René Cardona
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- October 9, 1905
- Died
- April 25, 1988
- Birthplace
- Havana, Cuba
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.
Filmography
El Fiscal De Hierro 1989
as El abuelo
Viva la risa II 1989
Actor
Las Limpias 1987
as Don Ignacio
Yo el ejecutor 1987
Actor
- Se Sufre pero se Goza
Se Sufre pero se Goza 1986
Writer
¡Maten al fugitivo! 1986
Actor
El rey de la vecindad 1985
Actor
La Casa Que Arde de Noche 1985
as American
- Siempre en domingo
Siempre en domingo 1984
Actor
La Banda De La Sotana Negra 1983
Actor
Allá en el rancho de las flores 1983
Actor
The Fury of the Karate Experts 1982
as Professor Williams
Las computadoras 1982
Director
Visita al Pasado 1981
Director
Burlesque 1980
Director
Savage Summer 1980
as Papá
Carlos El Terrorista 1980
Director
Crónica roja 1979
Actor
La Guerra de los Pasteles 1979
Director
El Llanto de los Pobres 1978
Actor
Cyclone 1978
Actor
The Children of Sanchez 1978
Actor
Brood of Vipers 1978
Actor, Director, Writer
Tempestad 1978
Actor
Una noche embarazosa 1977
Director
La casta divina 1977
as Consul Cubano
Prisión de mujeres 1977
as Mr. Williams, Director, Screenplay
La Folle de Chaillot 1976
as Le rentier
Survive! 1976
Director
Fantastic Voyage in a Baloon 1975
Actor
El pequeño Robin Hood 1975
Actor, Director
Noche de muerte 1975
Director
The Yellow Mafia 1975
Director
El valle de los miserables 1975
as Don Luis Aguirre
Jalisco nunca pierde 1974
Director, Screenplay
La disputa 1974
Actor
The Vengeance of the Crying Woman 1974
as Severo Segovia
Island of Lost Souls 1974
Screenplay, Director
Guns and Guts 1974
as Monk
El Hijo Del Pueblo 1974
Director, Screenplay
The Invasion of the Dead 1973
Director
Zindy, the Swamp Boy 1973
as Abuelo, Director
Masajista de señoras 1973
Actor
Peluquero de señoras 1973
Actor
Entre Monjas Anda El Diablo 1973
Director
El derecho de los pobres 1973
Director, Adaptation, Story, Dialogue
Manuel Saldivar, el texano 1972
Actor, Director, Screenplay
The Incredible Professor Zovek 1972
Writer, Director
Capulina vs. the Vampires 1971
Director, Screenplay
Jesús, el niño Dios 1971
as Baltazar (as René Cardona Sr.)
Santo in the Vengeance of the Mummy 1971
Director
Santo vs. the Head Hunters 1971
as Don Alonso Grijalva, Director, Writer
La mula de Cullen Baker 1971
as Capitán, Writer, Director
The Revenge of Gabino Barrera 1971
Director
Siete muertes para el texano 1971
Actor, Director
Santo vs. the Riders of Terror 1970
Director, Screenplay
Chanoc en las garras de las fieras 1970
as Gang Member (as René Cardona Sr.)
