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Gabriel Figueroa

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Filmmaker

The Resume

    (April 24, 1907-April 27, 1997)
    Born in Mexico City, Mexico
    Mexican cinematographer
    Gabriel Figueroa Mateos
    Worked on over 200 films, between Cine Mexicano and Hollywood
    Won a Golden Globe for 'La Perla,' in 1949
    Won eight Silver Ariel awards (Mexican Oscars), between 1946 - 1957
    Won Best Cinematographer at the Cannes Film Festival for 'Maria Candelaria' and 'Los Tres Mosqueteros,' in 1946
    Sample filmography includes 'Bugambilia,' 'Enamorada,' 'Rio Escondido,' 'Pueblerina,' 'Los Olvidados,' 'Victimas del Pecado,' 'Cuando Levanta la Niebla,' 'El Rebozo del Soledad,' 'El Nino y La Niebla,' and 'La Escondida'
    Worked on Hollywood films 'Night of the Iguana,' 'The Fugitive,' 'Tarzan and the Mermaids,' 'Kelly's Heroes,' 'Under the Volcano,' 'Interval,' 'Two Mules for Sister Sara,' and 'The Children of Sanchez'

Why he might be annoying:

    He spent the later years of his career doing work on 'Spaghetti westerns.'
    He clashed with John Ford during production of 'Fugitive' (Ford was used to working in all weather conditions, but Figueroa insisted that they 'wait for the light' before shooting).
    He was a Communist sympathizer from the late 1930's into the McCarthy era (when he was blacklisted).
    His blacklisting prevented him from accepting a three-year Hollywood contract (he could not obtain an entry visa).
    He unintentionally planted the seed in William Alland's head to make 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' during a conversation about his native country's folklore.
    He turned down the chance to work with Elia Kazan on 'Viva Zapata,' citing issues with the script and how Zapata was portrayed (Kazan later insinuated that his 'Communist Party machinations' explained his concerns).
    He made a successful teaming with Emilio Fernandez but the two butted heads constantly (he rarely invited him over because 'El Indio' could get 'scary' when he got drunk, especially with a gun around).
    He was the first winner of the Cinematography Ariel award, but was the only nominee (no competition).
    Rumors persist he had an affair with Dolores Del Rio both while she was married to Orson Welles and while she was romancing Emilio Fernandez.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He mastered the violin as a youth.
    He lived through the tumultuous years of the Mexican Revolution.
    His mother died after giving birth to him (he then lost his father and older brother in short order).
    He obtained a scholarship to study in the United States, and studied with the esteemed photographer Gregg Toland.
    He worked masterfully with Luis Bunuel, Howard Hawks, and John Huston.
    He won awards at the Venice Film Festival for 'La Malquerida' and 'La Perla' (1947; 1949).
    He received an Oscar nomination for his work on 'Night of the Iguana' (1965).
    His photography was known to embellish second-rate scripts and lousy acting, to the point where he developed his own following with audiences.
    Ford later praised his work, telling Peter Bogdanovich 'to me [he] was perfect' (he also named 'Fugitive' his favorite among all his film projects).
    His teaming with El Indio-Pedro Armendariz-Del Rio arguably had no artistic Hollywood counterpart.
    He regularly frequented painter's studios to gain insight into different forms of lighting/perspective in depicting Mexico's skies and landscape.

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 126 Votes: 67.46% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 120 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying