''Pueblo chico, infierno grande'' (English: ''Small town, big hell'') is a Mexican historical

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'' ...

set in the Pre- Mexican Revolution period, produced by

José Alberto Castro José Alberto Castro (born José Alberto Sáinz Castro, 31 May 1963) is a Mexican producer and director. Biography He is the brother of actresses Verónica Castro, Beatriz Castro, telenovela producer Fausto Gerardo Sáinz, and uncle of Mexican s ...

for

Televisa Grupo Televisa is a Mexican multimedia mass media company. A major Latin American mass media corporation, it often presents itself as the largest producer of Spanish-language content. In April 2021, Televisa and Univision Communications announce ...

in 1997. From Monday, January 6, 1997 until Friday, August 1, 1997, Canal de las Estrellas broadcast it weekdays at 10:00pm, replacing ''Te sigo amando'' and replaced by ''Salud, dinero y amor''. Televisa released an abridged DVD version of the novela in several countries. It also aired on

Univisión Univision () is an American Spanish-language free-to-air television network owned by TelevisaUnivision. It is the United States' largest provider of Spanish-language content. The network's programming is aimed at the Latino public and includes ...

in the United States.

Verónica Castro Verónica Castro (), full name Verónica Judith Sáinz Castro (born 19 October 1952), is a Mexican actress, singer, producer, former model and presenter. She started her career as a television actress, where she met comedian Manuel Valdés, fa ...

Juan Soler Juan Soler Valls Quiroga (born January 19, 1966) is an Argentine-Mexican actor and former model and rugby union footballer. He was married to Argentine actress Magdalena "Maki" Moguilevsky with whom he has two daughters. Biography Personal life ...

and

Guillermo Capetillo Guillermo Eduardo Capetillo de Flores (born 30 April 1958) is a Mexican actor, singer and matador. Family Capetillo was born in Mexico City, and is a member of the Capetillo family. His father (Manuel Capetillo, Sr.) (1926-2009) and his brother ...

starred as protagonists, while

Alma Delfina Alma Delfina (née Alma Delfina Martínez Ortega) is a Mexican actress. Acting career Sister of the director Gonzalo Martinez Ortega, writer Mario Iván Martínez and the actresses Socorro Bonilla and Evangelina Martínez. She is also the aun ...

, Salvador Sánchez,

Mónika Sánchez Mónika Sánchez (born Mónika Analia Sánchez Torre on 3 December 1974 in Mexico City, Mexico) is a Mexican actress. Early life Sánchez was born on 3 December 1974 in Mexico City. She is the daughter of Mexican writer and poet, Fernando Sánc ...

and Adalberto Parra as the main antagonists.

Background

''Pueblo chico, infierno grande'' is a colloquial expression in Spanish, translated as "small town, big hell". It is also the title of a 1926 Chilean movie directed by Nicanor de la Sotta, starring Ernestina Estay, Evaristo Lillo and Plácido Martín It is also a 1941 Argentinian movie by Orestes Caviglia, written by Henri Martinent and Eduardo Pappo, shot in Argentina with cinematography by Roque Funes, starring Arturo Bamio, Lucía Barause and Nélida Bilbao with music by Alejandro Gutiérrez del Barrio.Pueblo chico, infierno grande
by Orestes Caviglia, IMDb.com, Inc., n.d. retrieved 27 June 2017

Plot

''Pueblo chico, infierno grande'' takes place in Nahuatzen, a small town in the Sierra Purépecha in Michoacán,

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 by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

, in early 1900. The young girl Leonarda Ruán (

Aracely Arámbula Aracely Arámbula Jacques (; born March 6, 1975), known professionally as Aracely Arámbula, is a Mexican actress, model, singer, television personality and entrepreneur. Life and career Early life Aracely Arambula Jacques was born in Chih ...

), is the youngest daughter of the venerable Don Prisciliano Ruan (

Enrique Rocha Enrique Rocha (January 5, 1940 – November 7, 2021) was a Mexican actor. He made his debut in the film industry in the film Guadalajara en Verano directed by Julio Bracho in the last decade of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema The Golden Age ...

). The day of the feast of the town's patron saint, Saint Louis of France, Leonarda discovers her feelings for Hermilo Jaimes (

Kuno Becker Eduardo Kuno Becker Paz (born January 14, 1978) professionally known as Kuno Becker, is a Mexican actor and film director who has worked in telenovelas, Mexican cinema, and U.S. cinema. He is best known for his portrayal of Ruben Berrizabal in ...

