Huracán Ramírez (film)
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| Huracán Ramírez | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Joselito Rodríguez Américo Fernández (assistant director) |
| Written by | Joselito Rodríguez Juan Rodríguez Mas Jesús Saucedo |
| Starring | David Silva Tonina Jackson Titina Romay Carmelita González Freddy Fernández Anabelle Gutiérrez Yadira Jiménez |
| Cinematography | Jack L. Draper |
| Edited by | Fernando Martínez |
| Music by | Sergio Guerrero |
| Distributed by | Películas Rodríguez Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | Mexico |
| Language | Spanish |
Huracán Ramírez (Hurricane Ramirez) is a 1952 black-and-white Mexican luchador film directed by Joselito Rodríguez and co-written by Joselito Rodríguez, Juan Rodríguez Mas, and Jesús Saucedo. The film follows the story of Fernando Torres, a young man who decides to follow in his father's footsteps by donning the secret identity of Huracán Ramírez, a masked luchador, despite his father's wishes to the contrary.[1][2][3][4]
Huracán Ramírez was the first of a series of wrestling films to introduce the fictitious title character. Unlike later films of the genre, its storyline focused on more dramatic subplots and light comedy. Although actor David Silva portrayed the role of Fernando Torres, the wrestling scenes and action sequences were performed by real-life wrestler Eduardo Bonada. Bonada was contracted to wrestle as Huracán Ramírez following the film's release, until he grew tired of the gimmick and was replaced by luchador Daniel García. García, who popularized the character, would continue to wrestle as Huracán Ramírez until his retirement from lucha libre in 1988. The character was originally named 'Huracán López' in the early stages of film production. His surname was later changed to avoid confusion with Tarzán López.[1][2][3][4]
Plot
Fernando Torres, in light of his family's poor finances, drops out of college to become a successful lounge singer at a local club. A fact he keeps secret from his father, a washed-up wrestler under the name of Tonina Jackson. Tonina has had some recent popularity in the ring, only due to Fernando bribing other wrestlers to lose. Fernando is also secretly moonlighting as the masked luchador Huracán Ramírez to further help with the household expenses. He is assisted by his somewhat dim-witted friend, Pichí, who doubles as his trainer and his stand-in for any situation in which Fernando and Huracán might have to be seen at the same time. Tonino has a growing resentment against Huracán's popularity and is further aggravated when he refuses to face him in the ring.[2][3][4]
After a night of partying, Fernando's father discovers his secret job as a lounge singer. Unimpressed with his new career path and disappointed he ended his schooling, he demands Fernando to leave his household. Tonina is later dissuaded by his younger daughter, who explains Fernando has been helping with finances for some time and without his spare income, the family would have been unable to survive. Meanwhile, the local wrestling promoter discovers Fernando has been setting up his father's matches. The promoter promises not to expose him as long as further bribes do not occur. In a following match against the wrestler Bello Califa, a drunken Pichí is mistaken for Huracán Ramírez. Pichí manages to defeat the flamboyant Bello Califa and after much confusion, both Fernando's sisters discover the true identity of Huracán.[2][3][4]
In the next day's match, Fernando wrestles against El Médico Asesino, only to be interrupted by an angry Tonina. Despite being unwilling to fight against his father, Fernando relents. After their impromptu match comes to an end, Tonina develops a great respect for Huracán Ramírez and decides to form an alliance with him. Meanwhile, Gloria, a fellow lounge singer and Fernando's former flame, feels dejected when her love for Fernando goes on unrequited. She is later enraged to learn that he has a new girlfriend, Laura, Pichí's older sister. A broken-hearted Gloria seeks revenge against her former lover, and after discovering his secret identity of Huracán Ramírez, plots to kill him by enlisting the aid of rival luchadors Frank "El Carnicero" Bucher, El Médico Asesino, Camilo "Bulldog" Pérez.[2][3][4]
The plan is to kidnap Fernando's father, who will thereby be unable to attend the night's tag-team match, and be replaced with Bulldog. During the course of the match, Bulldog will turn against Huracán, and the three luchadors will beat him to death. Their plan is foiled however, as Pichí quickly alerts Fernando who arrives just in time as Huracán to free his father, but his leg is badly injured in the process. Tonina leaves for the match, only for Huracán to be replaced last minute by Bulldog, a reversal of Gloria's original plan. Fernando manages to rush to the wrestling stadium in time to fend off his father's attackers, but in his wounded state is easily overpowered by them. In an illegal move, one of the luchadors unmasks Fernando, revealing his true identity to his father. At this, both father and son are put in a blind rage, in which they both are able to defeat their attackers at the thunderous applause of fans.[2][3][4]
Cast
- David Silva as Fernando Torres/Huracán Ramírez: A young man who drops out of college and dons a secret identity of masked wrestler to help with his family's finances. Real-life luchador Eduardo Bonada performed much of Huracán's action sequences.[citation needed]
- Tonina Jackson as Señor Torres/Tonina Jackson: Fernando's father. a washed-up and overweight wrestler who has had a recent comeback. Huracán's refusal to a match only furthers his dislike for him.
