Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Who Are Those Guys ~ Fernando Casanova




Fernando Casanova was born Fernando Gutiérrez López on November 24, 1925 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. As a teenager, his greatest dream was to be a great bullfighter, and as soon as he could leave his studies he became a bullfighter. Shortly afterwards he had the opportunity to debut in the Toreo de la Condesa in Mexico City, where he suffered a goring in the right leg.  Before this failure, Fernando returned to the squares of province, but after five years of fighting for a good place in the bullfighting, decided to leave this profession. 

In 1946 , thanks to his appearance, he was able to start a career in films with supporting roles in classic films such as “The Intimate Life of Marco Antonio and Cleopatra” (1946), “The Kneeling Goddess” (1947), “Juan Charrasqueado” (1947), “Si adelita se fuera con otro” (1948), “La malquerida” (1949), “Puerta joven!”  (1949), “Él” (1952), “El mártir del calvario” (1952) and “Piel canela” (1953),

His first opportunity as a star was given to him by producer and relative Raúl de Anda, who along with Alfonso Rosas Priego launched him to stardom by offering him a film that would turn out to be a phenomenal blockbuster: “El águila negra” (The Black Eagle) (1953). Shortly after, and without even this one having been released, he participated in a film that turned out to be another success: “Escuela de vagabundos” (School of Vagabundos) (1954), of Rogelio A. González.  In this latter film he competed for the attention of the beautiful Miroslava with Pedro Infante.

 Before the success of “El águila negra”, the producer Raul de Anda planned a series of films with the character the central figure, being these “El águila negra en el tesoro de la muerte” (1954), “El vengador solitario” (1954), with Eulalio González (1956), “El águila negra en la ley de lo Fuertes” (1956), “El águila negra contra los enmascarados de la muerte” (1956) “El águila negra contra los diablos de la pradera” (1956) in the last three with Fernando Soto "Mantequilla" as a companion in his adventures.  Another character with whom he made a three-film series was "The Devil," with moderate success.  By this time he participated in interesting films like “The Bandits of Rio Frío” (1956) and “Pies de Gato” (1957) alternating with Luis Aguilar, “Cuatro contra el imperio” (1955) with Antonio Aguilar, Rebeca Iturbide and Charito Granados , and “El hombre del alazán” (1958), with Martha Mijares and Flor Silvestre .

By the 1960s , Fernando, had solidified his popularity and was known as the first figure of the Mexican action film - of which he is considered to be one of its greatest exponents, along with figures such as Mario Almada, Julio Alemán, Armando Silvestre And Valentín Trujiilo - and of the so-called "Chili Western", alternating with several figures of the 1960s such as Antonio and Luis Aguilar, Rosa de Castilla, Sonia Furió, Armando Silvestre, Javier Solís, David Reinoso, El Santo, Manuel López Ochoa, Julio Aldama and Lucha Villa.  He also filmed a couple of movies in Europe where he was billed as Fred Canow.

In the decade of 1970s his participation in cinema declined.  Nevertheless, he participated in the comedy “National Mechanics” (1973) by Luis Alcoriza.  In the following decades he had a constant participation, both in cinema and Home Video, recording his last appearance in the year 2007.  In all, he starred in 178 films throughout his long career.

In 2010 he married at age 85 with his partner of several years, although he had already had other marriages.

Fernando Casanova died in Mexico City on November 16, 2012 at the age of 90 years-old.


CASANOVA, Fernando (aka Fred Canow) (Fernando Gutiérrez López) [11/24/1922, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico – 11/16/2012, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico (prostate cancer)] – writer, singer, film, actor, married to María Gunariz (2010-2012), father of Fernando Casanova, Adriana Casanova, Ligia Casanova Gutiérrez.
4 Bullets for Joe – 1963 (Sheriff Paul) [as Fred Canow]
Sign of the Coyote – 1964 (César de Echagüe/El Coyote)

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