), a poor boy who works in a grocery store. But that afternoon, the old Don Rosendo Equigua (

Jorge Russek Jorge is a Spanish and Portuguese given name. It is derived from the Greek name Γεώργιος (''Georgios'') via Latin ''Georgius''; the former is derived from (''georgos''), meaning "farmer" or "earth-worker". The Latin form ''Georgius' ...

) the richest man in Nahuatzen, sets his eyes on the girl. Don Prisciliano disapproves of the love between Leonarda and Hermilo, and yields the girl's hand to Rosendo. That same afternoon, a girl named Magdalena Beltran (Evangelina Sosa), falls for a young man nicknamed "El Batan" ( Jose Maria Yazpik). Her mother, Inmaculada (

Socorro Bonilla Socorro Bonilla (born María del Socorro Martínez Ortega on August 20, 1947, in Camargo, Chihuahua, México Mexico ( Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is b ...

), is surprised that she feels lust for "El Batan". Leonarda is forced to marry Rosendo. Hermilo leaves town, but swears he will be very powerful one day and return for her. Meanwhile, Magdalena discovers her mother in bed with "El Batan". She wanders the streets and falls into perdition in the whorehouse from "La Tapanca" (

Lilia Aragón Lilia Aragón (born Lilia Isabel Aragón del Rivero, 22 September 1938 – 2 August 2021) was a Mexican film, television, and stage actress and politician. She was the Secretary of the National Association of Actors. She also served as Deputy ...

). A few months after his marriage with Leonarda, Rosendo dies. At 16 years, Leonarda is a widow and Nahuatzen's richest woman, but she vows to wait for Hermilo.... 20 years go by, and Leonarda (

), returns from a long trip through Europe. On her return, while hanging around her properties she meets a handsome 20 year old young man named Genaro (

). Genaro and Leonarda feel a strong attraction for each other, and Leonarda lets him work on her farm. Throughout the town, women feel fascination for Genaro's striking resemblance with St. Louis. Some of the girls are Indalecia (

), an evil Indian, Leonarda's servant and Braulia Felicitas (

Karyme Lozano Karyme Lozano (; born Karyme Lucía Virginia Lozano Carreno on April 3, 1978, in Mexico City, D.F., Mexico) is a Mexican actress. She has appeared on three covers of ''Los 50 Mas Bellos'' of ''People en Español''. She has been nominated and wo ...

), a rich girl from the region. But Genaro only has eyes for Leonarda, and both end up confessing their love. The whole town is shocked by their relationship. Genaro is 16 years younger than Leonarda and could be her son. Meanwhile, Magdalena (

) now calls herself "La Beltraneja" and leads the whorehouse of "La Tapanca". Beltraneja and La tapanca has a faithful servant, "Odilón" (Hernán Del Riego)One night when Genaro and Leonarda argue, he visits the home of La Beltraneja, and drunk, asks her to marry him, sparking an obsession in the woman. The evil Sheriff of Nahuatzen, Consejo Serratos (Salvador Sánchez), loves Leonarda and despises Genaro. The situation is further complicated when Hermilo Jaimes (

) returning, now a rich gentleman. Leonarda reluctantly confesses Hermilo her new feelings. He decides to wait. Leonarda refuses to marry Genaro, because she is sterile and can never bear children. The Puritan Leonarda's sisters, Cleotilde (Anna Silvetti), Eloísa (

Olivia Bucio Olivia Bucio (born October 26, 1954, in Uruapan, Michoacán, Mexico), is a Mexican actress. She worked with Televisa Grupo Televisa is a Mexican multimedia mass media company. A major Latin American mass media corporation, it often presents it ...

) and Jovita (

Silvia Manríquez Silvia Manríquez (born January 27, 1953, in Mexico City, Mexico) is a Mexicans, Mexican actress. She is known for her roles in telenovelas. Professional life Manriquez began her career in 1974, after she was named "El Rostro del Heraldo" by a ...

