''The Coward'' (Spanish: ''El cobarde'') is a 1939 Mexican

war film War film is a film genre concerned with warfare, typically about naval, air, or land battles, with combat scenes central to the drama. It has been strongly associated with the 20th century. The fateful nature of battle scenes means that war fi ...

directed by

René Cardona René Cardona (October 8, 1905 in Havana, Cuba – April 25, 1988, in Mexico City) was a director, actor, producer, screenwriter, and film editor in the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. Biography René Cardona was born in Havana, Cuba, on Oct ...

and starring

Julián Soler Julián Soler (born Julián Díaz Pavia; 17 February 1907 – 5 May 1977) was a Mexican film director, actor, and screenwriter of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. In his career spanning half a century, Soler received two Ariel Award nominations ...

, Adria Delhort and Josefina Escobedo.

Story

Alberto (

Soler Soler may refer to: * Soler Township, Roseau County, Minnesota * Soler (band), Hong Kong based rock band * Soler (grape), French wine grape, also known as Peloursin People with the surname Soler * Alay Soler (born 1979), Cuban baseball player ...

) is born in the imaginary republic of Sucravia (a country much like Mexico) in time of war, where his father dies a hero's death. He grows up as an effeminate lover of music. His mother ( Delhort) sends him to the military college. There, Fernando ( Aldás) bullies him, but gradually they become friends. A second war breaks out, and Alberto tries to avoid danger. If he is to change his life, he must face his fear.

Reception

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', reviewing the film in 1939, describes ''El Cobarde'' as "likely to keep the spectators guessing until the last reel". In their reviewer's opinion, Cardonas combines some psychology with "considerable talk about the now generally discredited theory of prenatal influence", a mother's genuine pride in her son, and a gentle romance. Soler, says the reviewer, plays the "vacillating" son of a hero well, and Delhort is "excellent as the

Spartan Sparta (Doric Greek: Σπάρτα, ''Spártā''; Attic Greek: Σπάρτη, ''Spártē'') was a prominent city-state in Laconia, in ancient Greece. In antiquity, the city-state was known as Lacedaemon (, ), while the name Sparta referred t ...

mother" intent on preserving the family tradition of patriotic bravery. Escobedo and the supporting cast ably play mainly comic roles.

Cast

as Capitán Alberto Anzures * Adria Delhort as Doña Amalia * Josefina Escobedo as Leonor * Antonio R. Frausto as Juancho * Lita Enhart as Elvira *

Luis Aldás Luis Aldás (10 March 1910 – 16 May 1990) was an Argentine film actor.Pitts p.356 He emigrated to Mexico and became a star during the Golden age of Mexican cinema. He appeared in more than fifty films during his career. Aldás was married four t ...

as Fernando * Joaquín Coss as Director del colegio *

Dolores Camarillo Dolores Camarillo (March 31, 1910 – February 8, 1988) was a Mexican character actress of film, television, and theater. She also was a makeup artist for films, and was frequently billed as "Fraustita". Personal life The daughter of actors ...

as Pancha * Ángel T. Sala as Sargento Rocha * Ricardo Mondragón as General *

Arturo Soto Rangel Arturo Soto Rangel (March 12, 1882 – May 25, 1965) was a Mexican film, television, and stage actor. Soto was best known for appearing in over 250 Mexican films. He appeared in one American movie, '' The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'', which won ...

as Doctor * Gustavo Carrillo as General *

Narciso Busquets Narciso Busquets Zárate (8 September 1931 – 14 December 1988) was a Mexican actor of theater, film, television, radio and voice-over. He also directed a film, ''Sin fortuna'', in 1980. He began his acting career in 1937, as a child actor, and ...

as Alberto (niño) * Isa Gary as Rosa * Isauro Ruiz as Sargento *

Julio Ahuet Julio Ahuet was a Mexican film actor. He appeared in more than a hundred and thirty films during his career, including ''Women Without Tomorrow'' (1951), ''Here Comes Martin Corona'' (1952), and the El Santo film ''Profanadores de tumbas'' (1966). ...

as Soldado *

Roberto Cañedo Roberto Cañedo Ramírez (30 March 1919 – 16 June 1999), better known as Roberto Cañedo, was a Mexican actor of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. During his career, he appeared in over 300 films. Cañedo received two Ariel Award for Best Act ...

as Minor Role *

Manuel Dondé er Manuel Dondé (1906 – 27 May 1976) was a Mexican film actor.Kohner p.355 He frequently played villains during his long film career. Selected filmography * ''La llorona'' (1933) * ''Soulless Women'' (1934) - Policía * ''El bastardo'' (1937 ...

as Minor Role

References

Bibliography

* Elena, Alberto. ''El cine del tercer mundo: diccionario de realizadores''. Turfan, 1993.

External links

*
Trailer at La Vanguardia
1939 films 1939 war films Mexican war drama films 1930s Spanish-language films Films directed by René Cardona Mexican black-and-white films 1930s Mexican films {{1930s-Mexico-film-stub