Movielogr
Santo vs. Infernal Men (1961)
Directed by Joselito Rodríguez
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Overview
Agent Joaquin recalls his latest mission while lying wounded in an ambulance: Joaquin has infiltrated into a band of smugglers. When the villains learn the truth about him, they kidnap Jouqin’s fiancee. Santo comes to her rescue and fights the band.
Length 74 minutes
Actors
Joaquín Cordero | Jorge Marx | Santo | Gina Romand | Fernando Osés | Enrique Zambrano
Viewing History (seen 1 time)
| Date Viewed | Device | Format | Source | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/03/2019 | Movie Screen | Digital | Theater | 5.5 stars |
| (Average) 5.5 stars |
Viewing Notes
Tonight the Music Box Theater hosted a double feature of the first two Santo films restored by Academy Film Archive and byNWR. This is one of the best events I’ve been to at MBT. Firstly to be able to view any Santo films on the big screen is a pure joy. Secondly to have my friend Raul be the mastermind behind this is tremendous (and to get a first hand account of bringing these films to Chicago was illuminating). Thirdly to have Viviana Garcia Besne from Permanencia Voluntaria Archivo Cinematografico Mexico in the house to present and share the history of these films was perfecto (she was lead in getting these films restored).
These were both 4K restorations and look A-fucking-mazing. Both were filmed entirely in Cuba during the revolution. The film elements were smuggled out of Cuba in a coffin and taken to Mexico for post-production. Apparently Santo was sitting on the toilet when he was approached to be in these movies and agreed to do it. This was his first appearance in a film. Both films use the same footage of certain scenes to pad the runtime to make a feature length film (for example different takes of the same Mariachi Band and different performances of a flamenco performance are used in each).
Santo is not billed as “Santo” in this film. He is simply known as the one in the mask. Both films end with the same scene of the main police detective and his assistant bidding farewell to a departing plane w/the heroes and noting that Santo’s duty knows no borders and is here to help the world (just amazing message that got a huge applause both times).
While neither of these movies is a great movie they are both improved by viewing in a theater with a game crowd cheering and clapping throughout. In this film Santo is mainly a supporting character for the lead Agent Joaquin who is undercover in a drug smuggling ring. Santo is in the background sending and receiving notes from Joaquin (who I was sure was El Incognito in the previous film but not the case). There is a great finale on the pier where both Joaquin and Santo fight the criminals. This is more straight up crime with less focus on Santo but still a gorgeous restoration.
Hopefully both of these films will be on the byNWR website (and probably MUBI) so everyone can see them.
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