), are the main judges. Characters like the Father Arceo (Luis Gimeno), the healer Martina "La Perra" (

Patricia Reyes Spíndola Patricia Verónica Núñez Reyes Spíndola (born 11 July 1953) is a Mexican actress, director, and producer. She has received four Ariel Awards, two for Best Actress ('' Los Motivos de Luz'' in 1985 and ''The Queen of the Night'' in 1994), and ...

) the Nanny Maclovia (Angelina Peláez), Don Arcadio (

José Carlos Ruiz José Carlos Ruiz (born 17 November 1936) is a Mexican film and television actor. He starred in telenovelas such as ''María Isabel'', '' Soñadoras'', '' Mariana de la noche'', '' Sortilegio'', '' Soy Tu Dueña'', '' Un Refugio para el Amor'', ...

) and Miss Gildarda (Beatriz Cecilia) are allies. When La Beltraneja finds out above the love between Genaro and Leonarda, she becomes very jealous. Braulia and Indalecia are also in love with Genaro. Leonarda has to endure the calumnies of the people and fight for her love for Genaro. Aside from the main story, there are stories of other villagers like the sisters Porfiria and Rutila Cumbios ( Rosa Maria Bianchi and

Ana Bertha Espín Ana Bertha Espín Ocampo (born 13 October 1958) is a Mexican actress. Filmography Awards and nominations References External links * 1956 births Living people Mexican telenovela actresses Mexican television actresses Mexican fi ...

), Miss Gildard Zavala and her mother Mrs. Hipolita (

Alicia Montoya Alicia Montoya (January 25, 1920 – August 17, 2002) was a Mexican actress, the daughter of the stage actress . Selected filmography * ''Talpa'' (1956) * ''El duende y yo'' (1959) * ''Mujeres de Fuego'' (1959) * ''Quinceañera'' (1960) * '' ...

), Leonarda's sisters, and Leonarda's nephews, Priscilla (

Ana de la Reguera Anabell Gardoqui de la Reguera (; born 8 April 1977) is a Mexican actress. She has starred in telenovelas, films, the HBO television series ''Eastbound & Down'' and ''Capadocia'', the Amazon television series ''Goliath'', and the 2006 comedy '' ...

) and Baldo (Germán Gutiérrez), who are in love despite being first cousins, so a ''Little town'', becomes a ''Big hell''...

Cast

as Leonarda Ruán *

as Young Leonarda Ruán *

as Hermilo Jaimez *

as Magdalena *

as Génaro Onchi *

Luis Gimeno Luis Gimeno (15 February 1927 – 24 July 2017) was an Uruguayan-born Mexican actor. In 2010, he received the TVyNovelas Award for Best Leading Actor. Gimeno was born in Montevideo and died in Mexico City, aged 90. He was survived by his wife, Vi ...

as Padre Arceo *

Jorge Martínez de Hoyos Jorge Martínez de Hoyos (September 25, 1920 – May 6, 1997) was a Mexican actor whose career spanned five decades from the 1940s till his death. He appeared in both American and Mexican films and television, with prominent roles in ''The Magn ...

as Chucho Ríos *

as Doña Hipólita *

as Arcadio * Salvador Sánchez as Consejo Serratos *

as La Tapanca *

as Martina * Anna Silvetti as Cleotilde *

Rosa María Bianchi Rosa María Bianchi (born February 18, 1948, in Buenos Aires, Argentina) is an Argentinean-born Mexican actress. Personal life Bianchi was married with director of theater Luis de Tavira. They have two sons, José María (b. 1983) & Julián. ...

as Porfiria Cumbios *

as Eloísa * Angelina Peláez as Maclovia *

as Rutilia Cumbios * Evangelina Martínez as Saturnina * Monserrat Ontiveros as Melitona *

Luis Xavier Luis is a given name. It is the Spanish form of the originally Germanic name or . Other Iberian Romance languages have comparable forms: (with an accent mark on the i) in Portuguese and Galician, in Aragonese and Catalan, while is archai ...

as Antonio Serna * Óscar Traven as Gumaro *

as Indalecia *

as Braulia *

Orlando Miguel Orlando Miguel Rojas González (born July 18, 1969, in Havana, Cuba) is a Cuban-Mexican actor. He made his small-screen debut as the character Osvaldo Larrea in ''Lazos de Amor'', alongside Lucero. Filmography * '' Where Birds Go To Die'' (2022) ...

