Before moving to Mexico I’d heard of Pedro Infante but never seen any of his films. So it only seems fitting that the first movie I saw of Mazatlán’s most famous resident * took place only a few weeks after I’d moved here. The film in question, Sobre las Olas ** (Over the Waves), is a biography, loosely based on the life of Mexican composer Juventino Rosas, best known today for writing the famous song Sobre las Olas. Infante portrays Rosas in the film, which gives us generous samplings of musical numbers and especially the title theme, which subsequently has come to be associated with fairs, magic acts, and circuses, especially trapeze performers. It's often mistakenly attributed to Johann Strauss, Jr. Fair enough. Myself, I always got it mixed up with Waldteuful’s The Skater’s Waltz. BTW Mexico Bob has a brilliant post on the history of the composition here.
 |
| Sculpture of Pedro Infante at Olas Altas Beach, Mazatlan |
In any case the film, which is also cited as the first color feature in Mexico, is an admirable attempt to portray the composer’s all too brief life story. It certainly uses color to good advantage with the lush ballroom scenes and period costumes, all providing a pleasing if romanticized touch of cultural history, and in particular the extent of the French influence in Mexico in the nineteenth century. Another cool Mazatlán connection is a scene which depicts a performance by the legendary Mexican soprano Angela Peralta, who died here in 1883 and for whom the famous local concert hall is named. Rosas was reputedly her accompanist for a time and does so here in the film ... well, sort of.
Pedro Infante is of course much represented on the Web and I have little original to add. See especially the post at M! magazine for a nice summary of his life and career. Since Sobre las Olas is the only film of his that I’ve seen I can’t say too much about its place in his tragically shortened acting career. As for Infante, he was said to have been a synthesis of Bing Crosby and Clark Gable with a touch of John Wayne. To these I would add a bit of Charlie Chaplin and more than a hint of his compatriots Tin-Tan and Cantinflas. He was also a musician of great versatility and, in this film anyway, he actually seems to be performing his double bass, tuba and especially violin solos. And of course there’s his silken smooth singing voice.
He wasn’t the handsomest guy on the block or necessarily a great actor, but he brought a warmth to his performances and had a quality that made you like him, screen charisma if you like. But I’ve rambled on far too long, and will conclude simply with Viva Infante!
* To be sure he was born in Mazatlán in 1917 but was only here the first 2 years of his life, as his family moved to Guasave, Sinaloa, in 1919.
** oops! I just checked and the film seems to be available for viewing in its entirety on YouTube.
