Delia Amadora García Gerboles better known as Delia Garcés (; 13 October 1919 – 7 November 2001) was an

Argentine Argentines, Argentinians or Argentineans are people from Argentina. This connection may be residential, legal, historical, or cultural. For most Argentines, several (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their ...

film actress An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

of the

Golden Age of Argentine cinema The Golden Age of Argentine cinema (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Época de Oro del cine argentino'' or other equivalent names), sometimes known interchangeably as the broader classical or classical-industrial period (Spanish: ''período clásico- ...

, making almost 30 appearances in film between 1937 and 1959. She also acted on stage from 1936 to 1966. She won the Premios Sur Best Actress award three times from the

Argentine Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences The Argentine Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences () is an industry association in Argentina founded in 2004. Each year the Academy present the ''Premios Sur'' (South Prizes) for categories such as best fiction film, best director, best a ...

, as well as the

Argentine Film Critics Association The Argentine Film Critics Association () is an organization of Argentine-based journalism, journalists and correspondents. The association presents the ''Silver Condor Awards'' (''Premios Cóndor de Plata'') honoring achievements in Argentina, Ar ...

's Silver Condor Award for Best Actress, the Premios Leopold Torre Nilsson, Premio Pablo Podestá, and the inaugural

ACE An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or a club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the ...

Platinum Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asociación de Cronistas del Espectáculo.

Biography

Delia Amadora García Gerboles was born 13 October 1919 to Gabriel García and Amadora Gerboles in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was a student of the Labardén Children's Theatre and trained at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música y Arte Escénico (National Conservatory of Music and Performing Arts) and the Comedia Nacional at the

Teatro Nacional Cervantes The Teatro Nacional Cervantes in Buenos Aires is the national stage and comedy theatre of Argentina. Overview Located on Córdoba Avenue and two blocks north of Buenos Aires' renowned opera house, the Colón Theatre, the Cervantes houses three pe ...

. Claiming she had always been a "theater rat", and performed her first role at age 8, she trained with students like

Zully Moreno Zulema Esther González Borbón, better known as Zully Moreno (October 17, 1920 in Villa Ballester, Buenos Aires – December 25, 1999 in Buenos Aires), was an Argentine film actress, an iconic star during the Golden Age of Argentine cinem ...

, Nury Montsé,

Fanny Navarro Fanny Navarro (1 June 1920 - 18 March 1971) was an Argentine actress. She starred in films such as ''Melodías porteñas'' (1937), '' Doce mujeres'' (1939), '' Ambición'' (1939), '' El hijo del barrio'' (1940), '' Hogar, dulce hogar'' (1941), ' ...

, and

Malisa Zini Malisa Zini (March 5, 1921 – February 26, 1985) was an Argentine actress of the Golden Age of Argentine cinema. She starred in the 1950 film '' Arroz con leche'', among others such as Cumbres de hidalguía, under director Carlos Schlieper. s ...

. Students received a small monthly stipend and participated in plays to hone their skills many taking pseudonyms. Between the performances of ''Mandinga en la sierra'' and ''

Cyrano de Bergerac Savinien de Cyrano de Bergerac ( , ; 6 March 1619 – 28 July 1655) was a French novelist, playwright, epistolarian, and duelist. A bold and innovative author, his work was part of the libertine literature of the first half of the 17th ce ...

'', María Luisa Zambrini became Malisa Sambrini and Delia Gerbolés became Delia Garcés. One of her teachers, Cunil Cabanillas, gave her her first professional role in a small part of the 1936 production of ''Locos de verano'', a play written by

Gregorio de Laferrère Gregorio de Laferrère (March 8, 1867 — November 30, 1913) was an Argentine politician and playwright. Life and work Gregorio de Laferrère was born in Buenos Aires to Mercedes Pereda, a local heiress, and Alfonso de Laferrère, a prominent Fre ...

. Her debut in film occurred in the 1937 in '' ¡Segundos afuera!'' directed by Chas de Cruz and Alberto Echebehere. Later that same year, she was in the film '' Viento Norte'' directed by

Mario Soffici Mario Soffici (14 May 1900 – 10 May 1977) was an Italian-born Argentina, Argentine film director, actor and screenwriter notable for his work during the Golden Age of Argentine cinema. Biography Mario Soffici was born in Florence, Florence, ...

