René Cardona

Known For

Directing

Born

Oct 09, 1905

Died

Apr 25, 1988

Place of Birth

Havana, Cuba

Credits

237 titles

René Cardona

Biography

René Cardona (October 8, 1905 – April 25, 1988) was a Mexican director, actor, producer, screenwriter, and film editor, who was prominent during part of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. René Cardona was born in Havana, Cuba, on October 8, 1905, and began medical school in Cuba, but due to the political problems of the island, he and his family moved to New York City in 1926, where he continued his studies. Economic circumstances experienced by his family caused him to leave his studies. He befriended famous actor Rodolfo Valentino and obtained work as an extra in several films, until 1929 when he produced, wrote, directed and starred in the first Spanish-language film made in Hollywood, Sombras habaneras (Havana Shadows). He also had the opportunity to work in various positions in the film industry such as second assistant, technical advisor and first assistant director, and learned film and lighting technique. In 1932, he moved to Mexico, where he debuted as an actor and met Julieta Zacarías, sister of the director Miguel Zacarías, and soon after married her. His wife's support would be central to his career in Mexican cinema, in films Mano a mano (1932) directed by Ramón Peón and Sobre las olas (1932) directed by Zacarías. At this early stage as an actor, Cardona participated in three key Mexican films Marihuana (1936), El baúl macabro (1936) and Allá en el Rancho Grande (1936), which officially inaugurate the golden age of Mexican cinema and made stars of its protagonists: Esther Fernández, Tito Guízar, and Cardona.

Known For

Filmography

1989

Viva la risa II

Movie
1987

Las Limpias

Don Ignacio

Movie
1987

Yo el ejecutor

Movie
1986

Se Sufre pero se Goza

Writer

Movie
1986

¡Maten al fugitivo!

Movie
1985

La Casa Que Arde de Noche

American

Movie
1984

Siempre en domingo

Movie
1983

La Banda De La Sotana Negra

Movie
1982

The Fury of the Karate Experts

Professor Williams

Movie
1982

Las computadoras

Director

Movie
1981

Visita al Pasado

Director

Movie
1980

Savage Summer

Papá

Movie
1980

Carlos El Terrorista

Director

Movie
1979

Crónica roja

Movie
1979

La Guerra de los Pasteles

Director

Movie
1978

El Llanto de los Pobres

Movie
1978

Cyclone

Movie
1978

The Children of Sanchez

Movie
1978

Brood of Vipers

Movie
1978

Tempestad

Movie
1977

Una noche embarazosa

Director

Movie
1977

La casta divina

Consul Cubano

Movie
1977

Prisión de mujeres

Mr. Williams

Movie
1976

La Folle de Chaillot

Le rentier

Movie
1976

Survive!

Director

Movie
1975

Fantastic Voyage in a Baloon

Movie
1975

El pequeño Robin Hood

Movie
1975

Noche de muerte

Director

Movie
1975

The Yellow Mafia

Director

Movie
1975

El valle de los miserables

Don Luis Aguirre

Movie
1974

Jalisco nunca pierde

Director

Movie
1974

La disputa

Movie
1974

The Vengeance of the Crying Woman

Severo Segovia

Movie
1974

Island of Lost Souls

Screenplay

Movie
1974

Guns and Guts

Monk

Movie
1974

El Hijo Del Pueblo

Director

Movie
1973

The Invasion of the Dead

Director

Movie
1973

Zindy, the Swamp Boy

Abuelo

Movie
1973

Masajista de señoras

Movie
1973

Peluquero de señoras

Movie
1973

Entre Monjas Anda El Diablo

Director

Movie
1973

El derecho de los pobres

Director

Movie
1972

Manuel Saldivar, el texano

Movie
1972

The Incredible Professor Zovek

Writer

Movie
1971

Jesús, el niño Dios

Baltazar (as René Cardona Sr.)

Movie
1971

Capulina vs. the Vampires

Director

Movie
1971

Santo in the Vengeance of the Mummy

Director

Movie
1971

Santo vs. the Head Hunters

Don Alonso Grijalva

Movie
1971

La mula de Cullen Baker

Capitán

Movie
1971

Siete muertes para el texano

Director

Movie