Free Screening of “Cantinflas” for AARP Members in Whittier

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, AARP California offered its members, and their members’ friends and relatives, the exclusive opportunity to enjoy a free prescreening of the movie, “ Cantinflas”a day before its world premiere, which took place in the city of Whittier.  The first 100 attendees were also treated to a free popcorn and soda.

The screening was a part of  AARP Movies for Grownups, which celebrates movies that appeal to the 50+ audience.

The film, starring Spanish actor, Óscar Jaenada, narrates the untold story of Cantinflas, who is considered Mexico’s most famous film comedian. From humble beginnings in the theater to the big screen in Hollywood, Cantinflas became famous around the world for his peculiar way of talking and for becoming entangled in different situations. His particular and singular way of talking is known as  “cantinfleando” and, according to legend, a young Mario Moreno (aka Cantinflas), once overwhelmed by stage fright in the Ofelia carpa, forgot his original monologue. He began to say what came to mind in a complete emancipation of phrases and words, and what resulted was incoherent brilliance. Weeks later, his stage name was born when someone, taken in by the nonsense, screamed:  "Cuanto inflas!".

Cantinflas often portrayed impoverished campesinos or a peasant of pelado origin. The character came to be associated with the national identity of Mexico, and allowed Cantinflas to establish a long, successful film career that included a foray into Hollywood. Charlie Chaplin once commented that Cantinflas was the best comedian alive, and Moreno has been referred to as the "Charlie Chaplin of Mexico". To audiences in the United States, he is best remembered as co-starring with David Niven in a Golden Globe Award-winning role in the 1956 film, “Around the World in 80 Days”.

Alfredo Garcia, a stellar AARP volunteer and fan of Cantinflas, shared with us some of his many fond and happy memories of “El Gran Cómico Mexicano", "Don Mario Moreno", "Cantinflas", since his infancy in Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico.  His fascination with Cantinflas began when his parents took him to see a Cantinflas movie when he was 5 years old and his captivation for the comedian continued upon his immigration to the U.S. at the age of 10. “What I really like about Cantinflas is the fact that he was a very simple man who came from poverty and still became the most famous comedian on the big screen throughout the world. However, such fame never affected his kindness and generosity to the poor children and people of Mexico and throughout the world.” Garcia said.

Alfredo recalls how his "Cantinfleando was just very unique of him and no one else and one could not stop laughing when he would start this very peculiar way of talking, which at the end would always make sense”. Alfredo also enjoyed Cantinflas’ portrayal of impoverished people and  “la gente del barrio,” saying “I could identify myself with him .” Alfredo has a collection of 10 movies given to him by his wife, Herlinda, many years back.

Since Cantinflas produced several dozen successful movies, we wanted to know which ones were the favorites among our guests at the movie screening. So, while they waited in line to enter the movie theater, we asked them to place a sticky dot on the poster of their favorite movie. The most popular choice was “ El Barrendero”, followed closely by “ El Bolero de Raquel” and “ El Analfabeto”.

Dolores Sánchez, our Associate State Director for Advocacy, is another great fan of Cantinflas. Dolores, who is 62 years old, grew up watching his movies as a child.  “It was a hard time for my family -- Mexican migrants with little money---- but Cantinflas always brought joy and laughter to our home.” She recalls how young and old watched and laughed together as a family watching Cantinflas in his many movies. For Dolores, Cantinflas was like a social relief for people struggling with poverty in both Mexico and the US. “He was a hero for the poor in a way everyone could understand and laugh about.”

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