- Carmelita González as Laura: A good friend of the Torres family and owner of a local diner. Laura is also Fernando's girlfriend and one of the few to know he is wrestling.
- Freddy Fernández as Pichí: Laura's younger brother and Fernando's best friend. Pichí is the only one besides Laura to know of Fernando's activities as Huracán Ramírez. Pichí also acts as Fernando's trainer and his stand-in.
- Titina Romay as Margarita Torres: Fernando's precocious and bossy eight-year-old little sister. For this role, Titina Romay was nominated for an Ariel Award for best child actress.[5]
- Anabelle Gutiérrez as Cata Torres: Fernando's sixteen-year-old sister, who has become infatuated with Huracán Ramírez, despite the affection of Pichí.
- Yadira Jiménez as Gloria: Fernando's former flame, who is secretly plotting revenge against him.
The film also featured real-life luchadores Frank "El Carnicero" Bucher, El Médico Asesino, Camilo "Bulldog" Pérez, and Bello Califa.[citation needed]
Sequels
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- El misterio de Huracán Ramírez ("The Mystery of Hurricane Ramirez") (1962)
- El Hijo de Huracán Ramírez ("The Son of Hurricane Ramirez") (1966)
- La Venganza de Huracán Ramírez ("The Revenge of Hurricane Ramirez") (1967)
- Huracán Ramírez y la Monjita Negra ("Hurricane Ramirez and the Black Nun") (1973)
- De Sangre Chicana ("Of Chicano Blood") (1974)
- Torito Puños de Oro ("The Little Bull with the Golden Fists") (1979) Huracan had a small role in this film
- Torito De Tepito ("The Little Bull from Tepito") (1982) Huracan had a small role in this film
- Huracán Ramírez contra los Terroristas ("Hurricane Ramirez vs. the Terrorists") (1989) Huracan was played by a new (anonymous) wrestler in this film, as David Garcia retired from the ring in 1988; this new wrestler quit playing Huracan in the ring soon after this film was theatrically released.
References
- ^ a b Madigan, Dan (2007). "Huracán Ramírez". Mondo Lucha Libre: the bizarre & honorable world of wild Mexican wrestling. HarperColins Publisher. pp. 118–119. ISBN 978-0-06-085583-3.
- ^ a b c d e f Cotter, Robert Michael (April 21, 2008). "The Undercard: Second-banana Masked Men". The Mexican Masked Wrestler and Monster Filmograph. pp. 152–174. ISBN 0786441046.
- ^ a b c d e f Cotter, Robert Michael (April 21, 2008). "Who Was That Masked Man? The Spirit of The Serials". The Mexican Masked Wrestler and Monster Filmograph. pp. 21–22. ISBN 0786441046.
- ^ a b c d e f Greene, Doyle. "Santo and the Lucha Libre Film: A Brief History". Mexplotation Cinema. United States of America: McFlarland & Company, Inc. pp. 51–52. ISBN 0-7864-2201-7.
- ^ "Huracán Ramírez - Awards and Nominations". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved December 6, 2012.