Jorge Negrete

Jorge Negrete

Birth : 1911-11-30, Guanajuato, Mexico

Death : 1953-12-05

History

Jorge Alberto Negrete Moreno (30 November 1911 – 5 December 1953) is considered one of the most popular Mexican singers and actors of all time. Negrete was born in the City of Guanajuato where he was raised together with his brother and three sisters, and also lived in San Luis Potosí. From an early age, Negrete demonstrated a great brilliance and rapidly became a prominent student in the eyes of his teachers. He spoke five languages: Spanish, German, English, French, Italian, and even Nahuatl (a Mesoamerican dialect). Despite his brilliance, Negrete decided to abandon his studies at the age of thirteen to enroll in the military. He graduated with the rank of sub-lieutenant from El Colegio Militar, Mexico’s military academy. This was the place where his fascination for music developed. Not only did he develop an interest for music but his military training forged him a gallant presence and character which would later benefit him in his acting career. Negrete met and studied under José Pierson, a prestigious singing professor, who became fascinated the moment he heard Negrete sing. Pierson helped Negrete develop his talent for Opera which led him to become well known in the United States. Handsome, with a very strong will and a trained, fascinating voice, he is still a top icon in Mexico, Spain and Latin America, more than 50 years after his death. His recording of "México Lindo y Querido" ("Beautiful and Beloved México"), his country’s unofficial anthem, is the best known recording of the song. His career is often compared to that of Pedro Infante, the most popular Mexican actor of the time. The public rivalry didn’t carry over to their private lives, as they were close friends until Negrete’s death. He married twice, to famous actresses with whom he shared credits: Elisa Christy and María Félix. He also lived with his frequent co-star, for more than ten years. Gloria Marín co-starred in 10 out of his 44 films. He started his career singing on the radio in 1931 in Mexico City singing operatic parts. In 1936 he signed with NBC Television for a TV program with Cuban and Mexican musicians. He returned to Mexico in 1937 to act in the film La Madrina Del Diablo ("The Devil's Godmother") and because of the success of the film he was able to sign for several more the next three years. In 1938 he starred in La Valentina with Elisa Christy and then in Juntos Pero No Revueltos. After working in Havana and Hollywood he was called to act in ¡Ay Jalisco, No Te Rajes! ("Hey Jalisco, Don’t Back Down!") which made him an international Latin star and helped formulate the charro film genre. Filming this film he met Gloria Marín, starting their romance and the string of films they filmed together. He complemented his film career by singing rancheras with the trio Los Tres Calaveras and touring Latin America, singing concerts and making personal appearances. He was offered the main role in El Peñón de las Ánimas (The Rock of Souls) and wanted Marín to be his co-star. In spite of his protests, newcomer María Félix became his star and eventually his wife, although they at first despised each other while filming the film.

