Customer Reviews

Cine Mexicano: Poster Art from the Golden Age/Carteles de la Epoca de Oro 1936-1956

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This dual-language book celebrates the wonderful posters that were made during the Golden Age of Mexican film (1936-1956), with depictions of some of its greatest stars, like the gorgeous Maria Felix pictured on the cover.
In the introduction by Charles Ramirez Berg, he states that "The main rationale for the book is preservation; to maintain the memory of movie posters", which were such a unique part of Mexico's superb cinematic history, and also to "acknowledge the artists, who often worked in obscurity".
Tragically, many posters (as well as films) were destroyed in a massive fire at the national film archive, the Cineteca National, in 1982. The 150 posters included in this book came from the Agrasanchez Film Archive in Harlingen, Texas, which houses a vast private collection of approximately 2,000 posters, as well as 1,400 Mexican films, and much more.

Included in this book is an extensive history of this period of Mexican film, a bibliography, and short bios of some of the artists, although a few posters are not credited, and some of the artists that are credited have no biographical material.
The heart of the book is the artwork, which is colorful, humorous, and dramatic. The women are extremely curvaceous (some scantily clad, and on two occasions with nothing at all), and many of the men, like Jorge Negrete in "El Fanfarron", looking dashing and "muy macho".
It is divided into categories: 1: Comedy, 2: Cabaret Girls, 3: Cowboys and Folklore, 4: History and Religion, 5: Drama, and 6: Mystery and Adventure.

My favorite is "Vuelven Los Garcia", by Juanino Renan Berenguer, with horses and riders in silhouette, against a magnificent sky, and two others painted by Juanino's brother Josep, "Cartas Marcadas" with Pedro Infante and Marga Lopez, and Libertad Lamarque in "Soledad"; both show portraiture with a hint of cubism, and are quite remarkable.
Also recommended is the lovely set of 40 postcards, selected from this book, in an attractive, sturdy gift box. the cards are on a matte finish stock, and the plates of this book have a semi-gloss finish. Both will be appreciated by fans of Mexican film, and anyone who enjoys popular art forms.

I do graphic work for a living. Having a book like this around helps the muse that visits my studio. I don't read the words. This is purely a picture book for me. And with that said - I really like it and use it for my job.

This so much suits my personal tastes, blending my affinity for the style of art, the era, and my love of the cinema. The collection is a visual joy and a great history lesson. Delightful. Fascinating. Thrilling.

This is a great book to look at, especially if you are at all interested in art or el cine mexicano. I bought one for my family in Zapotlanejo, Jalisco, and they enjoyed the nostalgia that the old movie posters brought back. The book divides different types of movie posters into different categories from Comedy to Monster-movies. The only thing that would have made this book better was if it had included more posters on Cantinflas and Clavillaso movies. Orale!

I guess I expected a lot more famous names like Gilbert Rowland.This stuff ain't bad but a lot more researsh and better stock could of been included. What ever happened to Rita Moreno, you won't find her in this collection either. A purchase that I never should of made ...for the same price I could of got a good Lydia Mendosa CD!