January 25, 2005
BEAUTIFUL ATROCITIES GUIDE TO LATIN SOAPS
Latin soap stars Barbara Mori, Carlos Ponce, Thalia, Murilo Benicio, & Natalia Oriero
Latin soaps are arguably the most popular entertainment on the planet, captivating audiences of hundreds of millions not just in Latin America, but the US, Russia, China, Eastern Europe, Africa, Indonesia, etc. Unlike American soaps, telenovelas are the Hollywood of Latin America (which has little film industry), the actors superstars. When dubbed & serialized, these luminaries become international sensations (Salma Hayek became a star in 1989's Teresa)
Latin soaps air in primetime, run for one season, & almost always spawn hit songs. While American soaps don't travel well, there's something archetypal about Latin soaps that audiences all over the world find irresistible, whether it's Mexico's florid sudsers, Brazil's racy melodramas (which feature things like lesbian vampires), or the sophisticated serials of Colombia & Argentina. A brief intro:
SIMPLEMENTE MARIA (Argentina, 1967) Archetypal soap about poor & beautiful seamstress who comes to big city, is ruined by rich pendejo, but takes literacy classes & overcomes obstacles through faith & Singer sewing machines. Starred Irma Roy (r.) who later became powerful Peronista politician. Has been remade 5 times. During Peruvian version 1969, 10,000 people gathered in Lima plaza for Maria's wedding.
Academic study in Peru noted show's effects: "1) sales of Singer sewing machines soared wherever shown; 2) enrollment in adult literacy classes rose; 3) rural-to-urban migration rose." Mexican version 1989 starred Victoria Ruffo (real name Victoria Eugenia Guadalupe Martines del Rio Moreno Fayad), played to huge audience in Russia.
ESCRAVA ISAURA (Isaura the Slave, Brazil 1976) Based on 1875 Bernardo Guimaraes abolitionist novel about white slave, made intl star of Lucilia Santos. Played in 95 countries. Watched by 450 million in China. Santos
first foreign actress to win Golden Eagle Prize in China. Video.
LOS RICOS TAMBIEN LLORAN (The Rich Cry Too, Mexico 1979) Veronica Castro starred as Mariana in weepy sudser about maid who falls for rich employer's son, is dumped, goes nuts, loses child, etc. Best Telenovela 1979. In 1992, syndicated to post-Communist Russia where it was a sensation, drawing 100 million viewers. Video trailer featuring Veronica Castro & her great big hair.
Pravda reported warring Georgian & Abkhazian soldiers arranged truce at hours show aired so they could watch. Theme song: Aprendi a llorar. Castro's son is pop star Cristian Castro. Archenemy: Lucia Mendez
TU O NADIE (Mexico, 1985) Diva Lucia Mendez as Raquel, a simple but pneumatic girl who falls in love with a mysterious stranger who's not all he seems to be. Syndicated in China, Cypress, Germany (Ruf de Herzens), Italy (Cuori di Pietra), Lebanon, Malaysia, Romania, Russia (Nikto, krome tebya), Poland, USA (No One But You), Zambia. Hit theme song: Corazaon de Piedra.
BAILA CONMIGO (Mexico, 1992) Mexican Grease set in 1950s, with pop bombshell Paulina Rubio improbably cast as wallflower vying for Rafael Rojas with Bibi Gaytan. Was voted Worst Telenova of 1992
KASSANDRA (Venezuela, 1993) Coraima Torres stars in switched-baby tale of girl raised by Gypsies, only to unknowingly marry step-brother. Guiness Book of World Records for telenovela broadcast in most countries: 128. In Indonesia, govt warned that absenteeism from work for purpose of watching Kassandra unacceptable. Townspeople of Kucevo, Serbia, wrote letter to Venezuelan govt & cc'd Slobodan Milosovic: "We know Kassandra's
innocent & we want her trial stopped!
#1 show in Bosnia, yanked off the air in TV power struggle, restored with help of US State Dept, which said "Sometimes one needs to help them fill up the air with what must be perceived a perfectly good soap opera." Photogallery of Coraima Torres' publicity tour to Bulgaria
MARIMAR (Mexico, 1994) Megasuccessful vehicle for pop star Thalia playing improbably gorgeous peasant. Featured talking dog. Most successful of Thalia's soaps. Others: Maria Mercedes (1992), Maria la del Barrio (1995), Rosalinda (1998), all of which spawned hit songs.
MariMar intl hit: "During Ramadan some of the mosques in Abidjan decided to bring forward prayer time. When Marimar comes on, everything stops in Côte d’Ivoire." Thalia received in Manila by President like foreign head of state.