Profile

Jorge Negrete

Movies

El charro inmortal
Film clips spanning the career of recently deceased actor-singer Jorge Negrete, with a small amount of documentary footage and some exclusive-to-here tributes.
The Abduction
Ricardo Alfaro
In a small Mexican village the news shock neighbors, Ricardo Alfaro, a wealthy local rancher has disappeared without a trace. Taking advantage of the circumstance, Aurora Campos, a strong woman with overwhelming beauty, convinces the authorities to sell her the property in exchange for twelve thousand dollars. Soon after, when Ricardo suddenly reappears, a real battle is about to begin.
Reportaje
Singer serenading the movie star
Reporters compete for cash prize awarded for biggest scoop on New Year's Eve.
Dos tipos de cuidado
Jorge Bueno
Jorge Bueno and Pedro Malo are best friends who consider giving up their womanizing ways when they each fall in love. As fate would have it, Pedro Malo unexpectedly marries Jorge Bueno's girlfriend, and the conflict between the former buddies begins. A year later they find themselves in the same town and confront each other once and for all.
Tal para cual
Mistaken identity farce; two guys each pretend to be somebody else to cover for each other in delicate situations.
Un gallo en corral ajeno
Los tres alegres compadres
Father and two sons raise hell at the county fair.
Hay un niño en su futuro
Wacky rich woman subjects her husband, servants and friends to a series of elaborate masquerades, remodeling her house and wardrobe every couple of days to represent different historical eras or cultural milieux. Today she's Marie Antoinette, tomorrow she may be Pancho Villa's common-law wife or a nun.
Siempre tuya
Husband and wife leave their farm and move to the big city. Husband becomes a famous ranchera singer.
Red Rain
Enrique Montero
Military leader is appointed to local government, becomes overly despotic in his leadership.
Teatro Apolo
Miguel Velasco
In the late nineteenth century, Miguel Velasco, the son of a wealthy Spanish immigrant established in Mexico, comes to Madrid, where he falls in love with Celia, a chorus girl working at the Apollo theater.
Una gallega en México
The Galician Candida has a bakery in front of the butcher Robustito, who constantly berates although children of both Aurora and Rodolfo are in love. In the neighborhood where they live, the neighbors prepared a joke to the galician girl. She gets angry Robustito hard time believing him guilty of what happened.
Jalisco canta en Sevilla
Nacho Mendoza
A charro and his sidekick go to Spain to collect an inheritance.
Allá en el Rancho Grande
José Francisco
Remake of famous 1936 ranchera musical.
Si Adelita se fuera con otro
Young couple run off to join the Mexican Revolution, in part because she has a crush on Francisco Villa.
Gran Casino
Gerardo Ramírez
After the mysterious disappearance of an oil well owner, one of his workers, Gerardo assumes the business management. Soon, the owner's sister arrives from Argentina, and, believing that Gerardo killed her brother to keep the wells for himself, she starts working as a singer under a false name in the same casino her brother disappeared, in order to find out what exactly happened.
El ahijado de la muerte
Pedro / El Ahijado
Father of a newborn makes a deal with Death to protect his son.
En tiempos de la inquisición
16th century swashbuckler in the 'musketeers' vein.
No basta ser charro
Farmhand exploits his resemblance to a certain movie star to woo his employer's daughter.
Canaima
Marcos Vargas
College-educated emigre has to get macho when he returns home to the Venezuelan outback.
Hasta que perdió Jalisco
Young landowner wants to get married, but family problems are interfering with his plans.
Camino de Sacramento
Twin brothers, one of them a bandit, in Mexican California.
El rebelde (Romance de Antaño)
Juan Manuel de Mendoza
A landowner indirect kills another because of false rumors. Time passes. The son of the dead want the offender to pay their share. It becomes generous bandit, but then he meets the daughter of his enemy and falls in love.
Me he de comer esa tuna
In rural Mexico, a young man competes with his best school friend for the love of a girl whose marriage has been arranged by her parents.
Cuando quiere un mexicano
Argentine woman stranded in plane-crash, falls for Mexican plantation-owner.
A Letter of Love
Jefe Liberal
Moments before he will be executed by the French Intervention Army, the liberal leader reads a love letter by his girlfriend. His memories provide the poetic pictures of this romantic historical drama.
Tierra De Pasiones
Romantic melodrama; hero and rich landowner are both after the same woman.
El fanfarrón: ¡Aquí llegó el valentón!
Alberto
El Jorobado
Historical drama/swashbuckler: Spain during the Inquisition.
The Spirit's Canyon
Fernando Iturriaga
The love between María Ángela and Fernando is impossible because there's an ancient history of hate between their families. His father killed hers, and other family members have killed each other for years. When María Ángela's grandfather finds she's in love with Fernando, he frames the young man and forces her to marry Manuel. Maria Ángela finds that Manuel doesn't love her and together plan her escape with Fernando. But things go wrong and the lovers find their destiny in The Spirit's Canyon.
Así se quiere en Jalisco
Romantic triangle, land-owner and two employees.
Story of a Great Love
Manuel y Rodrigo Venegas
Manuel leaves town leaving Soledad in deep sadness. After several years of absence, the young man returns to find Soledad married to Antonio. However, the woman continues to be in love with him and both are determined to consummate their love.
Seda Sangre Y Sol
Rivalries and romances among bullfighters.
Cuando viajan las estrellas
Fiesta
José (as George Negrete)
Cholita, after a long absence in Mexico City, is returning home to take up her duties as head of the rancho and, as everyone expects, to marry her childhood sweetheart José. Expectations are somewhat dashed as she shows up with Fernando to whom she is engaged. This makes José and Cholita's uncle more than a little bit put out as Fernando is not only not a Mexican, he is also a city slicker afraid of the country.
Ay, Jalisco, Don't Give Up!
An orphan boy is left in the care of his godfather, a bartender who teaches him to play cards and shoot weapons.
Juntos Pero No Revueltos
Ensemble-comedy set in a lower-middle-class apartment complex.
El Cementerio De Las Aguilas
Miguel de la Peña
Historical drama, French occupation of the 1830s.
Perjura
Musical romance set in 1880s Mexico.
Juan sin miedo
Young man goes on the run after being falsely accused of killing his girlfriend's father.
La Valentina
Two young men compete for a young woman.
La madrina del diablo
Set in the 1820s; an unhappy love affair and some family problems drive a young gentleman to banditry.