, which caught the interest of critics as it was widely seen as the best film of the year. She followed those with ''

Maestro Levita ''Maestro Levita'' is a 1938 Argentine film directed by Luis César Amadori during the Golden Age of Argentine cinema. The film premiered in Buenos Aires. Synopsis A teacher in a rural school is coping with few resources at his little school i ...

'' (1938), ''

Kilómetro 111 ''Kilómetro 111'' is a 1938 Argentine musical film drama directed by Mario Soffici. The film premiered in Buenos Aires during the Golden Age of Argentine cinema. This is one of several films directed by Soffici which address the social evils of ...

'' (1938), '' Doce mujeres'' (1939), and '' La vida de Carlos Gardel'' (1939), with

Hugo del Carril Pierre Bruno Hugo Fontana, otherwise known as Hugo del Carril (30 November 1912 – 13 August 1989), was an Argentine film actor, film director and tango singer of the Golden Age of Argentine cinema. Early life Born in Buenos Aires, del Ca ...

and Elsa O'Connor under the direction of

Alberto de Zavalía Alberto de Zavalia (4 May 1911 – 7 May 1988 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentina, Argentine film director and film producer notable for his work during the Golden Age of Argentine cinema, classical era of Argentine cinema. Biography De Zav ...

, who she would soon marry. Almost from the beginning, her acting persona was of a naïve heroine, an elfin beauty, who appeared fragile, but had a touch of impishness that portrayed strength and daring. De Zavalía made eleven films with Garcés showcasing her in ''Dama de compañía'' (1941); '' Veinte años y una noche'' (1941), her first of several films with Spanish actor

Pedro López Lagar Pedro López Lagar (18 June 1899, in Madrid – 21 August 1977, in Buenos Aires) was a Spanish-born Argentine film actor, notable for his work during the Golden Age of Argentine cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. Although born in Madrid he mo ...

; Malambo (1942); and others. In 1941 she won a '' Premios Sur'' for Best Actress from the

for ''Veinte años y una noche'' and repeated the award in 1942 for ''Malambo'', which was presented by

Orson Welles George Orson Welles (May 6, 1915 – October 10, 1985) was an American director, actor, writer, producer, and magician who is remembered for his innovative work in film, radio, and theatre. He is among the greatest and most influential film ...

. Garcés starred in "La maestrita de los obreros" in 1942 directed by her husband with

Oscar Valicelli Oscar Valicelli (1 July 1915 – 11 October 1999) was an Argentine film actor. Filmography * '' La Mary'' (1974) dir. Daniel Tinayre …Ubaldo * ''Balada para un mochilero'' (1971) dir. Carlos Rinaldi …El Moncho * ''Desnuda en la arena'' ( ...

Felisa Mary Felisa Mary (1892–1956) was a Spanish-born Argentinian film actress.Finkielman p.233 She appeared in more than forty films during her career, which coincided with the Golden Age of Argentine Cinema. Selected filmography * '' When the Heart Sin ...

Orestes Caviglia Orestes Caviglia (; November 9, 1893 in Buenos Aires – April 1, 1971 in Tucumán) was an Argentine film actor and film director of the Golden Age of Argentine cinema. He appeared in films such as '' La cabalgata del circo'' 1945 and '' Albe ...

, among others. In 1943, she made '' Casa de muñecas'' and was highly praised for her portrayal of "Nora" in the film which was directed by

Ernesto Arancibia Ernesto Arancibia (12 January 1904 – 27 August 1963) was an Argentine film director and screenwriter, notable for his work during the classical era of Argentine cinema. Filmography As director * ''La novia'' (1961) * '' Azafatas con permiso'' ...

. Filming began in 1944 for '' La Dama Duende'' in which Garcés starred, directed by

Luis Saslavsky Luis Saslavsky (April 21, 1903 – March 20, 1995) was an Argentine film director, screenwriter and film producer, notable for his work during the classical era of Argentine cinema. Personal life Saskavsky was born in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argenti ...

