Anita Blanch (July 26, 1910 – April 23, 1983) was a Spanish-born, Mexican actress, who worked in the
Golden Age of Mexican cinema
The Golden Age of Mexican cinema ( es, Época de Oro del Cine Mexicano) is a period in the history of the Cinema of Mexico between 1930 and 1969 when the Mexican film industry reached high levels of production, quality and economic success of its ...
. She was nominated for an
Ariel Award
The Ariel Award ( es, Premio Ariel) is an award that recognizes the best of Mexican cinema. Given annually, since 1946, by the Mexican Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences (AMACC), the award recognizes artistical and technical excel ...
from the Mexican Academy of Film three times and won the Best Supporting Actress Award from
Diosa de Plata (Silver Goddess Award) in 1963.
Biography
Ana María Blanch Ruiz was born on 26 July 1910 in
Sagunto
Sagunto ( ca-valencia, Sagunt) is a municipality of Spain, located in the province of Valencia, Valencian Community. It belongs to the modern fertile ''comarca'' of Camp de Morvedre. It is located c. 30 km north of the city of Valencia, cl ...
,
Valencia
Valencia ( va, València) is the capital of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, Valencia and the Municipalities of Spain, third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 791,413 inhabitants. It is ...
. Ana, who went by the name of "Anita" and her sister, actress
Isabelita Blanch
Isabelita Blanch (1906–1985) was a Spanish-born Mexican actress, who specialized in vaudeville and comedy during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. She and her sister opened several theater companies and performed throughout Mexico and in the U ...
, who both had interest in the theater, arrived in Mexico in the 1920s.
Blanch specialized in comedic plays and her theatrical debut was in a performance of “La cabalgata de los reyes”.
Blanch was the first star of the prestigious "Ideal Theater" in Mexico City.
She and her sister founded the Compañía de Teatro Anita Blanch (Anita Blanch Theater Company), hiring artists like
Ángel Garasa
Ángel Garasa Bergés (12 December 1905 – 27 August 1976) was a Spanish-Mexican film actor.Pilcher p.85 Garasa was born in Madrid and emigrated to Mexico in 1937, fleeing the Spanish Civil War.
Selected filmography
* ''The Three Musketeers'' ( ...
,
Rafael Banquells
Rafael Banquells (born Rafael Banquells Garafulla; 25 June 1917 – 27 October 1990) was a Cuban-born Mexican actor, director and TV producer known in Mexico as Rafael Banquells (I).
Biography
Banquells was born on 25 June 1917 in La Habana, ...
, and
Jose Cibrian, among others.
Throughout her career, she had several successful theatrical runs, including works such as: "Quien te quiere a ti" (1928), "El sexo débil" (1930), "Don Juan Tenorio" (1935), "Arsénico y encaje" (1942) and "El escándalo" (1947).
Anita's film debut in the film "Luponini de Chicago" was made in 1935.
After terrible reviews, she did not make movies for the next 6 years,
but studied her craft on stage with such productions as: “No hables mal de los gitanos” by
Enrique Bohorques; “La mujer legitima” by
Xavier Villaurrutia
Xavier Villaurrutia y González (27 March 1903 – 25 December 1950) was a Mexican poet, playwright and literary critic whose most famous works are the short theatrical dramas called ''Autos profanos'', compiled in the work ''Poesía y teatro c ...
; “Doña hormiga” by
Alvarez Quintero; “El amor las vuelve locas” by
Enrique Suárez, among others.
She returned to film in 1941 with "¡Ay, que tiempos, señor don Simón!" and made several successful films: "¿Quién te quiere a ti?", "El conde de Montecristo", "Alejandra", "El abanico de Lady Windermere" and "
La barraca
LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States.
La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* La (musical note), or A, the sixth note
* "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figure ...
". "La barraca" was completed in 1945 and Blanch was nominated for a best actress award from the Ariel Awards.
Despite this success, she was blackballed by the film industry in a labor dispute between the two actor's unions, STPC and STIC.
