Victims of Sin

Victims of Sin (Victimas Del Pelcado) (1951)

Runtime: 84 minutes

Directed by: Emilio Fernandez

Starring: Ninon Sevilla, Tito Junco, Rodolfo Acosta, Rita Montaner, Ismael Perez

From: Cinematografica Calderson S.A.

A Letterboxd mutual’s recent glowing review of the film steered my way into seeing this Mexican film on the Criterion Channel. Think of it as a noir done in stunning black-and-white cinematography, but there’s also nice mambo music and exciting dance numbers, all in less than 90 minutes.

Changoo Cabaret is a hip club where great music is heard and there’s lovely ladies all around. Of course, Rodolfo is the guy who provides the ladies; not only is he a pimp, the establishment is a place where you pay to dance with the women. Violeta is the star performer (Ninon Sevilla could sing, dance, and act) but a lady named Rosa threw her infant in the trash because Rodolfo the father refuses to acknowledge this fact. Don’t worry, Violeta rescues the boy and raises him as her own… despite the risk to her job and being able to make a living.

It's a shame that at least in the United States, the task is difficult to track down films like this, or ones featuring Ninon Sevilla. All the same,
I was glad that Victims of Sin was easy for me to view in high quality-the happy song and dance was in contrast to the heavy drama where Violeta is fired from her job, is brutally assaulted by Rodolfo, and worse. Those light moments (and enthralling music new to my ears) brighten the otherwise dark plot. Sevilla was a dynamo as the lead, both with acting and musically. Rodolfo Acosta as the irredeemable SOB Rodolfo was also memorable as the ultimate heel.

I was happy to have viewed such a unique movie. Emilio Fernandez is best known in the role of actor who appeared in such Peckinpah flicks as The Wild Bunch & Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia; judging by Victims of Sin alone, he evidently was a fine director.