Hollywood films are very popular throughout the world, but this is nothing new. In this post we look at some film magazines from the 1930's published in or for the Latin community, yet solely devoted to Hollywood productions. I'm sure there were many more publications, but these are the only issues in our collection.
Ecran was published in Chile. This issue is from July 1934 and features Ann Sothern on the cover. The magazine has less pages than a Photoplay or similar U.S. publication, but is larger in overall size, measuring an almost tabloid dimension of 13''x10.5". It wouldn't fit in the scanner, so it was scanned in sections. Stories and photo essays include Jean Harlow, Sidney Fox, Jean Arthur, Thelma Tood, and Paul Muni.
Carol Lombard and Conchita Montenegro were also featured in this issue.
Just like the film magazines in the U.S., there is coverage of the latest fashions.PS - I had to photograph rather that scan the two above images, and therefore they are not quite as sharp.
Cine-Mundial was sold in Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Cuba, Uruguay, Spain, Portugal, and Columbia. What is interesting is that the publication was actually managed and edited in New York specifically for the Latin and South American market. I believe it was printed locally, but almost all of the product advertisers, including Listerine, Pepsodent, Kellogg's Corn Flakes, and the "Instantaneous Electric Water Heater Co.", show New York or U.S. addresses.Those profiled and shown in this issue include among others, Pola Negri, Norma Shearer, Greta Garbo, Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins, and Lupe Velez.
Here is a wonderful picture of Anita Page that I have never seen anywhere else.
And cheesecake is cheesecake in any language.
Films Selectos was a supplemental section in an unidentified magazine or newspaper published in Barcelona, Spain. This issue, number 103, is from October 1932. The cover is a scene from Daughter of the Dragon. The supplement has a mix of reviews of films, short coverage of actresses and actors, and in this issue, a look at cowboy movies.
This is the back cover of Films Selectos. It has a "cut along this line" on the right hand edge so you can save the star's image for your collection.Cinelanda magazine is similar to Cine-Mundial in that it was managed and edited in the U.S. (Hollywood) for the Latin market. Unfortunately, I can't tell you much more at this point because the two publications below are currently en route to me. The covers are so nice I just had to include them.
Cinelandia - August 1933
Cinelandia - January 1933
7 comments:
Me gusta! Me gusta! Gracias Senor Bob.
What follows is an abridged version of a note I posted on Facebook a couple of days ago. I just now realize there is some sort of "reverse tangential" crossover between it and this post.
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Thinking about my film formative years, I found that most of the films that captivated me were not products of Hollywood. Here is the list of films I still remember quite specifically, some I have seen again, some not; and at the time film goers did have only one shot, no tape or DVD of course.
From the UK
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962)
Morgan (1966)
The L-Shaped Room (1962)
Girl With The Green Eyes (1964)
A Taste of Honey (1961)
From France
Sundays and Cybele (1962)
Jules and Jim (1962)
Shoot The Piano Player (1960)
Last Year at Marienbad (1961)
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
From Japan
Throne of Blood (1957 - US release 1961)
The Men Who Tread on the Tigers Tail (1945 - US Release 1960)
Woman in the Dunes (1964 - on my birthday!)
Yojimbo (1961)
Sanjuro (1962)
From Italy
L'avventura (1961)
From Russia
Ivan the Terrible, Part 2 (1959 - but seen in 1960 in combination with Part 1)
Hollywood films were definitely in the mix, just interesting that these left such strong impressions.
I found this out, as well - the films that fascinated me were from other countries, or the indies that were just becoming commonly shown outside of NYC. I have to say an inordinate amount of the French films were crime ones, "Bob Le Flambeur", "Rififi", and such, which followed on my love of noir, but films weren't repeated very often in the art houses, so sometimes it was many years between screenings, as you noted.
I like to see "Morgan" on your list as I really liked that one, but I always remembered certain scenes form "The Jokers", possibly my favorite UK film. My most memorable Japanese film viewing was "Sword of Doom" - I was just blown away by the performances in a film I had anticipated was going to be more of just a slice & dice samurai effort. The real standout experience, tho, was seeing "The Cranes are Flying" at a high school Russian class outing; I was really stunned by that one. I started to blog about that period, and have been pressed to start up again, so we'll see.
Vanwall, fortunately I did (and do) live in the NYC area so I was able to see these films when they were first shown in this country. I also love Rififi and Bob La Flambeur, but didn't see those on the first go round. And to give Hollywood its due, Long Day's Journey Into Night(1962)came to mind, and at 174 minutes, it was a long journey indeed. And West Side Story (1961) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962)...Ahhh, stop, stop.
M Operator - I'll segue into your present topic regarding films that made an impression at an early age - I had a good Hispanic friend who introduced me to a couple of small, older theaters that catered to the Spanish language market, a reasonably lucrative one in Arizona. I doubt many Anglos like me ever made it down to that part of town, and I was lucky enough to go with him and his girlfriend, both of whom translated, even when there were subtitles in the prints that missed the nuances. The first time I went, we watched a masked wrestler "lucha libre" film, for the younger crowd, and the second feature was "La perla", (The Pearl), with Pedro Armendáriz, whom I had seen recently in "From Russia With Love"! This film really amazed me - I had no idea that Mexico had a Golden Age of Film - El Cine de Oro, with a whole world of masterpieces. I was very lucky indeed. My pal took me to his house for eats a few times, and the first time I walked into his house I found his father was a big movie fan, didn't speak a word of English, but had some beautiful Mexican movie posters in their hallway - "Espuelas de oro", (Spurs of gold) with a bandito with guns drawn, and a Maria Felix one stick in my head to this day. Most of the Hispanic families saw more Hollywood films than Mexican ones, because of the aggressive marketing of H'wood, but I think they kinda resented it - I got that feeling. I can see this love/hate in the magazines you posted - run by Anglos for good or ill.
I'm new to your blog and-- my jaw is dropped. I am ashamed of myself for never having heard of these magazines ("Cinelandia" looks simply STUNNING) and I'm so glad you've posted them! Beautiful job, please, keep it up!!
why does Ginger Rogers on the Cinelandia cover look more like Betty Grable? just wondering...
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