[Oliveira (2003), p 241] She returned to the stage and in 1945 performed the first presentation ever held at the Teatro Xicohténcatl, in
Tlaxcala
Tlaxcala (; , ; from nah, Tlaxcallān ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Tlaxcala ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Tlaxcala), is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 60 municipaliti ...
, with the comedy "Siete mujeres de Navarro y Torrado".
In 1951, she performed in the play "Mamá nos quita los novios"
Finally in 1951, the labor dispute ended and she and other actresses who had returned to the theater, began filming again. Her first film after her return was "Te sigo esperando" in 1951. She made movies until the early 1980s.
Her most successful films in this last period were "Tlayucan" in 1963 for which she won a best supporting actress award from the Diosa de Plata;
"Los días del amor" of 1973 and "Presagio" in 1975, both of which she was nominated for an Ariel Award for best supporting actress.
Beginning in 1960 with the
telenovela
A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ...
"El Otro" her career turned toward television.
The latter half of her acting career largely focused on telenovelas. Two of her most popular were "Mamá campanita" and "En busca del paraíso".
Around this time, Blanch met her life partner, the novelist, journalist and film and television screenwriter,
Josefina Vicens
Josefina Vicens (23 November 1911 – 22 November 1988) ––also referred to by her nickname, “La Peque”–– was a Mexican author, screenwriter, and journalist. She is considered to be one of Mexico's seminal women writers. She is best kn ...
, with whom she lived until her death.
In 1970 Blanch, along with
Socorro Avelar
Socorro Avelar (1925 in Cuernavaca, Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west b ...
,
Dolores del Río
María de los Dolores Asúnsolo y López Negrete (3 August 1904 – 11 April 1983), known professionally as Dolores del Río (), was a Mexican actress. With a career spanning more than 50 years, she is regarded as the first major female Latin Am ...
,
Irma Dorantes
Irma Aguirre Martínez (born 21 December 1933), commonly known as Irma Dorantes, is a Mexican actress, singer, and equestrian. One of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.
Career
Her first film, '' Los tres huastecos'', ...
,
Gloria Marín
Gloria Méndez Ramos (19 April 1919 – 13 April 1983), better known as Gloria Marín, was a Mexican actress. She was considered a celebrated female star of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.
During her career, Marín appeared in about 100 film ...
,
Carmen Montejo
Carmen Montejo (born María Teresa Sánchez González; May 26, 1925 – February 25, 2013) was a Cuban actress.
Biography
Real name: María Teresa Sánchez González.
Montejo started her career in radio as a child at the age of 6 in Cuba in ...
,
Silvia Pinal
Silvia Pinal Hidalgo (born 12 September 1931) is a Mexican actress. She began her career in the theater, venturing into cinema in 1949. Her film work and popularity in her native country led her to work in Europe (Spain and Italy). Pinal achiev ...
, and
Amparo Rivelles
María Amparo Rivelles Ladrón de Guevara MML (11 February 1925 – 7 November 2013), better known as Amparo Rivelles, was a Spanish actress.
She was the daughter of actor Rafael Rivelles and actress María Fernanda Ladrón de Guevara, and the ...
joined to form a group called “Rosa Mexicano” with the intent of protecting actresses and their children.
The project had been the brain child of
Fanny Schiller
Fanny Schiller Hernández (3 August 1901 – 26 September 1971) was a Mexican award-winning character actress and television star, who also acted in operettas and musicals, during the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. She won two Ariel Awards for bes ...
,
who pushed the
National Association of Actors
The National Association of Actors ( es, Asociación Nacional de Actores, ANDA) is the Mexican actors guild. It is a member of the Bloque Latinoamericano de Actores (BLADA, the Latin American Actors' Block) that includes all of the actors' unions ...
(ANDA) to form nurseries for actress's children. The idea was that by establishing a nursery, actresses could continue working, and by establishing a Montessori education system, their children would receive a strong educational foundation. After operating in temporary spaces, the first stones for the formal location were laid on 30 April 1972.
