MovieChat Forums > Mystery Street (1950) Discussion > Latino awareness ahead of its time?

Latino awareness ahead of its time?

posted 13 years ago by wgregh
22 replies | jump to latest

Would others say that the movie brought out a Latino in a non-stereotyped role well ahead of its time? I won't profess to be an authoritarian on the topic But at least from what I often have seen on Turner Movie Classic's screen of MGM and other non-Fox movies, I don't recall such prominence in their flicks.

Ricardo Montalban was a police detective, not some other portrayal of a Latino more likely in the movies of 60+ years ago, e.g. street cleaner, boxer, etc.

And when Ricardo was searching the office of the man who was the actual killer, the killer (then just accused by Montalban, but Montalban just searching the New Englander "WASP's" office with a search warrant) made a typical-for-the-times [and perhaps even nowadays] swipe at Montalban by saying something about how long killer's family had been in the U.S., even before it was a nation. And yet Montalban later came back to the accused with how Montalban's family had been on the continent longer than the accused killer's family, from what I recollect.

[–] Blondfashionisto 13 years ago

I think this role (i.e. Police Detective) was indeed ahead of its time for a latino actor. And, it's a good point you made - These types of roles did seem around a little more in the 60's (Sidney Poitier 'In the Heat of the Night' springs instantly to mind).

Ricardo was certainly handsome and I really liked seeing Elsa Lanchester stretch her 'acting muscles' by playing such a sleazy, bad character.

‘Six inches is perfectly adequate; more is vulgar!' (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Re: An open window).

[–] mojo2004 13 years ago

These types of roles did seem around a little more in the 60's (Sidney Poitier 'In the Heat of the Night' springs instantly to mind).

Sidney Portier also played a doctor in the No Way Out (1950).It was a lead role opposite Richard Widmark who played a racist who commits a robbery with his brother who gets shot.Portier's character (the prison intern) operates on Widmark's brother against his wishes and the brother dies.

"Where were you born? At home. I wanted to be near my mother."

[–] Blondfashionisto 13 years ago

Oh, yes - 'No Way Out' was a very good film...

‘Six inches is perfectly adequate; more is vulgar!' (Prime of Miss Jean Brodie Re: An open window).

[–] The_Dying_Flutchman 13 years ago

I will tell you all that this film was filling in the lull before other Latin actors came back to cinema. In the silents and early thirties they were very present. Look up Gilbert Roland, Leo Carillo, Duncan Renaldo and Ceasar Romero and others I cannot now remember. Something about all of them, they often played so-called "whites only" roles. No mention was made of their ethnicity. Not to take anything away from Mr. Montalban, he reinvented himself many times and this is a fine film, indeed.

If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there.

[–] toshguy 13 years ago

And Ricardo Cortez who was actually an Austrian jew named Jacob-something changed his name in order to pass himself off as a Latin lover which would help him get good roles back in the early 30's (or at least so he thought).

I'm here, Mr. Man, I can not tell no lie and I'll be right here 'till the day I die

[–] aldiboronti 9 years ago

Cortez (ne Jacob Krantz) didn't change his name, the studio did, as was common practice back then.

[–] bluenova19692002 10 years ago

Well, "Latino" is more of an ethnic/cultural designation, not a race, so someone like Romero and Roland (who were of Spanish European ancestry, and not mestizos) could play "White" roles because that was their race. And regarding Duncan Renaldo, his ancestry remains somewhat of a mystery, but it has been posited that he was of Romanian background.

[–] essex9999 9 years ago

Well, "Latino" is more of an ethnic/cultural designation, not a race, so someone like Romero and Roland (who were of Spanish European ancestry, and not mestizos) could play "White" roles because that was their race.

This is true of Montalban as well. His parents were Spanish.

[–] Forlorn_Rage 9 years ago

Montalban identifies himself as a Mexican though, even shouting "viva la mexico!" at a later screening when talking about his time in Hollywood.

[–] essex9999 9 years ago

Yes, good point, but my comment was in response to a post about Latino actors who were of purely European descent, rather than being of mixed European/Native American or European/African descent. I pointed out that Montalban was in this group, too, since both of his parents immigrated to Mexico from Spain.

[–] Forlorn_Rage 9 years ago

There was also Ramon Navarro (Mexican) and Rudolph Valentino (Italian) who played many of the "latin" roles in their time.

[–] mdonln 9 years ago

In the silent days a lot of actors from different backgrounds could play a variety of roles. As long as they looked the part, their accents didn't matter. Talkies changed all that. Anyone who couldn't speak English well enough left Hollywood for good.

