Beautiful Michoacán (Spanish: ¡Qué lindo es Michoacán!) is a 1943 Mexican musical comedy film directed by Ismael Rodríguez and starring Tito Guízar, Gloria Marín and Víctor Manuel Mendoza.Hellier-Tinoco p.282 It was shot at the Clasa Studios in Mexico City and on location around Michoacán. The film's sets were designed by the art director Ramón Rodríguez Granada.
Plot Gloria (Gloria Marín), a wealthy, highly sophisticated young woman from Mexico City, travels to the state of Michoacán to inspect a rural estate she has recently inherited from her family. Steeped in high-society city habits, she arrives at the property with an arrogant, condescending attitude toward provincial life and rural customs. Upon her arrival, she crosses paths with Roque (Tito Guízar), a proud, charming, and highly respected local rancher who manages neighboring properties and deeply values regional traditions. Their initial meeting instantly sparks a fierce clash of personalities, as Gloria's urban elitism directly insults Roque's provincial pride, leading to a series of sharp arguments and mutual rejections.
Determined to teach the arrogant city woman a lesson in humility, Roque plays along with her demanding whims while subtly orchestrating situations to expose her complete inability to handle rural ranch work. The regional dynamic complicates when Santos (Víctor Manuel Mendoza), a hot-tempered and aggressive local suitor, notices Gloria's presence and begins aggressively courting her, sparking intense masculine rivalries with Roque. As Gloria spends more time navigating the breathtaking landscapes, horseback rides, and community festivals of Michoacán, her superficial city defenses begin to crumble. She witnesses the deep honesty, community solidarity, and artistic richness of the local people, triggering a profound internal moral awakening that forces her to reconsider her vanity.
Recognizing her change of heart, Roque realizes he has fallen deeply and unconditionally in love with Gloria, and she gradually reciprocates his romantic feelings. However, the budding romance is severely threatened by the jealous Santos, who triggers a volatile confrontation to sabotage their relationship and reclaim Gloria by force. Through a series of fast-paced rural pursuits, public standoffs during a traditional regional celebration, and a final show of bravery by Roque, Santos's aggressive plans are completely neutralized. Gloria openly rejects her old high-society life in the capital, choosing instead to stand proudly by Roque's side. The narrative reaches a festive climax as the couple reconciles, celebrating their authentic romantic bond through a grand musical performance that serves as a cinematic homage to the cultural identity, traditional folklore, and natural beauty of Michoacán.
Cast
Tito Guízar as Ernesto Gloria Marín as Gloria Santibáñez Víctor Manuel Mendoza as Roque Evita Muñoz ("Chachita") as Chachita Dolores Camarillo as Nacha Jesús Graña as Evaristo Manuel Noriega as Padre Francisco Arturo Soto Rangel as Licenciado Carolina Barret as Julia Julio Ahuet as Valentín Ángel Garasa as Gastón Lupe del Castillo as Pianista Emma Duval as Nana
References
Bibliography Ruth Hellier-Tinoco. Embodying Mexico: Tourism, Nationalism & Performance. Oxford University Press, 2011. .
External links