Customer Reviews

La Vida No Vale Nada

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Pedro Infante won an Ariel Best Actor Award for this 1954 film, as Pablo Galvan, a peasant who goes to the city in search of his fortune.
From the Golden Era of Mexican films, it is directed by Rogelio Gonzalez, and the story is based on Maxim Gorky's "Malva".
It is a bleak tale; there is the endless search for work, the gnawing hunger, the hopelessness of his tormented soul, when he goes on sporadic binges, and roams the countryside in a longing for freedom.

It's a very unusual film for Infante; with the exception of a scrap or two of a song when he is drunk, there is little music, and he is surprisingly good at maintaining the dramatic pathos of his role. The rest of the cast also does an admirable job, with Rosario Granados as the widow Cruz, Magda Guzman as Sylvia, Lilia Prado as Marta, and Domingo Soler as his father.
It has some lovely cinematography, especially in the final beach scene, which includes a very realistic fight scene. I always appreciate a convincing film tussle, and this one is graphic and very well done.

Singer/actor Pedro Infante was 36 when he made this film, and was to die tragically two years later. He loved to fly, and was piloting a B-24 Bomber converted to a cargo plane, when it crashed on April 15, 1957. His popularity continues, making new fans to this day, and he is affectionately known as "El Idolo de Guamuchil".

This is one of Pedro Infante's last movies, done during the decline of the Mexican golden era. I believe it was underrated then and very much misunderstood, probably because all the attention was on the new cinemascope and stereo sound novelty that was just starting.
In the middle 50's everybody were used to see all the great actors of the time (Pedro, Jorge, Cantinflas, Tin Tan etc.and a lot more from Hollywood and all over the world) being funnier and/or more likeable when they were (acting) drunk. Maybe that's why this movie didn't succed in trying to bring up a message, exposing what can do to some people an uncontrolable disease. The most notables in the cast of this three episodes story, are beautiful Charito Granados, who plays a hard to get delightful widow, and Lilia Prado who is as sensuous as ever. Pedro Infante was miscast as a young lad, but his acting makes you forget this, the same case is Domingo Soler in his role. The nostalgic and soulful theme song was written off course by the unforgetable Jose Alfredo Jimenez, who was and died (or so they say) an alcoholic. And if it is not enough, there are other songs by Tomas Mendes and Cuco Sanchez, and all this music goes just great with the movie. I'll like to recomend the DVD (finally). They did a good restoration, even tho they probably used different masters to acomplish this, because the quality changes on some reels. Anyway is a lot better than tape, and also comes with well translated subtitles in English, in case you need them, even the songs are translated (something that should 've been done in the recent movie "Frida").

Pedro Infante fans will love this film...he is simply let loose to do what he does best. While I wouldn't call this a perfect film, I would call it perfectly imperfect. It is quite obvious everyone involved is giving everything they have. Like Jimmy Stewart in "It's a Wonderful Life," Pedro has this magnetic charm that seems to reach out to you through the screen- and like a true artist, he lets us feel what his character is going through, rather than simply observing the situation. The subplots and supporting cast are wonderful, and the score is something that enhances the film, rather than being something we have to get over. I was hesitant to get this DVD because of the heavy subject matter...who needs to buy, never mind watch, a totally depressing film? But Pedro, and this fine film, as the film "It's a Wonderful Life" (though naturally not as delicately, as no punches are pulled in dealing with alcoholism) show us that no matter how discouraged we are, life is well worth living, and we all make a difference in the lives of those around us.

I have to agree with any reviewer disappointed with the state of this 2003 dvd release. It sure doesn't do this film justice. Is there another version available?!

As someone who has only now discovered Pedro Infante, I found this film his most provocative. You've got to respect Pedro's portrayal of an alcoholic at war with himself, so upbeat when he's sober, and so totally anarchic with a few drinks. The family/work ethos attracts and repels him, and each "good" situation becomes claustrophobic. The cantina is full of like souls, only Pedro sings better than the rest of 'em, and doesn't find his way back home. Or does he? The film raises this question.

I hope someone will track down good 35mm elements and restore La Vida No Vale Nada for real!

Is this movie digitally remasterized? No way...unless the company remasterized a VHS of dubious quality.
As a customer, I want to get what I am offered by the vendor. If I get a DVD labeled as 'digitally remasterized', I expect an excellent image and great sound. This is not the case.
No way they used a master from an original negative, the Lord knows why.