Blanch died on 23 April 1983 in Mexico City.
Awards and nominations
*1947, "La barraca", best actress, nominated for Ariel
*1963, "Tlayucan", best supporting actress, Won
Diosa de Plata Award
*1973, "Los días del amor", best actress co-performance, nominated for Ariel
*1975, "Presagio", best actress co-performance, nominated for Ariel
Filmography
Film
* ''
Luponini from Chicago
''Luponini from Chicago'' (Spanish:''Luponini de Chicago'') is a 1935 Mexican comedy crime film directed by and starring José Bohr.Balderston, Gonzalez & Lopez p.196 It also features Anita Blanch, Carlos Villatoro and Isabelita Blanch.
Cast
* ...
'' (1935)
*''
La Casa del rencor'' (1941)
*''
¡Ay, qué tiempos señor don Simón!'' (1941)
*''
¿Quién te quiere a tí?'' (1942)
* ''
The Count of Monte Cristo
''The Count of Monte Cristo'' (french: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) is an adventure novel written by French author Alexandre Dumas (''père'') completed in 1844. It is one of the author's more popular works, along with ''The Three Musketeers''. Li ...
'' (1942)
*''
Alejandra
Alejandra is the Spanish form of the Greek female given name Alexandra. It is the female version of the male name Alejandro.''Behind the Name''"Given Name Alejandra" Retrieved on 10 January 2016. Alejandra means "defender of mankind", and notable ...
'' (1942)
*''
Simón Bolívar
Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar y Palacios (24 July 1783 – 17 December 1830) was a Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and B ...
'' (1942)
*''
Casa de mujeres
''Casa de Mujeres'' ("House of Women") is a 1966 Mexican drama film directed by Julián Soler and starring Dolores del Río. In some countries the film was named ''El Hijo de Todas'' ("The Son of All").
Plot
At a Christmas party, the women of a l ...
'' (1942)
*''
La Vírgen roja'' (1943)
*''
Tres hermanos'' (1943)
*''
Miguel Strogoff'' (1944)
*''
La Pequeña madrecita'' (also known as ''The Little Mother'') (1944)
* ''
The Two Orphans'' (1944)
*''
Toda una vida'' (1944)
*''
El abanico de Lady Windermere
"Lady Windermere's Fan" (Spanish: ''El abanico de Lady Windermere'') is a 1944 Mexican film, directed by Juan José Ortega.
Plot
Lady Windermere discovers that her husband may have a mistress. When confronted, her husband dismisses the accusat ...
'' (also known as ''Lady Windermere's Fan'') (1944)
*''
Entre hermanos'' (1945)
*''
La Barraca
LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States.
La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Music
* La (musical note), or A, the sixth note
* "L.A.", a song by Elliott Smith on ''Figure ...
'' (1945)
*''
Magdalena'' (1945)
*''
Te sigo esperando
''Te Sigo Esperando'' is the fourth album (first Spanish language) by Brenda K. Starr. It was released in early 1997, and produced by Humberto Ramirez. It features the major hit single, "Herida", a cover of Myriam Hernandez's song which reached n ...
'' (1951)
*''
Mujeres sacrificadas'' (1952)
*''
Sor Alegría'' (1952)
*''
Misericordia
Misericordia is the Latin for "mercy", derived from ''misericors'', "merciful", which is in turn derived from ''misereri'', "to pity", and ''cor'', "heart", and may refer to:
Places and organisations
* Misericórdia, a parish in the municipality ...
'' (1952)
*''
Los Hijos artificiales
LOS, or Los, or LoS may refer to:
Science and technology
* Length of stay, the duration of a single episode of hospitalisation
* Level of service, a measure used by traffic engineers
* Level of significance, a measure of statistical significance ...
'' (also known as ''Artificial Sons'') (1952)
*''
Aventura en Río
Aventura en Río (Adventure in Rio) is a Mexican drama film directed by Alberto Gout. It was released in 1953 and starring Ninón Sevilla and Víctor Junco.