In 2000, Thalia married Sony Records honcho Tommy Mottola in $350,000 wedding dress with 52ft train. Crossover CD tanked. Archenemy: Paulina Rubio. (Teens Thalia, Paulina Rubio, & Bibi Gaytan in Menudo-like group Timberiche, which ended in wild onstage catfight. This year, Paulina outraged Thalia by crashing her Greatest Hits CD party.)
DOS MUJERES, UN CAMINO (2 Women, 1 Path, Mexico, 1994) Aka the soap Erik Estrada had to learn Spanish for. #1 rated megatrashy melodrama with Estrada torn between Bibi Gaytan
&
drag idol Laura Leon aka the Mexican Cher. Cameo by Tex-Mex singer Selena, later slain by demented fan. Kitschy theme song is staple in gay Latin discos. Video: Laura Leaon in latex dress. Laura Leon also starred in equally trashy El Premio Mayor (voted Worst Telenovela 1996)
CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER (Colombia, 1994) Guy Ecker (born in Brazil to American parents) & Margarita Rosa de Francisco starred in story set in coffee plantations of Colombia, featuring vallenato music (popularized by pop star/soap hunk Carlos Vives). Most successful soap in Columbian history.
NADA PERSONAL (Mexico, 1996) Ana Colchero & Jose Angel Llamas starred in hit soap that brought new realism to telenovelas, dealing with drug trafficking, police corruption, & Mexico's soaring crime rate.
BETTY LA FEA (Ugly Betty, Colombia 2000) Ana Maria Orozco starred in hilarious, smash-hit soap about accident-prone, dowdy secretary who outsmarts her bosses. Opposite of usual light-skinned blonde novela bimbos. When Betty was offered a bribe, network deluged with calls & newspaper columnist begged Betty 'not to be swallowed by corruption'.
In Ecuador, Congress suspended late-night debate to watch. Watched by over 80 million in US & Latin America. Spawned comic strip, doll, & cartoon series. ng theme, Yo Soy Betty, La Fea. Sequel tanked.
O CLONE (The Clone, Brazil, 2001) Love story about Brazilian youth & Muslim girl, filmed partly in Morocco, dealt with polygamy, arranged marriages, & drug addiction. Ministry of Health acknowledged O Clon did more for prevention & treatment of drug dependency than government campaigns. Screenwriters inserted testimony from real-life drug addicts between scenes. Stars Giovanna Antonelli & Murilo Benicio (in 3 roles). First Brazilian soap shown in US with English subtitles.
RUBI (Mexico, 2004) Remake of 1968 serial, distinguished by the fact that heroine is rapacious BITCH who will stop at nothing. Stars Uruguayan / Japanese bombshell Barbara Mori.
See also
Soaps
with a Latin Scent ;
Telenovelas in Latin
America ;
Love, Tears, Betrayal, & Health Messages
Posted by Jeff at January 25, 2005 11:45 AM
Comments
Oh you poor, poor Americans. I thought brazilian telenovelas were the scourge of the Portuguese speaking world, but, alas, i was wrong...
PS: You got the names of the Brazilian soaps wrong. It's "Escrava Isaura" and "O Clone".
I'm Portuguese, i should know ;)
Posted by: madne0 at January 25, 2005 01:02 PM
So Thalia's a soap star? I thought she was just a model for the Bon Target.
Posted by: Jonathan at January 25, 2005 01:07 PM
In your list, you left out one of the best telenovelas ever: Uga Uga.
Posted by: Frank Villon at January 25, 2005 02:03 PM
All that really matters (to me, anyway) is that the chicks are hot.
Posted by: Joe R. the Unabrewer at January 25, 2005 05:03 PM
I'm still waiting to hear about the Brazilian lesbian vampires. Was this a Sudamerican remake of "Dark Shadows" or something? ("Sombras Escuras," I think. Madneo can correct me.)
Posted by: utron at January 25, 2005 05:06 PM
Hey Jeff, could you post a good pic of Salma so we straight males have something to interest us in this
post? ;)
Posted by: scottm at January 25, 2005 06:06 PM
What's Thalia, chopped liver??
Posted by: jeff at January 25, 2005 06:09 PM
What's Thalia, chopped liver??
She's pretty, just not hot, too bony. Salma's soft and curvy. :)
Posted by: scottm at January 25, 2005 06:30 PM
Sorry Ultron, the Portuguese is correct, but i've never even heard of such a novela.