El pueblo del terror 1970
Director
La hermana Trinquete 1970
as Inspector, Story
El asesino enmascarado 1970
Director
La Captura De Gabino Barrera 1970
Director
Two Mules for Sister Sara 1970
Second Unit Director
Santo vs. Capulina 1969
Director
La maestra inolvidable 1969
Director
The Vampire and Sex 1969
Director
Santo in the Treasure of Dracula 1969
Director
Duelo en El Dorado 1969
Director
- El deseo llega de noche
El deseo llega de noche 1969
as Pitanguelli
Lauro Puñales 1969
Director
Night of the Bloody Apes 1969
Director, Writer
Wrestling Women vs. the Killer Robot 1969
Director
El Caballo Bayo 1969
Director
El día de la boda 1968
as Ramón
Stranger in the House 1968
as Tomas
Valentín de la Sierra 1968
Director
Operación carambola 1968
as Scorpio Leader
The Treasure of Moctezuma 1968
Director
Lucio Vazquez 1968
Director
The Bat Woman 1968
Director
Caballo prieto azabache 1968
Director, Screenplay
Operation 67 1967
Director
Un par de robachicos 1967
Actor
Un novio para dos hermanas 1967
as Sr. Mateos
La vuelta del Mexicano 1967
Director
- La leyenda del bandido
La leyenda del bandido 1967
Actor
El matrimonio es como el demonio 1967
as Ramón
The Panther Women 1967
Director
- El mexicano
El mexicano 1966
Director
El alazán y el rosillo 1966
Director
La vida de Pedro Infante 1966
as Director
Santo vs. the Ghost of the Strangler 1966
Director, Writer
El jinete justiciero en retando a la muerte 1966
Director
- Vuelve el Texano
Vuelve el Texano 1966
Actor
El Hijo De Gabino Barrera 1965
Director, Screenplay
Pistoleros del oeste 1965
Director
Santo vs. the Strangler 1965
Writer, Director
Aquella Rosita Alvírez 1965
Director
She-Wolves of the Ring 1965
Director
Gabino Barrera 1965
Director, Writer
Neutron Traps the Invisible Killers 1965
Director, Writer
- Los Sheriffs De La Frontera
Los Sheriffs De La Frontera 1965
Director
La edad de piedra 1964
Director
The Diabolical Duchess 1964
Actor
Wrestling Women vs. the Aztec Mummy 1964
Director
Dos caballeros de espada 1964
Actor
El revólver sangriento 1964
as Comisario
El corrido de María Pistolas 1964
Director
María Pistolas 1963
Director
Fuerte, audaz y valiente 1963
Director
Doctor of Doom 1963
Director
Santo vs. the Diabolical Brain 1963
as Campesino en funeral
- Adventures of the X Sisters
Adventures of the X Sisters 1963
Actor
La Bandida 1963
as General Robles
Santo vs. the King of Crime 1962
as Sr. Roberto de la Llata
¡En peligro de muerte! 1962
Director
The Brainiac 1962
as Baltasar de Meneses / Luis Meneses
- Los encapuchados del infierno
Los encapuchados del infierno 1962
Actor
- Carnaval en mi barrio
Carnaval en mi barrio 1961
Director
Juana Gallo 1961
as Capitán Esquivel
- El globero
El globero 1961
Director, Screenplay
The Crying Woman 1960
Director
Juan Polainas 1960
Director
Adventures of Joselito and Tom Thumb 1960
Director, Screenplay
Herencia trágica 1960
Screenplay
- A Clean Shot
A Clean Shot 1960
as Don Alejo Montemayor, Director, Screenplay
- Una señora movida
Una señora movida 1959
Director
- La ley del más rápido
La ley del más rápido 1959
Actor, Director, Screenplay
Santa Claus 1959
Director, Writer
- El joven del carrito
El joven del carrito 1959
Director
El puma 1959
Actor, Director, Writer
Night Dance Hall 1959
Actor
El sordo 1959
Director
Angel from Hell 1959
Director, Screenplay
Milagros de San Martín de Porres 1959
Actor
Maratón de baile 1958
Director, Screenplay
- La marca del cuervo
La marca del cuervo 1958
Director, Screenplay
Tom Thumb 1958
Director, Screenplay
Las tres pelonas 1958
Director, Screenplay
Tú y la mentira 1958
Director, Screenplay
La cama de piedra 1958
Director, Screenplay
Girl Merchants 1957
Actor
The Living Idol 1957
Director
Pancho López 1957
Director, Screenplay
- Un mundo nuevo
Un mundo nuevo 1957
Actor, Director
Los hijos de Rancho Grande 1956
as Don Felipe
La faraona 1956
as (uncredited), Director
- Las zapatillas verdes
Las zapatillas verdes 1956
Director
¡Que seas feliz! 1956
as Duarte
Los margaritos 1956
Director
Los tres amores de Lola 1956
Director
A los cuatro vientos 1955
Actor
El pueblo sin Dios 1955
Director
Una gallega en La Habana 1955
Director
- Love From Afar
Love From Afar 1955
