"Ni Sangre, Ni Arena," ("Neither Blood nor Sand") was the second major film of Cantinflas that made it to the movie screen by 1941. Cantinflas, who once was called by Charlie Chaplin, "the world's greatest comedian," played dual roles in the movie.
In one of the characters, he was a meek devoted fan, while in the other--he demonstrated to be an egotistical matador. The humor begins when, there's an identity mix-up, as the humble fan, Cantinflas is mistaken for a matador.
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| 1954 Matamoros, Cantinflas bullring fundraiser, Plaza de Toros |
It was September of 1942 that Mario Moreno, better known as Cantinflas, arrived in Brownsville on a Saturday night Pan American Airways flight from Mexico City.
Moviegoers, who had seen Cantinflas in the above-mentioned film, heard the comedic matador, "Cantinfeando," talking endlessly without saying anything and dispose of a charging bull using unorthodox methods, keeping movie patrons in an uproar.
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| Cameron County Judge Oscar Dancy with Cantinflas in 1965 |
If Valley visitors remember these rules--traffic will move much faster over the bridges," said government officials.
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| 1965, Cantinflas with Johnny Cavasos and KGBT's Maria Elena Guererro (photo by Lee Rodriguez) |
"El Torero Bufo" enters the ring:
With trumpets blaring and the crowd on its feet, the mighty matador, Cantinflas, enters the ring to the thunderous applause of six thousand people.
Just minutes into his routine, he has the spectators roaring with laughter.
When the bull paws the ground, Cantinflas mimics the animal as he fights and dances to death two young bulls.
Along with the humorous antics, he's at his best dancing a safe distance from his meek adversary while a rumba, danzon and other musical pieces accompany.
When the bull falls on a short turn, Cantinflas arrogantly reads a newspaper close to the animal while the bull seems to enjoy a break from the action.
Later, as the animal again loses his fighting spirit, "El Terero Bufo" motions for the animal to charge, but the bull, with his tongue hanging out, decides he needs another break.
Next, the bull rushes the matador, makes his pants fall off, revealing pink underwear underneath. The crowd roars.
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| Bill Rudd, Cantinflas, Rosa Anne Zamora-Rudd (photo by daughter Rosanne Rudd) |
In the finale, the trumpets come to life, the matador's routine comes to an end, thrusting a fake sword between the bull's horns that turns into a flower bouquet to the relief of the audience.
A newspaper reports: "Amid his funny antics, dancing in front of the bull to make the animal fight, Cantinflas lived up to his name as Mexico's ace comedian."
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| Cantinflas, 1965 |
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| Cantinflas, with Lucie and Debbie at Fort Brown Hotel |
Cantinflas comes to Brownsville:
By the mid-1940's El Teatro Mexico in Brownsville, along with other valley theaters, brought Cantinflas to the screen.
I consider myself fortunate, as a youth of the 1950's, to have seen Cantinflas and other popular Mexican comics like Tin Tan and Piporro.
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| 1965, Joe Trevino, Manager of the Majestic Theater, his wife Irma and friends with Cantinflas |
Ole! Ole!
As a child in the 1950's I saw Cantinflas in the bull ring in Mexico City and it has remained one of my vivid memories of the years living in Mexico. My recollection of the show is much as described in the article. The bull was young (but I remember horns) and the newspaper was a prop that he put to good use. At one point he leaned on the bulls rump as he opened the paper and begin to read. I have always felt fortunate that my father, who enjoyed the bullfights, took me to the fights that day when Cantinflas opened the show.
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