The Best Picture Blog

La Cucaracha

Viva Villa!
1934 Nominee

100 Words
Pancho Villa was the name of this revolutionary and he was portrayed by a white guy whose reputation for drinking preceded him…the values of freedom remain, but let’s put the kibosh on Hollywood whitewashing, shall we? The theme song of the guerrilla leader was “La Cucaracha,” which translates to, “The Cockroach.” Readers, my own mother calls me Cucaracha to this day and if that doesn’t give you some insight into my somewhat dysfunctional childhood, then I don’t know what does. Hearing that song brought back many memories and watching this film is a lesson in history, mostly told by intertitles.

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sheisalittlebit

A little bit of everything

2 responses to “La Cucaracha”

  1. Galen Humphrey Avatar
    Galen Humphrey

    We “refined” in SC call the little darlings, not la cucaracha (changing fact to suit the “master” ain’t nothin new),
    they’re “Palmetto Bugs” :) so MUCH more acceptable, as they skit across the floor:) 

    “White wash”… let’s go with  “white-woke:) tsunami”  … and add it to the macho white-male-hero-lover-kick-ass-n-take-names bologna of our Wayne stereotype, on which were raised, and persists …throwing generations for a loop.
     Beery…white guy & Chiquita: Hungarian dancer….

    I DID, though always love ‘loveable’ Wallace Beery… but, I guess, that’s the problem…

    ps :) I used the pet name on a couple of my own; it persists w/ grandkids … :) 

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  2. Suz Avatar
    Suz

    Phew! Confessions of another lousy parent. We were so foolish, we didn’t know what ‘La Cucaracha’ meant – we just loved that song so much; it was magically catchy! So, in fairness to the unloved bug, know THIS: Cucarachas have been around for 280 million years – longer than dinosaurs. They are the fastest insects on earth and can cover 50 body lengths in a second. They can survive without food for 3 months, and hold their breath for 40 minutes. Pretty darn impressive. As for the movie, well, I agree with you; Hollywood blew this opportunity on such a worthwhile amazing story/important historical hero.

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