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Screening of Canta y no llores a Tribute to Chucho Monge

The film Canta y no llores (1949) by Alfonso Patiño Gómez was shown at the Cinépolis Centro as part of the tribute to Chucho Monge, the Michoacán composer who is being honored this year at the 12th FICM.

Jesús Monge Ramírez, better known as Chucho Monge, is the writer of the iconic “México, lindo y querido,” among other songs that marked Mexico’s cultural identity, like “Pobre corazón”, “Adiós mariquita linda” and “La feria de las flores,” to mention a few. Artists of the stature of Emilio Tuero, Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete, Lucha Reyes, Nat King Cole and Plácido Domingo, among others, have performed the work of Chucho Monge. In addition, the composer had a close relationship with cinema. According to researcher Eduardo de la Vega Alfaro his name appears in the credits of some 135 Mexican and foreign films.

Canta y no llores, starring singer Irma Vila, is one of the first films that included “México lindo y querido” – considered a “second national anthem” – in its soundtrack.

Sandra Monge Hernández, daughter of the honored songwriter and composer, presented the film and afterwards we conducted a brief interview with her.

Sandra Monge about the screening of Canta y no llores:

“I thank all those who attended this special function. I’m very grateful that they have dedicated this year as a tribute to my father. Canta y no llores is important in his career because it has many of his songs. It was the best choice on the part of FICM.”

Sandra Monge about the importance of the tribute to her father at the 12th FICM:

“This tribute means a lot to me because the image of my father is not identified very much with his work, which many people know. My father has many pieces – he began composing boleros and tangos – therefore, he has many songs. This tribute means that his work will become better known.

Sandra Monge about Chucho Monge and his relationship with film:

“My father worked in several films as an actor. He dedicated himself exclusively to cinema from 1939 to 1943. In addition to composing music for a large number of films, films took their titles from his songs, such as Pobre corazón (1950) by José Díaz Morales, Cartas marcadas (1948) by René Cardona, La feria de las flores (1942) by José Benavidez Jr., and México lindo y querido (1961) by Julio Bracho, among others.”

As part of the tribute to the Michoacán composer, there will be a roundtable discussion, “Chucho Monge and Cinema,” on October 19 at 5:30 pm at the Conservatorio de las Rosas of Morelia.

Covered by Cristina Alemán (@mcristina) and Jaime Garba (@jaimegarba)