Plot
Victim of amnesia, Alicia (Ninón Sevilla) a Mexican woman is forced by an operator ...
'' (1952)
*''
Canción de cuna'' (also known as ''Cradle Song'') (1953)
*''
Me perderé contigo'' (1954)
*''
Dios nos manda vivir'' (1954)
*''
El Mil amores
EL, El or el may refer to:
Religion
* El (deity), a Semitic word for "God"
People
* EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer
* El DeBarge, music artist
* El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...
'' (1954)
*''
Maldita ciudad
''Maldita ciudad'' (''Damn City'') is a 1954 Mexican film. It stars Carlos Orellana.
Story
A book writer from a village offers his book to a film producer, who is looking for a places to set film's scenes. Book writer moves to a big city where h ...
'' (1954)
*''
La Faraona'' (1955)
*''
El Águila negra vs. los diablos de la pradera'' (1956)
*''
La Mujer que no tuvo infancia'' (1957)
*''
La Torre de marfil'' (1957)
*''
Los Salvajes'' (1957)
*''
Yo pecador'' (also known as ''I, Sinner'') (1959)
*''
La Chamaca'' (1960)
*''
Aventuras de Joselito en América'' (also known as ''The
Adventures of Joselito and Tom Thumb
''Adventures of Joselito and Tom Thumb'' (Spanish: ''Aventuras de Joselito y Pulgarcito'') is a 1960 Mexican-Spanish musical film directed by René Cardona and starring Joselito, Cesáreo Quezadas and Enrique Rambal.Bentley p.144
Cast
* Josel ...
'') (1960)
*''
Tlayucan
''Tlayucan'' is a 1962 Mexican comedy film directed by Luis Alcoriza and based on a novel by Jesús Murciélago Velázquez. It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Cast
* Julio Aldama as Eufemio Zárate
* Norma Ang ...
'' (also known as ''The Pearl of Tlayucan'') (1961)
*''
Ave sin nido
''Alta Velocidad Española'' (''AVE'') is a service of high-speed rail in Spain operated by Renfe, the Spanish national railway company, at speeds of up to . As of December 2021, the Spanish high-speed rail network, on part of which the AVE s ...
'' (1969)
*''
Los Problemas de mamá
LOS, or Los, or LoS may refer to:
Science and technology
* Length of stay, the duration of a single episode of hospitalisation
* Level of service, a measure used by traffic engineers
* Level of significance, a measure of statistical significanc ...
'' (1970)
*''
Renzo, el gitano'' (1970)
*''
Pubertinaje'' (1971)
*''
Los Días del amor'' (also known as ''The Days of Love'') (1971)
*''
Mujercitas
''Mujercitas'' is a Mexican telenovela produced by Televisa for Telesistema Mexicano in 1962.
Cast
*Elsa Cárdenas
*Adriana Roel
* Rafael del Río
* Elizabeth Dupeyrón
*Claudio Brook
Claudio Brook (born Claude Sydney Brook Marnat, 28 A ...
'' (1972)
*''
Mi mesera'' (1973)
*''
Los Perros de Dios'' (1973)
*''
Fe, esperanza y caridad'' (1974)
*''
Presagio
''Presagio'' ("Omen") is a 1975 Mexican film directed and written by Luis Alcoriza.
External links
*
1975 films
Mexican fantasy comedy-drama films
1970s Spanish-language films
Films directed by Luis Alcoriza
1970s Mexican films
{{ ...
'' (also known as ''Presage'') (1974)
*''
El Hombre del puente
EL, El or el may refer to:
Religion
* El (deity), a Semitic word for "God"
People
* EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer
* El DeBarge, music artist
* El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...