as Palemón Morales *

Juan Ignacio Aranda Juan Ignacio Aranda (born Juan Ignacio López Aranda on February 6, 1962, in Mexico City, Mexico) is a Mexican actor. He began his training in 1978 in Centro de Arte Dramático (CADAC), also studied in The Cockpit Arts Workshop and in The City ...

as Baldomero * Germán Gutiérrez as Baldomero's son * Beatriz Cecilia as Gildarda Zavala * Theo Tapia as Estanislao Allende * Adalberto Parra as Guadalupe Tiburcio *

as Jovita * Lourdes Deschamps as Cayetana * José Maria Yazpik as Batán * Hernán Del Riego as Odilón *

Alejandro Tomassi Alejandro Tommasi (born Alejandro Casares Tommasi; August 14, 1957) is a Mexican television, stage and film actor. Personal life Tommasi is of Italian descent. Tommasi came out as gay and married his 35 years old boyfriend, Óscar Ruiz, in Sept ...

as Malfavón Heredia *

as Ruán * Jorge Russek as Don Rosendo Equigua * Joana Brito as Vititos * Evangelina Sosa as Young Magdalena *

Arcelia Ramírez Arcelia Ramírez (born 7 December 1967) is a Mexican actress. She has appeared in more than 50 films and television shows since 1985. She starred in the film ''Such Is Life (2000 film), Such Is Life'', which was screened in the Un Certain Regard ...

as Ignacia Rentería *

Aarón Hernán Aarón Hernán (; 20 November 1930 – 26 April 2020) was a Mexican telenovela and film actor. He had a medal called ''General Ángel Trías Álvarez''. Biography Family Aarón Hernán was born on 20 November 1930, in Camargo, Chihuahua, M ...

as Felipe Tóvar *

as Inmaculada * Martha Aura as Mercedes * Manuel Guízar as Eduardo Rentería *

Mario Iván Martínez Mario Iván Martínez (born Mario Iván Martínez Morales on February 17, 1962, in Mexico City, Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered ...

as Señor Onchi * Fernando Torre Laphame as Señor Obispo *

Susana Zabaleta Susana Zabaleta Ramos (; born September 30, 1964) is a Mexican soprano singer and actress. Early life Born in Monclova, Coahuila, Monclova, Coahuila, she moved to Mexico City in 1985. In 1986 she performed in the Sala Ollín Yoliztli and inter ...

as Medarda Zavala *

José María Yazpik José María Yazpik (born November 13, 1970) is a Mexican actor. Biography Yazpik was born in Mexico City, the son of gynaecologist Jose Maria Meza and housewife Cristina Yazpik. He has two siblings, Carlos and Cristina. When Yazpik was a chi ...

as Young Batán *

Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez (born November 2, 1958) is a Mexican actress whose breakout role was the 1983 film '' El Norte.''IMDb
film data ...

as Olinca * Víctor González as Young Gumaro Amezcua *

as Priscila *

Adriana Fonseca Adriana Fonseca (; born Adriana Fonseca Castellanos March 16, 1979) is a Mexican actress and dancer. She is best known for her roles in Televisa's telenovelas like '' La usurpadora'' as Veronica Soriano (1998), '' Rosalinda'' as Lucy Pérez Rome ...

as Jovita *

Marisol del Olmo Marisol del Olmo () is a Mexican 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 ...

as Leocadia *

as Hermilio Jaimez * Adriana Lavat as Dora Luz * Alec Von Bargen as Malfavón

Awards and nominations

Commentary

*Inspired by the true story of Leonarda Ruán, aunt of the writer Javier Ruán. *The role of "La Beltraneja" was originally for

Lucía Méndez Lucía Leticia Méndez Pérez (born January 26, 1955) is a Mexican telenovela and film actress, top model and singer. Méndez was born in León, Guanajuato, Mexico. Career In 2011, Lucía starred in Mexico the telenovela '' Esperanza del C ...

, but she moved to

TV Azteca TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate owned by Grupo Salinas. It is the second-largest mass media company in Mexico after Televisa. It primarily competes with Televisa as well as some local operators. It owns two nationa ...

. *This was Verónica Castro´s last lead role of in a telenovela.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pueblo chico, infierno grande 1997 telenovelas Mexican telenovelas 1997 Mexican television series debuts 1997 Mexican television series endings Spanish-language telenovelas Television shows set in Veracruz Televisa telenovelas