René Cardona
Biography
René Cardona (October 8, 1905 – April 25, 1988) was a Mexican director, actor, producer, screenwriter, and film editor, who was prominent during part of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. René Cardona was born in Havana, Cuba, on October 8, 1905, and began medical school in Cuba, but due to the political problems of the island, he and his family moved to New York City in 1926, where he continued his studies. Economic circumstances experienced by his family caused him to leave his studies. He befriended famous actor Rodolfo Valentino and obtained work as an extra in several films, until 1929 when he produced, wrote, directed and starred in the first Spanish-language film made in Hollywood, Sombras habaneras (Havana Shadows). He also had the opportunity to work in various positions in the film industry such as second assistant, technical advisor and first assistant director, and learned film and lighting technique. In 1932, he moved to Mexico, where he debuted as an actor and met Julieta Zacarías, sister of the director Miguel Zacarías, and soon after married her. His wife's support would be central to his career in Mexican cinema, in films Mano a mano (1932) directed by Ramón Peón and Sobre las olas (1932) directed by Zacarías. At this early stage as an actor, Cardona participated in three key Mexican films Marihuana (1936), El baúl macabro (1936) and Allá en el Rancho Grande (1936), which officially inaugurate the golden age of Mexican cinema and made stars of its protagonists: Esther Fernández, Tito Guízar, and Cardona.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (50)
Viva la risa II
1989
Las Limpias
as Don Ignacio
1987
Yo el ejecutor
1987
¡Maten al fugitivo!
1986
Se Sufre pero se Goza
Writer (Writing)
1986
La Casa Que Arde de Noche
as American
1985
Siempre en domingo
1984
La banda de la sotana negra
1983
The Fury of the Karate Experts
as Professor Williams
1982
Viva México y sus corridos
Director (Directing)
1982
Las computadoras
Director (Directing)
1982
Visita al Pasado
Director (Directing)
1981
Savage Summer
as Papá
1980
Carlos el terrorista
Director (Directing)
1980
Crónica roja
1979
La Guerra de los Pasteles
Director (Directing)
1979
El Llanto de los Pobres
1978
Cyclone
1978
The Children of Sanchez
1978
Brood of Vipers
1978
Tempestad
1978
Una noche embarazosa
Director (Directing)
1977
La casta divina
as Consul Cubano
1977
Prisión de mujeres
as Mr. Williams
1977
La folle de Chaillot
as Le rentier
1976
Survive!
Director (Directing)
1976
Fantastic Voyage in a Baloon
1975
El pequeño Robin Hood
1975
Noche de muerte
Director (Directing)
1975
La mafia amarilla
Director (Directing)
1975
El valle de los miserables
as Don Luis Aguirre
1975
Jalisco nunca pierde
Director (Directing)
1974
La disputa
1974
The Vengeance of the Crying Woman
as Severo Segovia
1974
Island of Lost Souls
Screenplay (Writing)
1974
Guns and Guts
as Monk
1974
Son of the Town
Director (Directing)
1974
The Invasion of the Dead
Director (Directing)
1973
Masajista de señoras
1973
Zindy, the Swamp Boy
as Abuelo
1973
Peluquero de señoras
1973
Entre monjas anda el Diablo
Director (Directing)
1973
El derecho de los pobres
Director (Directing)
1973
Manuel Saldivar, el texano
1972
The Incredible Professor Zovek
Writer (Writing)
1972
Jesús, el niño Dios
as Baltazar (as René Cardona Sr.)
1971
Capulina vs. the Vampires
Director (Directing)
1971
Santo in the Vengeance of the Mummy
Director (Directing)
1971
Santo vs. the Head Hunters
1971
La mula de Cullen Baker
as Capitán
1971