Casa de Arte is proud to be a part of the Buffalo International Film Festival (BIFF) for the third straight year.  This year we have chosen to again mine from Mexico's golden era of film for one of its greatest stars, Jorge Negrete.
Jorge Negrete (1911–1953) is considered one of the most popular Mexican singer and actors of all time. 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. 

The four films of Jorge Negrete will be shown at Casa de Arte as follows:

Thursday, October 9, 2014, 7 pm
"Ay Jalisco...No Te Rajes" ("Hey Jalisco...Don't Give Up")  
Synopsis:  The parents of Salvador died mysteriously and the son suspects Chaflán, a worker for his parents, and Radilla, the Spanish bartender who is his godfather. Under the teaching of his godfather he swears to avenge the murders of his parents. Salvador is in love with Carmela who is engaged with Felipe although she doesn't love him; she is going forward with the marriage to save her father from ruin. Chachita, the niece of Carmen, despite her young age plays cupid between her aunt and Salvador. Salvador obtained the nickname "El Ametralladora" (The Machine Gun) when in a rooster fight he killed five people with five consecutive shots. With the help of "El Mala Suerte" y Chaflán, (Bad Luck) he revenges the death of his parents.
Director: Joselito Rodríguez
Producer: Rodriguez Hermanos
Cast: Jorge Negate, Gloria Marín, Carlos Lopez “Chaflán", Victor Manuel Mendoza
Country: México
Year: 1941
Genre: Country Comedy
Duration: 122 minutes
Spanish with English subtitles

Friday, October 10, 2014, 7 pm
"La Madrina Del Diablo" ("The Devil's Godmother")   
Synopsis:  Carlos (Jorge Negrete) y María (María Fernanda Ibáñez) are separated by Maria's father who is sending her to a convent and Carlos is accused of a crime he did not commit. As the action unfolds, Carlos kidnaps Maria from the convent. (This was the Mexican film where Jorge Negrerte made his debut.) 
Director: Ramón Peón
Producer: Gonzalo Varela
Cast: Jorge Negrete, María Fernanda Ibáñez, Consuelo Segarra, María Calvo, Miguel Manzano
Country: México
Year: 1937
Genre: Country Drama
Duration: 90 minutes
Spanish with English Subtitles 

Saturday, October 11, 2014, 7 pm
"Historia de un Gran Amor"(The Story of a Great Love) 
Synopsis:  In México in the 19th century, a history of impossible love existed between Manuel Venegas, a recently turned poor young man and the beautiful Soledad, the daughter of the man who took Maunel's fortune away. Deciding to become rich again, Manuel left his town, leaving Soledad in a deep sadness. After several years of absence, the young man returns to find Soledad married with Antonio. However, the woman continues to be in love with him and both are determined to have their love consummated. 
Director: Julio Bracho
Producer: Agustín J. Fink
Cast: Jorge Negrete, Domingo Soler, Gloria Marín, Sara García, Country: México
Year: 1942
Genre: Romantic Melodrama


Sunday, October 12, 2014, 6 pm
"El Gran Casino" (The Great Casino)
Synopsis:  After the mysterious disappearance of an oil well owner, one of his workers, Gerardo (Jorge Negrete) assumes the business management. Soon, the owner's sister (Libertad Lamarque) 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.
Directed by: Luis Buñuel
Producer: Oscar Dancigers
Written By: Mauricio Magdaleno y Edmundo Báez
Starring: Libertad Lamarque, Jorge Negrete, Meche Barba, El Trio Calaveras
Release date: 1947
Running time: 85 minutes
Country: México
Spanish with English subtitles

JORGE NEGRETE  started his career singing on the radio in 1931 in Mexico City. 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"; one of the films that will be shown at Casa de Arte) 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!"; another of our films), which made him an international Latin star and helped formulate the charro film genre. He complemented his film career by singing rancheros with the trio Los Tres Calaveras and touring Latin America, singing concerts and making personal appearances.

Negrete died in 1953 at the age of forty-two of hepatitis, an illness with which he had contracted while working as a musician in New York. On December 5, the anniversary of his death, fans still pay tribute to "El Charro Cantor" ("Singing Mexican Cowboy") at his tomb, and television and radio stations stage marathons of his films and songs. The centennial of his birth was commemorated in 2011. Several tribute concerts and presentations took place throughout Mexico and some European countries with Hispanic culture and heritage.