1967)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  4. ^ a b La historia detrás del mito: Emilio "Indio" Fernández by TV Azteca
  5. ^ "Emilio Fernandez, one of a kind". 10 July 2020.
  6. ^ "ABC press kit, 1977 (50th) Academy Awards :: Academy Awards Collection". digitalcollections.oscars.org. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  7. ^ "6 things you may not know about Oscar statuettes". forevergeek.com. March 2010. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  8. ^ El orgullo de la seducción: Emilio Fernández Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine

Sources edit

  • Taibo I., Paco Ignacio (1987). Emilio Fernández <1904–1986>. Universidad de Guadalajara. ISBN 968-895-016-5.
  • Domínguez., Columba (1987). Emilio Fernández "El Indio" que amé.

External links edit