Probate is easy… comedy is hard

It’s impossible to translate Cantinflas. I stole this sample from the comedian’s Wikipedia biography:  

Ah! but let me make one thing clear, I have moments of lucidity, and I speak very clearly. And now I will speak with clarity…Friends! There are moments in my life that are really momentary…And it’s not because one says it, but we must see it! What do we see? that’s what we must see…because, what a coincidence, friends, that supposing that in the case—let’s not say what it could be—but we must think about it and understand the psychology of life to make an analogy of the synthesis of humanity. Right? Well, that’s the point.

I haven’t seen the court transcripts, but I can guess why settling the question of who owned the rights to the films has dragged on for the last 15 years. 

(My translation from today’s El Universal)

Following the settlement of a long running series of lawsuits [originally involving his son, his nephew and Colombia Pictures], some of the most famous films of Mario Moreno, Cantinflas, will finally be available to the public.

The comedian’s son, Mario Moreno Ivanova said that the courts granted him exclusive rights to 34 feature length films.

Without wasting time, Moreno Ivanova has released 11 of the films for exhibition this February and March at the Festival Internacional de Cine Contemporáneo (FICCO).

“I have several plans, among them the re-release on screen of the eleven films. People should be abble to enjoy them, and learn about this cultural legacy,” said Moreno Ivanova at a press conference.

Cantinflas’ son said that the present generation has never been able to watch on television such classics as ”El bolero de Raquel”, ”El Profe”, ”Su excelencia”, ”Entrega inmediata”, ”Un día con el diablo”, ”El circo” and ”Los tres mosqueteros”.

Moreno Ivanova said he hoped that the results of the decision, giving him distribution rights to the films will allow many more to appreciate Cantinflas’ nobility and humor.

He also hopes that broadcasting the films will bring together parents and children, who once were able to share laughter enjoying the extensive body of cinematography.

We hope to receive more invitations to other film festivals, both nationally and internationally, as well as television broadcasts.

As part of the settlement, Moreno Ivanova also received exclusive rights to the films in Spain, the south of France, Morocco, Brazil and Portugal, and the right to market the Cantinflas name on food and clothing products.

In addition, Moreno Ivanova will receive “severla millions of dollars” that have been sitting in a U.S. bank account since the actor died in 1993.

Cantinflas, with his unique language [the Academia Real Española recognized “cantiflear” as a verb … to speak nonsense with great eloquence and articluation… sort of the opposite of George Bush-speak:  nonsense, spoken badly and inarticulately], his droopy pants, tiny mustache and even tinier hat, conquored Mexico and the world with his humor, his rascality and his wounded dignity.

In addition to acting in 50 films, Cantinflas wrote six of his screenplays: ”El ministro y yo”, ”El profe”, ”Por mis pistolas”, ”Su excelencia”, ”El bombero atómico” and ”Si yo fuera diputado”.