Posted by: madne0 at January 25, 2005 07:00 PM
What about O Beijo do Vampiro?
Posted by: jeff at January 25, 2005 07:18 PM
jeff, i shall never watch DoOL again! i'm going latin.
Slightly OT, i want to know what Spirit Fingers thinks of this dress-- http://www.gnxp.com/MT2/archives/003516.html
is it being worn backwards or not?
Posted by: jinnderella at January 25, 2005 07:36 PM
Jeff, have you ever seen Lazo de Amor? I think it's a Brazilian soap and it is dubbed in Spanish.
Posted by: Patrick at January 25, 2005 08:28 PM
caliente.
Posted by: wah at January 25, 2005 11:22 PM
You forgot Gata Salvaje
http://www.vencor.narod at ru/fotos3/gatas.htm
The girls are smoking hot.
Sorry about the broken URL, the spam filter apparently doesn't like russian domains
Posted by: Kevin at January 26, 2005 04:21 AM
Oh yeah, when I was in 1-2nd grade, we lived in Venezeula, lets say around '72, and I remember my mom watching Simplemente Maria. For some reason an episode where she had to treat some sort of cut/wound/scrape with lemon juice and salt sticks in my mind. Bizarre what you remember
Posted by: Kevin at January 26, 2005 04:23 AM
Come on people!
From the early seventies when my mother started watching Simplemente Maria and Esmeralda I learned to hate soap operas. Just watching a little, standing by as my female relatives watch, gives me the feeling that I am losing brain cells minute by minute.
They all have the same undisguised and unoriginal plot. The only saving grace that latin telenovelas have over the american soaps is that the latin ones actually end (if only to be replaced by another clone). American soaps never end!
Posted by: John at January 26, 2005 10:02 AM
I first saw the lovely Veronica Castro (all 5'6'' of her) when I was living in Mexico a few years ago. Even though it's been a few years, there is STILL an undefineable SOMETHING about that woman. ;)
Posted by: EdWonk at January 27, 2005 03:08 AM
You left out Pedro el Escamoso, where a guy with a mullett played a Cinderella type.
Posted by: Fausta at February 1, 2005 06:38 AM
you rock the world
Posted by: NOORUL MUSHTARI at October 6, 2005 09:06 PM
any one watched "when you were mine" a spanish soap opera. in mexican its called "cuando sias mis" or something like that. looking for more info on it.
Posted by: kate at December 7, 2005 01:22 AM
VISITA EL UNICO SITIO OFICIAL DEDICADO ALA MAXIMA ESTERELLA MEXICANA
Posted by: ALICIA at December 12, 2005 07:29 AM
"Any one watched when you are mine?"
Posted by: NIKE at December 13, 2005 07:02 AM
Yeah I do watch "When u are mine"
Really a big fan of the latino Soap and i do sure wish i could have the whole collection on DVD.
Any one know how i can lay my hands on the entire collection.
Truly beautiful piece .
Tunde Aguda
Nigeria
Posted by: tunde aguda at December 22, 2005 02:51 PM
Well, Veronica Castro was not only a successful actress in mexican soap operas, also she was a nice TV shows host. All mexican people remember her for her actuation in Rosa Salvaje (Savage Rose) where she is a poor girl that accidentally fell in a rich family house and fell in love with the rich and healthy son...
Greetings.
Posted by: travsam at December 28, 2005 09:41 PM
I'm still looking for someone in this life with any disagreements over the brillance of the story writer for the soap "when you are mine". i mean everything was hot.
Posted by: Hyacinth at January 6, 2006 03:59 AM
Pls i need the website of cunado seas mia, one of the mexico soap opera called when u are mine
\
Pls send it 2 me if u know it
Posted by: Toyin Adeniran at January 6, 2006 04:37 AM
i want to really comment on the brillance of the script writer for when u are mine..its just excellent.pls can i get the web adddress for it?
Posted by: nena at January 7, 2006 06:33 AM
The script writer of the play 'when you are mine' is a genius from another planet. Please could you send me the website add.
Posted by: ogunyebi funmilayo at January 7, 2006 07:23 AM
The soap 'when you are mine' has held most families spellbound by it's sheer potency and brilliance. Just first class. Please send the website address to me.
Posted by: awodele olusegun at January 7, 2006 07:32 AM
pls as soon as u get info on when u are mine(paloma)s website pls get back 2 mw.
Posted by: buki at January 8, 2006 08:22 AM
when you are mine is out of this world can i be intimated with the website.