Montalban in this role is impressive because he had an accent yet he was in an important role. Other Latins played those roles if they didn't have an accent; or, if they had one, they'd play the role as a local if the movie was set in a Spanish-speaking or other foreign country.

Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]

[–] kayeohio1947 8 years ago

A few months ago I read that Duncan Renaldo was born in Spain but went to Hungary for political asylum. From Hungary he came to the U.S., where First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt helped him gain acceptance.

[–] marbleann 10 years ago

Saw him in No Way Out around 10 years ago and could not believe what was coming out of Widmark's mouth and it looked like he enjoyed it. He should of gotten a award for that. It had to be a very brave part for him to play. People talk about his role in The Kiss of Death. This is much more compelling. And to top it off Widmark and Poitier were best of friends. I do not want to diminish Poitier's role and how it tore down stereotypes though.

[–] Forlorn_Rage 9 years ago

You should also see him in Road House and Pick Up on South Street, he also looks like he was born to play bad here and enjoys it too! Which is why his later roles like Panic on the Streets and Judgement at Nuremberg are such a jolt. It's like we're looking at a man from an entirely different lifetime!

[–] Forlorn_Rage 9 years ago

Sidney also played a well-dressed, educated office worker, sharply contrasting Shelley Winters (playing a white trash prostitute/laundress(I think)) and Elizabeth Hartman, who were very poor and had little to no education.

[–] Gheelnory 9 years ago

As a general reply to all those mentioning Latin Lovers: the whole point of those roles was that they were the Exotic Other. The Montalban role in Mystery Street, by contrast, was of 'a regular guy'--no stereotypes, no clichés.

That's what makes it remarkable for its time (though, as has been pointed out, not unique).

Aside from that--I just saw this movie for the first time and was enthralled by the performances given by both Ricardo Montalban and by Elsa Lanchester. Both were subtle and refreshing takes on their roles.

_ . _ . _ . _ . _ . _ .
Grey Fairy / White Wolf

[–] kinglet 9 years ago

Agree with what's been posted here, I'd just add that Hollywood had profited from the image of the Latin Lover since at least Rudolph Valentino's era. Valentino, who died 6 yrs. after Montalban was born, was half French and half Italian but Hollywood didn't let that stop anyone from marketing him as a Latino and a Russian as well as an Arab in The Sheik and Son of the Sheik.

Seems like anyone with dramatically dark or light coloring was likely to be stereotyped in the silent era, maybe partly because their looks could be highlighted using the lighting technology and film stock of the times, so that they really stood out from their co-stars and drew your attention in every scene they were in. Branding someone as foreign and intriguing, with an air of mystery suggestive of sexual appetite, was a successful strategy for promoting even the early movies.

I think Montalban inherited both the upside of this kind of casting history and the downside, as typecasting no doubt claimed him for some roles and caused him to lose others. Aside from his good looks it's a tribute to his force of personality and dedication to his craft that he managed to stand out in his generation. And oh my, what a voice.

[–] marbleann 10 years ago

And when Ricardo was searching the office of the man who was the actual killer, the killer (then just accused by Montalban, but Montalban just searching the New Englander "WASP's" office with a search warrant) made a typical-for-the-times [and perhaps even nowadays] swipe at Montalban by saying something about how long killer's family had been in the U.S., even before it was a nation. And yet Montalban later came back to the accused with how Montalban's family had been on the continent longer than the accused killer's family, from what I recollect.

I just saw the movie what you said is what he should of said. Even though he eluded he was Portuguese, which has a huge population in the Cape Cod, Rhode Island area. Even being that he should of said what you mentioned. But what he did say after the killers friend tells him that his family has been here for hundreds of years and he demands respects, well Montalban replies My family as been here for 100 years and we demand respect too. I loved it. It was almost as good as that scene from In the Heat of the Night when that white man slaps Sidney Poitier in the face and he slaps him right back. Point, Score. Touchdown!

[–] pt100 9 years ago

Actually, Harkley says, "There was a Harkley in these parts long before there was a U.S.A. But from the way you talk, you haven't been here long." Later, after Harkley says, I'm used to respect," Montalban says, "So am I. And my family hasn't been in this country for even 100 years."

It is better to be kind than to be clever or good looking. -- Derek

[–] deforest-1 10 years ago

People have been asking this since Antonio Moreno was a major star at Vitagraph years before the advent of Rudolfo Valentino; i.e. c.1914.

[–] pt100 9 years ago

A year before this film, Montalban played a Mexican border agent in Border Incident. His character was on an equal footing with his American counterpart.

It is better to be kind than to be clever or good looking. -- Derek