'' (also known as ''The Man on the Bridge'') (1975)
*''
Balún Canán'' (1976)
*''
El Testamento'' (1980)
Telenovelas
*''
Cuidado con el ángel
''Cuidado con el ángel'' (English title: ''Don't Mess with an Angel''; lit. ''Be Careful with the Angel'') is a Mexican telenovela produced by Nathalie Lartilleux for Televisa in 2008. It is an adaptation of the Venezuelan telenovela, ''Una muc ...
'' (1959)
*''
El otro
''The Other'' (El otro) is a 2007 Argentine, French, and German drama film, written and directed by Ariel Rotter, his second feature. The picture won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize, and actor Julio Chávez was awarded the Silver Bear for Bes ...
'' (1960)
*''
Mi amor frente al pasado'' (1960)
*''
El enemigo'' (1961)
*''
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
Sor may refer to:
* Fernando Sor (1778–1839), Spanish guitarist and composer
* Sor, Ariège, a French commune
* SOR Libchavy, a Czech bus manufacturer
* Sor, Azerbaijan, a village
* Sor, Senegal, an offshore island
* Sor River, a river in the Or ...
'' (1962)
*''
Janina
Ioannina ( el, Ιωάννινα ' ), often called Yannena ( ' ) within Greece, is the capital and largest city of the Ioannina regional unit and of Epirus, an administrative region in north-western Greece. According to the 2011 census, the c ...
'' (1962)
*''
La cobarde
''La cobarde'' (English title:''The craven'') is a Mexican telenovela produced by Televisa and transmitted by Telesistema Mexicano.
Cast
* María Rivas
*Julio Alemán
*Prudencia Grifell
*Anita Blanch
*Virginia Manzano
*Ramón Bugarini
*Jorg ...
'' (1962)
*''
El caminante
''El caminante'' (English: ''The Wanderer'') is a Mexican telenovela produced by Televisa and broadcast by Telesistema Mexicano in 1962.
Cast
*Luis Bayardo
* Patricia Conde
*Columba Domínguez
*Ariadna Welter
Ariadne Welter (June 29, 1930 ...
'' (1962)
*''
Grandes ilusiones'' (1963)
*''
Debiera haber obispas'' (1964)
*''
Apasionada'' (1964)
*''
Maximiliano y Carlota
''Maximiliano y Carlota'' is a Mexican telenovela produced by Televisa for Telesistema Mexicano in 1965.
Cast
*Guillermo Murray as Maximiliano de Habsburgo
* María Rivas as Empress Carlota de Mexico
* Alberto Zayas as Napoleón III
*Anita ...
'' (1965)
*''
Llamada urgente'' (1965)
*''
Alma de mi alma'' (1965)
*''
Amor y orgullo
''Amor y orgullo'' (English title:''Love and Pride'') is a Mexican telenovela produced by Ernesto Alonso and transmitted by Telesistema Mexicano.
María Elena Marqués and Ignacio López Tarso starred as protagonists, Patricia Morán starred as ...
'' (1965)
*''
El derecho de nacer'' (1966)
*''
La tormenta
''La Tormenta'' (''The Storm'') is a 2005 Colombian telenovela and original story by Humberto "Kiko" Olivieri, produced by RTI Colombia and broadcast by Telemundo. The series stars Natalia Streignard and Christian Meier as the main protagonists, ...
'' (1967)
*''
El juicio de nuestros hijos'' (1967)
*''
Dicha robada'' (1967)
*''
Mujeres sin amor
''Mujeres sin amor'', is a Mexican telenovela produced by Televisa and originally transmitted by Telesistema Mexicano.
Cast
*Miguel Manzano
*Magda Guzmán
*Anita Blanch
* Chela Nájera
*Irma Lozano
Irma Lozano (24 August 1943 – 21 Octobe ...
'' (1968)
*''
Intriga
''Intriga'', is a Mexican telenovela produced by Televisa and originally transmitted by Telesistema Mexicano.
Cast
*Ofelia Montesco
*Raúl Ramírez
*Anita Blanch
*Susana Alexander
Suzanne Ellen Rose Alexander-Katz Kauffmann (born 3 July ...