Director
De ranchero a empresario 1954
Director, Writer
Sindicato de telemirones 1954
Director
As negro 1954
Actor
Solamente una vez 1954
Actor
Cain y Abel 1954
Director
Mulata 1954
as Guevara
El enmascarado de plata 1954
Story, Director
Nuevo amanecer 1954
Actor
La desconocida 1954
Actor
The Three Perfect Wives 1953
as Jorge
Pompeyo el conquistador 1953
Director, Screenplay
Póker de ases 1952
Director
El genial Detective Peter Pérez 1952
Actor
Por qué peca la mujer 1952
Director, Screenplay
Vive como sea 1952
Director
Mujeres de teatro 1951
Director
Canasta Uruguaya 1951
Director
El marido de mi novia 1951
Director
Vuelva el sábado 1951
Director
Port of Temptation 1951
Director, Screenplay
Una viuda sin sostén 1951
Director
They also sing of pain 1950
Director, Screenplay
Yo quiero ser hombre 1950
Director
Gemma 1950
Director, Screenplay
Gema 1950
Director
Red Rain 1950
Director
Yo quiero ser mala 1950
Director
Una canción a la vírgen 1949
Director, Screenplay
El Charro del Cristo 1949
Director, Screenplay
Ahí viene Vidal Tenorio 1949
Director
La vorágine: abismos de amor 1949
Actor
La última noche 1948
Director, Screenplay
Cartas Marcadas 1948
Actor, Director, Screenplay
- Pito Pérez se va de bracero
Pito Pérez se va de bracero 1948
Actor
Mi madre adorada 1948
Director, Writer
Lazos de fuego 1948
Director, Adaptation
Soledad 1947
as Roberto Covarrubias
Soy charro de Rancho Grande 1947
as Felipe
La barca de oro 1947
Actor
Si me han de matar mañana 1947
Actor
El tigre de Jalisco 1947
Director, Screenplay
Felipe fue desgraciado 1947
Director
Chachita la de Triana 1947
as Don Roberto
El príncipe del desierto 1947
as Omar
El socio 1946
as Corredor de bolsa (uncredited)
Asesinato en los estudios 1946
as Director (uncredited)
¡Ay qué rechula es Puebla! 1946
as Mauricio Gómez, Director
Los buitres sobre el tejado 1946
Actor
El museo del crimen 1945
Director, Producer, Screenplay
Una canción en la noche 1945
Director
El precio de una vida 1945
Director
El abanico de Lady Windermere 1944
Actor
The Black Ace 1944
Director, Story, Adaptation
Hotel de verano 1944
Writer, Director
The Headless Woman 1944
Director, Story, Adaptation
Mis hijos! 1944
Director, Writer
Divorciadas 1943
as Luis Reiner
El espectro de la novia 1943
Director, Adaptation
Ave sin nido 1943
Actor
The Rock of Souls 1943
as Manuel
Jesusita en Chihuahua 1942
Actor, Director, Screenplay
Unidos por el eje 1942
Actor, Director
El conde de Montecristo 1942
as Fernando Mondego / Conde de Morcef
El misterioso señor Marquina 1942
Actor
Caballería del imperio 1942
as Conde Rudolph
La casa del rencor 1941
as Hugo
- Adios mi chaparrita
Adios mi chaparrita 1941
Director
El secreto del sacerdote 1941
as Gabriel
Amor chinaco 1941
Actor
- La torre de los suplicios
La torre de los suplicios 1941
as Don Carlos de Guardareal
Love of my loves 1940
Director, Editor
Con su amable permiso 1940
Actor
The Nun's Secret 1940
as Don Pedro
Mala yerba 1940
as Don Julián Andrade
Allá en el Trópico 1940
as Felipe Cervantes
Una luz en mi camino 1939
Actor
El cobarde 1939
Director
La reina del río 1939
Director
Tierra brava 1938
Director
Dos cadetes 1938
Director
La cuna vacía 1938
Actor
- Estrellita
Estrellita 1938
Director
Alarma 1938
Director, Screenplay
- Allá en el rancho chico
Allá en el rancho chico 1938
Actor, Director
Las cuatro milpas 1937
Screenplay
- The Torment
The Torment 1937
Actor
Don Juan Tenorio 1937
as Don Juan Tenorio, Director, Screenplay
Honrarás a tus padres 1937
as Conde de los Pinares
Nostradamus 1937
Actor
La gran cruz 1937
as Gilberto Villalba
Allá en el Rancho Grande 1936
as Felipe
El calvario de una esposa 1936
as Sebastián Urquizo
The Macabre Trunk 1936
as Dr. Armando del Valle
Malditas sean las mujeres 1936
as Conde Osvaldo de Valdemar
Marihuana (El monstruo verde) 1936
as Antonio Pedroza
Así es la mujer 1936
as Cantante
Mystery of the Ghastly Face 1935
as Luis Montes
Silencio sublime 1935
as Ricardo
Over the Waves 1933
as Raúl
Hand to Hand 1932
as Manuel Chávez
Carne de Cabaret 1931
as Eddie Miller
When Love Laughs 1930
Actor
Common Clay 1930
Actor
- Sombras habaneras
Sombras habaneras 1929
Actor, Director, Producer
Credits from TMDB.