, in an elaborate film based on a seventeenth-century Spanish play by

Pedro Calderón de La Barca Pedro Calderón de la Barca y Barreda González de Henao Ruiz de Blasco y Riaño (17 January 160025 May 1681) (, ; ) was a Spanish dramatist, poet, and writer. He is known as one of the most distinguished Spanish Baroque literature, poets and ...

. With the exception of Saslavsky and Garcés, all the other facets of the play were done by the Spanish émigré community. Garcés won her third Premios Sur Best Actress award from the Argentine Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences in 1945. That same year, Garcés formed her own theatrical company and in March premiered the first play of

Homero Manzi Homero Nicolás Manzione Prestera, better known as Homero Manzi (November 1, 1907 – May 3, 1951) was an Argentine tango lyricist, author of various famous tangos. He was also a filmmaker, notable for his work during the classical era of Argen ...

and Ulises Petit de Murat, ''La novia de arena'', at the Odeón Theater. In her troupe, besides herself were:

Alba Castellanos ''Alba'' ( , ) is the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland. It is also, in English-language historiography, used to refer to the polity of Picts and Scots united in the ninth century as the Kingdom of Alba, until it developed into the Kingd ...

Margarita Corona Margarita Corona (1911–1983) was a Brazilian-born Argentine film actress.Cowie p. 21 Corona was born in Rio de Janeiro, but moved as a small child to Argentina. After making her debut in '' Savage Pampas'', she appeared in twenty-eight films and ...

, Enrique Alvarez Diosdado,

Alita Román Alita Blanca Barchigia (24 August 1912 – 15 April 1989), better known as Alita Román, was an Argentina, Argentine film actress of the Golden Age of Argentine cinema. She appeared in nearly 50 films between 1934 and 1982 and was a sought-after ...

Domingo Sapelli Domingo Sapelli (1895–1961) was a Uruguayan stage and film actor.Finkielman p.200 After emigrating to Argentina he appeared in around fifty films during his career. Selected filmography * '' The Soul of the Accordion'' (1935) * '' Santos Veg ...

, and

Milagros de la Vega Milagros de la Vega (1895–1980) was an Argentine stage and film actress.Cowie & Elley p.20 Filmography References Bibliography * Peter Cowie & Derek Elley. ''World Filmography: 1967''. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 1977. External ...

. Having completed a run of the play, her company continued at the Odeón and performed her "farewell" theatrical production in Argentina, ''Claudia'' by

Rose Franken Rose Franken (December 28, 1895 – June 22, 1988) was an American writer and playwright best known for her '' Claudia'' stories, plus the books, films, and plays based on them. Early years Born Rose Dorothy Lewin in Gainesville, Texas, Franken ...

. After the performance, due to the political situation with

Juan Peron ''Juan'' is a given name, the Spanish and Manx versions of ''John''. The name is of Hebrew origin and has the meaning "God has been gracious." It is very common in Spain and in other Spanish-speaking countries around the world and in the Philipp ...

's government, she and her husband planned to leave Argentina. But, they stayed and in 1946, she performed ''La eterna ninfa'' at the Odeón and filmed ''Rosa de América'' directed by her husband with

, Antonia Herrero, Elsa O'Connor, among others. She earned praise for her roles in ''El gran amor de Bécquer'' (1946) and '' El hombre que amé'' (1947) and in 1948, she performed in the play ''El otro yo de Marcela'' which was so successful that it led to a film by the ''

same name ''Same Name'' is an American reality television series in which an average person swaps lives with a celebrity of the same first and last name. It premiered on July 24, 2011 on CBS. The series received low ratings, and CBS pulled it after four-ep ...

'' two years later, in which she sang and danced. In 1951, Garcés and de Zavalía went to Mexico and she made one of her most memorable films there in 1951-1952. In '' Él'' directed by

Luis Buñuel Luis Buñuel Portolés (; 22 February 1900 – 29 July 1983) was a Spanish and Mexican filmmaker who worked in France, Mexico and Spain. He has been widely considered by many film critics, historians and directors to be one of the greatest and ...

, she played Gloria, the wife of the jealous and paranoid Francisco, played by Arthur Cordova. The film, though released in Mexico in 1953 and presented at the 1953

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...

