Pina Pellicer

Josefina Yolanda Pellicer López de Llergo (Spanish pronunciation: [xo.se.ˈfi.na Yolandaʝo.ˈlãn̪.da Pellicerpe.ʝi.ˈsɛɾ ˈlo.pes̬ deðe Llergoˈʝɛɾ.ɣo]; April 3, 1934 – December 4, 1964), professionally known as Pina Pellicer, was a Mexican actress known in Mexico for portraying the female lead in Macario (1960), and in the United States as Louisa alongside Marlon Brando in the Brando-directed movie One-Eyed Jacks (1961).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Pellicer and the second or maternal family name is López de Llego.
Pina Pellicer
Pina Pellicer in One-Eyed Jacks (1961)
Born
Josefina Yolanda Pellicer López de Llergo

(1934-04-03)April 3, 1934
Mexico City, Mexico
DiedDecember 4, 1964(1964-12-04) (aged 30)
Mexico City, Mexico
Cause of deathSuicide by Barbiturate overdose
Years active1959–1964
Parent(s)César Pellicer Sánchez
Pilar López de
RelativesPilar Pellicer (sister)
Ana Pellicer (sister)
Carlos Pellicer (uncle)
Taide Pellicer (sister)
Jorge Pellicer (brother)

Family

Pellicer was born in Mexico City to César Pellicer Sánchez, a lawyer, and Pilar López de Llergo. Her uncle Carlos Pellicer was a modernist poet. Of her seven siblings, her younger sister Pilar Pellicer also became an actress best known for her roles in numerous telenovelas; another younger sister, Ana, is a sculptor and the co-author of Pina Pellicer's 2006 biography.

Career
Pellicer with Marlon Brando in a publicity photo for One-Eyed Jacks (1961).

Pellicer's first acting role, albeit only her second movie to be released, was the Paramount Pictures production One-Eyed Jacks. In the movie, Pellicer played Louisa, the stepdaughter of Karl Malden and the lover of Marlon Brando. Mexican actress Katy Jurado also appeared as Louisa's mother. The production of the movie was much-delayed, and the original director Stanley Kubrick left along with screenwriter Sam Peckinpah, leaving Brando to finish the movie – the only time Brando was credited with directing a movie. So even though production started in 1958, the movie was not released until 1961. European response was positive, and in July 1961 the movie received the Golden Shell (Concha de Oro) at the San Sebastián International Film Festival. In addition, Pellicer was awarded the prize for best female performer, with reviews comparing her to Audrey Hepburn. In the United States, the response was more mixed and the movie received only one Academy Award nomination, for Charles Lang's cinematography.

Pina Pellicer in a publicity photo of 1961.

The first movie with Pellicer to reach the theaters was the Mexican production Macario, released in 1960. Pellicer played the wife of the title character opposite Ignacio López Tarso. Macario was the first Mexican production to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, but ultimately lost out to Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring. After Macario, Pellicer appeared in two more Mexican films, Días de Otoño, released in 1963, and Sinful, released after her death in 1965. During her appearance at the San Sebastián Film Festival, she met Spanish director Rafael Gil, who cast the actress for the title role in the movie Rogelia, filmed in Asturias and released in 1962. In addition to her movie work, she also appeared in episodes for the television shows The Fugitive ("Smoke Screen", 1963) and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ("The Life Work of Juan Diaz", 1964; written by Ray Bradbury), as well as on Mexican television.

Death

Pellicer committed suicide on December 4, 1964, aged 30, with an overdose of sleeping pills.[1]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1960 Macario Macario's wife
1961 One-Eyed Jacks Louisa
1962 Rogelia Rogelia
1962 Días de Otoño Luisa
1963 The Fugitive María Álvarez Episode: "Smoke Screen"
1964 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour María Díaz Episode: "The Life Work of Juan Díaz"
1965 Sinful Irma (final film role)

References

Inline citations
  1. "Mexican Actress a Suicide". The New York Times. Mexico City: The New York Times Company. December 12, 1964. p. 34. Retrieved July 18, 2018.

General references
  • Reynol Pérez Vázquez & Ana Pellicer: Pina Pellicer. Luz de tristeza (1934–1964); México, D.F.: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (2006). ISBN 970-32-3075-X
  • Juan José Olivares: "Pina Pellicer, mujer adelantada a su época, pero invadida por la tristeza"; La Jornada, April 24, 2007.
  • Reynol Pérez Vázquez: "Pina Pellicer: una vida frágil"; Pointcast Media "Los Tubos", April 24, 2007.
  • Luis José de Ávila: "Pina, la musa de Marlon Brando"; La Voz de Asturias, February 18, 2006.
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