This Oscar-nominated film from Mexico, directed by Ismael Rodriguez, stars Toshiro Mifune as a drunken man who is rejected even by his own family.
After buying the elections, he becomes mayor, but he still fails to get respect.
In the end, he is convicted of murdering a prostitute.
Oscar Nominations: 1
Best Foreign Language Film
Oscar Awards: None
Oscar Context:
The winner of the Foreign Language Oscar was Ingmar Bergman’s Through the Glass Darkly. The three other nominees were: Harry and the Butler from Denmark; Immortal Love from Japan and Placido from Spain.
About Ismael Rodríguez (October 19, 1917–August 7, 2004)
Rodríguez was a Mexican film director, who rose to fame through the movies that starred Pedro Infante. He directed many major stars, including Dolores del Río, María Félix, Toshiro Mifune, Jorge Negrete, Sara García, Luis Aguilar, Tito Guízar, Gloria Marín, Carmelita González, Antonio Aguilar, Columba Domínguez or Flor Silvestre.
He directed the film Ánimas Trujano (1961) for which he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
Rodríguez’s most renowned international film is Tizoc, in which Pedro Infante starred alongside María Félix. For this role, Infante won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 7th Berlin Film Festival.
He died on August 7, 2004 at the age of 87.