Miguel Contreras Torres

Mary Magdalene, Sinner of Magdala

The story of Mary Magdalene from being a sinner to follow Jesus Christ.

Shadow of Pancho Villa

A 1933 film.

Hombre o demonio

A 1940 film.

Rancho de mis recuerdos

No te engañes corazón

No te engañes corazón (released in English as Don't Fool Yourself Dear) is the first full-feature film of Cantinflas after becoming a star of the carpa circuit (folk theater). It was also one of the earliest films of Sara García and Carlos Orellana and the first where they share the screen. Don Boni (Orellana) is diagnosed with a deadly disease and decides to spend his last days doing good deeds. He leaves his wife and decides to help people. He then gets drunk and wakes up with a winning lottery ticket and realizes that the doctor who diagnosed him has been sent to prison for fraud.

Bartolo toca la flauta

¡Viva la soldadera!

The Black Legend of Mexican Cinema

During 1950, Miguel Contreras Torres led a group of filmmakers to officially denounce William O. Jenkins' monopoly on film theaters, which was built throughout the country upon crime and corruption. Ever since, Uncle Miguel was ridiculed and eventually forgotten, but it is certain that his proclaim announced the separation of Mexican cinema and its audience. Discoveries may be found in the films made by Miguel, and bringing back to life these moving pictures might recover this history that was never told, a story that is almost lost and that Contreras Torres himself tried to pass on through his writings in The Black Book of Mexican Cinema.

El hombre sin patria

Directed by Miguel Contreras Torres.

El rayo del sur

Latter part of the career of Padre Morelos, the 18th/19th century military leader. Sequel to... um... El Padre Morelos.

Under the Sky of Spain

Drama film directed and written by Miguel Contreras Torres.

Simón Bolívar

Biopic of the revolutionary Simón Bolívar who fought to end Spanish rule over much of Latin America.

Pancho Villa vuelve

Two romantic rivals join the Mexican Revolution on opposing sides. The movie's more interested in the love triangle than in the war.

Juarez and Maximilian

The story of Mexican President Benito Juárez and the emperor Maximilian of Habsburg and the empress Carlota.

Pancho Villa Returns

It's 1913, and noble Mexican General Pancho Villa leads his troops against the assassins of President Madero.

Reina de reinas: La Virgen María

Standard retelling of the the Gospels, with a brief epilogue about the death of Mary.

The Last Rebel

Mexican western film about Joaquin Murrieta, the Robin Hood of the West.

Love for Life

During the times of Venezuelan dictator Juan Vicente Gómez, an exhausted stranger arrives at a farm and starts to help the owner with the legal status of her land.

No matarás

Antonio Guerra is an unemployed Spanish immigrant in the USA. His brother and mother in Spain haven't heard about him for many years or even receive a letter. But one day, his brother receives a letter from him, telling that things are going well. But the reality is other. Antonio is passing a hard time in New Yor City, suffering the Years of Depression as many out of workers. One day, Antonio meets a nice Cuban seller, who invites him to eat at his poor house. The seller advices Antonio to visit a man, who has contacts and could help him to find a job. Nevertheless, Antonio is send with the leader of a group of gangsters, dedicated to the illegal traffic of alcohol. Antonio is offered a work of dealer, but he won't do anything out of the law.

The Useless Life of Pito Perez

Episodes from the life of an alcoholic hobo.

La paloma

Dazzled by the Empress Carlotta's graciousness, magnanimity and charm, a young officer in the Mexican army switches his allegiance to the Imperial government with Maximilian as figurehead. Bad move, space cadet.

¡Viva México!

La noche del pecado

La noche del pecado is a Mexican and North American co-production directed by Miguel Contreras Torres with Ernesto Vilches, Ramón Pereda, Medea de Novara and produced by Contreras Torres in 1933.

The Mad Empress

The Mad Empress is a 1939 American historical drama film depicting the 3-year reign of Maximilian I of Mexico and his struggles against Benito Juarez.