, was not released in Argentina until 1958. Almost immediately, in March, 1953, she began work on '' Lágrimas robadas'' in Mexico with Andrea Palma under the direction of

Julián Soler Julián Díaz Pavia (17 February 1907 – 5 May 1977), better known by the stage name Julián Soler, was a Mexican film director, actor, and screenwriter of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. In his career spanning half a century, Soler receive ...

. Garcés then did a tour of Latin America which included Chile, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and Puerto Rico covering the plays ''Casa de muñecas'', ''Leocadia'', ''Nina'', ''Tesá'', ''La voz de la tórtola'', ''El balcón de Julieta'' all with her husband, and ''La llave en el desván'' by Alejandro Casona, before arriving in Spain. She began filming '' Rebeldía'' under the direction of

José Antonio Nieves Conde José Antonio Nieves Conde (22 December 1911http://dbe.rah.es/biografias/45978/jose-antonio-nieves-conde José Antonio Nieves Conde. Diccionario biográfico español. Real Academia de la Historia. Access 15 february 2020. in Segovia, Castilla y L ...

which was based on the play ''La luz de la víspera'' by

José María Pemán José María Pemán y Pemartín (8 May 1897 in Cadiz – 19 July 1981, Ibid.) was a Spanish journalist, poet, playwright, novelist, essayist, and monarchist intellectual. Biography Originally a student of law, he entered the literary world wi ...

. In 1955, they were able to return to Argentina and Garcés starred in '' Mi marido y mi novio'', directed by

Carlos Schlieper Carlos Schlieper (23 September 1902 – 11 April 1957 in Buenos Aires) was an Argentine film director and screenwriter notable for his work during the classical era of Argentine cinema. His father, Hermann Heinrich Schlieper Feldmann (1842– ...

. The film was forward-thinking for the times, with Garcés poking fun at gender stereotypes and singing of women being as free as men. She made her last film, ''

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 womankind", and notab ...

'' in 1956 for which she won the

's Silver Condor Award for Best Actress. In 1958, she and de Zavalía had a season at the National Theater of Paris, performing as the Buenos Aires Theater Company in the production of ''La Carroza de San Sacramento'' by

Prosper Mérimée Prosper Mérimée (; 28 September 1803 – 23 September 1870) was a French writer in the movement of Romanticism, one of the pioneers of the novella, a short novel or long short story. He was also a noted archaeologist and historian, an import ...

and ''El Límite'' by de Zavalía. That same year, she starred in a television series on Channel 9, '' Lo mejor de nuestra vida, nuestros hijos'', directed by Alberto Migré based on stories by Julio César Barton. She and her husband also performed at the

in both 1958 and 1959, completing ''No es cordero... que es cordera'' and then doing several guest appearances the following year."Seibel (2010)", pp 77, 83 In 1961, Garcés starred in ''La doncella prodigiosa'', a play by her husband, de Zavalía at the Teatro Nacional Cervantes under the direction of Fernando Labat."Seibel (2010)", p. 85 From 1960 on, Garcés dedicated herself launching the Teatro San Martín. She had memorable performances in Ondine by

Jean Giraudoux Hippolyte Jean Giraudoux (; ; 29 October 1882 – 31 January 1944) was a French novelist, essayist, diplomat and playwright. He is considered among the most important French dramatists of the period between World War I and World War II. His wo ...

; '' Saint Joan'' by

George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extended from the 188 ...

; ''

The Living Room The Living Room was a music venue on Metropolitan Avenue in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, which was originally established on Stanton Street of the Lower East Side in Manhattan, New York City in 1988. The Living Room was co-owned ...

'' by

Graham Greene Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading novelists of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquired a re ...

; ''

The Turn of the Screw ''The Turn of the Screw'' is an 1898 gothic horror novella by Henry James which first appeared in serial format in '' Collier's Weekly'' from January 27 to April 16, 1898. On October 7, 1898, it was collected in ''The Two Magics'', publis ...

'' by

Henry James Henry James ( – ) was an American-British author. He is regarded as a key transitional figure between literary realism and literary modernism, and is considered by many to be among the greatest novelists in the English language. He was the ...

