El Bruto (1953): Film Noir UK

THE BRUTE 

Director: Luis Buñuel

Starring: Pedro Armendáriz, Katy Jurado, Rosa Arenas, Andrés Soler

Mexico, 1953, 1 hour 21 minutes, Spanish/French + English subtitles

Directed by the great Luis Buñuel, and starring Pedro Armendáriz (3 Godfathers, From Russia with Love) this forgotten gem of Mexican noir is ripe for rediscovery. 

Set in the slums of a Mexican City, El Bruto (The Brute) tells the story of a brawny slaughter-house worker, Pedro (played by Pedro Armendáriz), who relies more on muscle than brain power. Pedro is hired by a ruthless landlord, Don Andres (Andrés Soler), to clear out some troublemaking tenants which ends with fatal consequences. Pedro’s troubles begin to build up as he begins an affair with the landlord’s wife as well as the daughter of one of the tenants. 

Shot by Mexico’s great cinematographer Agustín Jiménez and directed by the great Luis Buñuel, this is a rare chance to see this forgotten Mexican noir.