Posted by: Daniel Asher at January 9, 2006 11:07 AM
i want the website of the movie "when you are mine" i will be very obliged if you can do that for me
Posted by: oluchi at January 9, 2006 11:59 PM
too bad i had 2 go back to sch and i'll be missing "When u are mine"...ps if we dont find the site, t least, can someone send me details...gmyguy
Posted by: Gbenga at January 12, 2006 05:29 AM
someone should pls send me the web site for when you are mine. funkioduks pls save a soul, I'm going gaga
Posted by: odukoya at January 12, 2006 09:14 AM
I want the website of the movie "when you are mine" i will be very happy if you can send it to me, also The script writer of the play 'when you are mine' is a genius , and all the actors and the actress are great.. please kindly send me the web site.
regard
femi
Posted by: Engr femi folly at January 12, 2006 10:15 AM
dose anyone know where i can buy a dvd of the brazilian novela uga uga? one with english sub titles would be even better! thanks!
Posted by: beckybug at January 12, 2006 11:02 AM
pls am a very devoted fan of cuando seas mia(when u are mine)i need a favour pls can u send me the name of the websiteso that as am in school now i can always check it out from the net.thanks
Posted by: shakirah at January 13, 2006 04:15 AM
Whereva u r,wateva u r doin,when it time 4 "when u r mine" o my God u r glue 2 d tv set 4 d next 60mins,d soap is off d hook,bt 2 much suspence still is it still d best,more power 2 d writer's elbow.
Posted by: Gbenayon Ogun at January 13, 2006 02:04 PM
Heeelp pleaaaase!!!! am also a crazy fan of 'CUANDO SEAS MIA', am soliciting from any one to kindly link me to a full website of were to get a complete english review of this soap opra.
Regards.
Posted by: abubakar kabir at January 14, 2006 02:09 AM
i need the web site of cuado seas mia/when you are mine
Posted by: EMMAN ADOLOR at January 16, 2006 04:25 AM
PLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS AM DYING AND PLEADING,WHO KNOWS D WEBSITE OF ONE OF D BEST OF D BESTEST SOAP OPERAS IN DIS WORLD,DID U SAY WHICH ONE,"WHEN U ARE MINE" OFCOS PLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SEND IT TO ME
Posted by: BUKOLA at January 16, 2006 05:56 AM
pls if you know the website for when you are mine pls send it to me
Posted by: omolola alaba at January 16, 2006 08:22 AM
hey guys....i beg in the name of the almight God....plz send me the website of the baddest soap opera have ever seen in my life,hey am kidding i mean i love when u are mine is off the hook i mean is tight....pls send it to me now..coz am going crazy.
Posted by: Tito at January 16, 2006 09:28 AM
hey guys.....pls i really need website of when u are mine...is off the hook..can u pls send me.
Posted by: Tito at January 16, 2006 09:32 AM
pls i need the website of when u are mine
Posted by: Micky at January 18, 2006 01:52 AM
pls i need the web site of "when you're mine"
Posted by: ng at January 18, 2006 07:54 AM
Pls, i need the summary of When you are mine.thanks
Posted by: yetunde olawuyi at January 18, 2006 08:00 AM
i'm in love with your programme'when u are mine'.
Could you please send me the details of getting it on net, i've sought for it on the net but couldn't get through.
I can't wait to hear from you
Posted by: kemi at January 19, 2006 12:30 AM
pls i need the web site of "when you're mine" kindly send to my email. Latin soaps are the BEST
Posted by: shola at January 19, 2006 01:45 AM
hello, every one av gooren the "when yu are vmine's website"
this is it,
www.whenyouaremine.com
note: wen yu are writing the website's name dnt put space in btw them okay.
its kool check it out
my email is liya4real2003
Posted by: omolola at January 19, 2006 04:57 AM
pls can someone send the summary of the Mexican Soap opera "WHEN YOU ARE MINE" to my email; audusunday Am in a village without electrcity to watch the play
Posted by: Audu Sunday Steve at January 19, 2006 07:00 AM
pls i want to know the site for cunado seas mia popularly known as when you are mine where i can watch it and the time for it.
Posted by: iyke mbalu at January 19, 2006 09:07 AM
infact whenever something happens to paloma everyone in my household refuse to eat, when u are mine is da bomb.i love it.i hope AIT will not stop to show it.
Posted by: ruth at January 19, 2006 09:44 AM
hi fellow viewers of when u are mine i have become so addicted to it that i can;t miss watching it, a day without when u are mine is like a train without an engine.it is making me go mar.
Posted by: yinka at January 19, 2006 09:48 AM