; and the 1966 production of ''El jardín de los cerezos'' (''

The Cherry Orchard ''The Cherry Orchard'' () is the last play by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. Written in 1903, it was first published by '' Znaniye'' (Book Two, 1904), and came out as a separate edition later that year in Saint Petersburg, via A.F. Marks Pu ...

'') by

Anton Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; ; 29 January 1860 – 15 July 1904) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer, widely considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career as a playwright produced four classics, and his b ...

which was her last performance before she retired to care for her husband through his last long final illness. She may also have been prevented from performing, as her name appeared on the list of banned artists during the 1979 dictatorship. She appeared briefly in a tribute that

Mirtha Legrand Rosa María Juana Martínez Suárez (born 23 February 1927), known by her stage name Mirtha Legrand (; from the French , "the great"), is an Argentine actress and television presenter. With an 80-year career, Legrand is one of the most recognize ...

did for Channel 9 on the death of

Daniel Tinayre Daniel Tinayre (14 September 1910 – 24 October 1994) was a French-born Argentine film director, screenwriter and film producer notable for his work during the Golden Age of Argentine cinema, classical era of Argentine cinema (1930s–1950s) a ...

.Archivo DiFilm"> She joined the board of the National Endowment for the Arts and worked with them throughout her retirement. In 1982, she received the Premios Leopoldo Torre Nilsson In 1995, she received the Premio Pablo Podestá and a room at the Tita Merello Complex on Suipacha Street was named in her honor by the Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts to acknowledge her stature in Argentine film. On 29 October 2001 she won the first ACE Platinum Lifetime Achievement Award ever presented by the Asociación de Cronistas del Espectáculo (Association of reporters of Show Business) Garcés died on 7 November 2001 in

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...

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Awards

*1941 ''Premios Sur'' for Best Actress for '' Veinte años y una noche'' *1942 ''Premios Sur'' for Best Actress for '' Malambo'' *1945 ''Premios Sur'' for Best Actress for '' La dama duende'' *1957 Silver Condor for Best Actress for ''

'' *1959 Won the World Cinema Golden Figurine from Peru *1982 Premios Leopold Torre Nilsson *1995 Premio Pablo Podestá *1996 Dedication of Delia Garcés room at the Tita Merello Complex *2001 ACE Platinum Lifetime Achievement Award

Filmography

* '' ¡Segundos afuera!'' (1937) * '' Viento Norte'' (1937) * ''

Melgarejo ''Melgarejo'' is a 1937 Argentine film directed and written by Luis Moglia Barth during the Golden Age of Argentine cinema. The film premiered in the US on September 19, 1937 and starred Santiago Gómez Cou and Mecha Ortiz. Editing to the film ...

'' (1937) * ''

'' (1938) * '' Villa Discordia'' (1938) * ''

'' (1938) * '' Doce mujeres'' (1939) * '' Alas de mi patria'' (1939) * '' La vida de Carlos Gardel'' (1939) * ''

Gente bien ''Gente bien'' is a 1939 Argentine musical film of the Golden Age directed by Manuel Romero. The tango film premiered in Buenos Aires on June 28, 1939 and the United States on October 8, 1939 and starred Hugo del Carril, Tito Lusiardo and Del ...

'' (1939) * '' Muchachas que estudian'' (1939) * ''Dama de compañía'' (1940) * '' Veinte años y una noche'' (1941) * '' La maestrita de los obreros'' (1942) * '' Concierto de almas'' (1942) * '' Malambo'' (1942) * '' Casa de muñecas'' (1943) * '' La dama duende'' (1944) * ''Rosa de América'' (1946) * ''El gran amor de Bécquer'' (1946) * '' El hombre que amé'' (1947) * '' De padre desconocido'' (1949) * '' El otro yo de Marcela'' (1950) * '' Él'' (1952) (in Mexico) * '' Lágrimas robadas'' (1953) (in Mexico) * ''

Rebellion Rebellion is an uprising that resists and is organized against one's government. A rebel is a person who engages in a rebellion. A rebel group is a consciously coordinated group that seeks to gain political control over an entire state or a ...

'' (1954) (in Spain) * '' Mi marido y mi novio'' (1955) * ''

'' (1956)

External links

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Garces, Delia 1919 births 2001 deaths Argentine film actresses Actresses from Buenos Aires Argentine stage actresses