The Minister and Me

1976 1h 49m ES

👍

7.2

SOLID

★7.2TMDB · 39

ComedyDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Mateo Melgarejo is a notary public and scribe for the illiterate people of Santo Domingo, a neighborhood north of Mexico City's Zócalo. A squatter friend asks for his help in negotiating with the land census bureau to regularize a land title. After a great deal of frustration with the government bureaucracy, he writes a letter to the cabinet minister, earning an audience with him. The minister hires Melgarejo to reform the bureau, and the appointee proceeds to lecture the officials on their duties in a democratic society. At the end, he gives up the post, returning to Santo Domingo to help its poor residents.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Cantinflas
Mateo Melgarejo 'Mateíto'
Chela Castro
Vicky
Lucía Méndez
Barbara
Ángel Garasa
Avelino Romero 'Romeritos'
Manolita Saval
Estrellita
Delia Peña Orta
María
Alonso Castaño
Don Nachito
Miguel Manzano
Don Antonio, señor ministro

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Miguel M. Delgado
Writers: Cantinflas, Tito Davison
Languages: Spanish
Countries: Mexico

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

50 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Cantinflas Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Miguel M. Delgado, shot by Jorge Stahl Jr.. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Gustavo César Carrión. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Gloria Schoemann shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Cantinflas and Chela Castro and Lucía Méndez carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0161815 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 39 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Miguel M. Delgado directs. Jorge Stahl Jr. behind the camera. Gustavo César Carrión scores. Gloria Schoemann cuts. Produced in Mexico. Dialogue in Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

150 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Part of the "Cantinflas Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Miguel M. Delgado, shot by Jorge Stahl Jr.. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Gustavo César Carrión. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Gloria Schoemann shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Cantinflas and Chela Castro and Lucía Méndez carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0161815 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 39 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
9Classified under 12 themes, including "friendship", "government", "corruption", "car race".