René Cardona
René Cardona (October 8, 1905 – April 25, 1988) was a Mexican director, actor, producer, screenwriter, and film editor, who was prominent during part of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema.
René Cardona was born in Havana, Cuba, on October 8, 1905, and began medical school in Cuba, but due to the political problems of the island, he and his family moved to New York City in 1926, where he continued his studies. Economic circumstances experienced by his family caused him to leave his studies. He befriended famous actor Rodolfo Valentino and obtained work as an extra in several films, until 1929 when he produced, wrote, directed and starred in the first Spanish-language film made in Hollywood, Sombras habaneras (Havana Shadows). He also had the opportunity to work in various positions in the film industry such as second assistant, technical advisor and first assistant director, and learned film and lighting technique. In 1932, he moved to Mexico, where he debuted as an actor and met Julieta Zacarías, sister of the director Miguel Zacarías, and soon after married her. His wife's support would be central to his career in Mexican cinema, in films Mano a mano (1932) directed by Ramón Peón and Sobre las olas (1932) directed by Zacarías. At this early stage as an actor, Cardona participated in three key Mexican films Marihuana (1936), El baúl macabro (1936) and Allá en el Rancho Grande (1936), which officially inaugurate the golden age of Mexican cinema and made stars of its protagonists: Esther Fernández, Tito Guízar, and Cardona.
Acting
Movie
The Brainiac
as Baltasar de Meneses / Luis Meneses
1962
Movie
Operación carambola
as Scorpio Leader
1968
Movie
Cyclone
1978
Movie
Un novio para dos hermanas
as Sr. Mateos
1967
Movie
La Casa Que Arde de Noche
as American
1985
Movie
The Vengeance of the Crying Woman
as Severo Segovia
1974
Movie
Zindy, the Swamp Boy
as Abuelo
1973
Movie
Guns and Guts
as Monk
1974
Movie
Juana Gallo
as Capitán Esquivel
1961
Movie
Un par de robachicos
1967
Movie
Allá en el Rancho Grande
as Felipe
1936
Movie
Santo vs. the King of Crime
as Sr. Roberto de la Llata
1962
Movie
Prisión de mujeres
as Mr. Williams
1977
Movie
La casta divina
as Consul Cubano
1977
Movie
Stranger in the House
as Tomas
1968
Movie
La Bandida
as General Robles
1963
Movie
The Rock of Souls
as Manuel
1943
Movie
Fantastic Voyage in a Baloon
1975
Movie
The Macabre Trunk
as Dr. Armando del Valle
1936
Movie
The Fury of the Karate Experts
as Professor Williams
1982
Movie
Santo vs. the Head Hunters
1971
Movie
El conde de Montecristo
as Fernando Mondego / Conde de Morcef
1942
Movie
The Three Perfect Married
as Jorge
1953
Movie
Crónica roja
1979
Crew
Movie
Two Mules for Sister Sara
Second Unit Director
1970
Movie
Santa Claus
Writer
1959
Movie
Night of the Bloody Apes
Writer
1969
Movie
The Bat Woman
Director
1968
Movie
Santo in the Treasure of Dracula
Director
1969
Movie
Survive!
Director
1976
Movie
Entre Monjas Anda El Diablo
Director
1973
Movie
Tom Thumb
Screenplay
1958
Movie
Santo vs. Capulina
Director
1969
Movie
They also sing of pain
Director
1950
Movie
Capulina vs. the Vampires
Director
1971
Movie
El jinete justiciero en retando a la muerte
Director
1966