'' (1968)
*''
Duelo de pasiones
''Duelo de Pasiones'' (English: ''Duel of Passions'') is a Mexican telenovela produced by Juan Osorio for Televisa. The telenovela based on radionovela ''Flor del Campo''. It premiered on April 17, 2006 and ended on October 27, 2006.
Erika Bue ...
'' (1968)
*''
No creo en los hombres'' (1969)
*''
Mi amor por ti
''Mi amor por ti'', is a Mexican telenovela produced by Ernesto Alonso and originally transmitted by Teleprogramas Acapulco, SA.
Cast
* María Rivas
*Guillermo Murray
*Anita Blanch
*José Carlos Ruiz
José Carlos Ruiz (born 17 November 1 ...
'' (1969)
*''
Del altar a la tumba
''Del altar a la tumba'', is a 1969 Mexican telenovela produced by Televisa and originally transmitted by Telesistema Mexicano.
Cast
* Alicia Rodríguez
*
*Liliana Durán
*Anita Blanch
Anita Blanch (July 26, 1910 – April 23, 1983) was a S ...
'' (1969)
*''
Mis tres amores'' (1971)
*''
Las máscaras'' (1971)
*''
Las fieras
''Las fieras'' is a Mexican telenovela produced by Ernesto Alonso for Televisa in 1972.
Cast
* Raquel Olmedo as Edith Brisson
* Héctor Gómez as Pierre Brisson
* Anita Blanch as Madame Brisson
* José Alonso as Jean Brisson
* Norma Lazar ...
'' (1972)
*''
El carruaje
EL, El or el may refer to:
Religion
* El (deity), a Semitic word for "God"
People
* EL (rapper) (born 1983), stage name of Elorm Adablah, a Ghanaian rapper and sound engineer
* El DeBarge, music artist
* El Franco Lee (1949–2016), American po ...
'' (1972)
*''
Cartas sin destino
''Cartas sin destino'' (English: ''Letters without destiny'') is a Mexican telenovela produced by Ernesto Alonso for Televisión Independiente de México in 1973."Cartas sin destino", Alma-Latina.net, weAlma-MSOD/ref>
Plot
Rosina and Procopia ...
'' (1973)
*''
El chofer
''El chofer'', is a Mexican telenovela produced by Guillermo Diazayas for Televisa in 1974. Starring Jorge Rivero and Linda Cristal.
Cast
*Jorge Rivero as José
* Linda Cristal as Julia
* Milton Rodríguez as Luigi
* Susana Alexander as Tania ...
'' (1974)
*''
El milagro de vivir
''El milagro de vivir'' is a Mexican telenovela produced by Ernesto Alonso for Televisión Independiente de México in 1975.
Cast
*Angélica María as Aura Velasco
*Fernando Allende as Fred
*Ana Martín as Jenny Gordon
*Lilia Prado as Estela ...
'' (1975)
*''
Mundos opuestos'' (1976)
*''
Mamá campanita'' (1978)
*''
Vamos juntos
''Vamos juntos'' is a Mexican telenovela produced by Irene Sabido for Televisa in 1979.
Cast
*Silvia Derbez as Lupe Pistolas
*Anita Blanch as Rosa
*Macaria as María Elena
*Carlos Piñar as Claudio
*Enrique Rocha as Juan Cristobal
*Paola Jim ...
'' (1979)
*''
Nosotras las mujeres
''Nosotras las mujeres'' (English title: ''We the women'') is a Mexican telenovela produced by Patricia Lozano for Televisa in 1981. It starred by Silvia Derbez, Beatriz Sheridan, Martha Roth, Sonia Furió, Anita Blanch and Fernando Larrañaga.
...
'' (1981)
*''
En busca del paraíso'' (1982)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blanch, Anita
1910 births
1983 deaths
Mexican television actresses
People from Valencia
Spanish emigrants to Mexico
Mexican stage actresses
Mexican film actresses
Mexican telenovela actresses