Enmascarado de Plata, El
Entry updated 14 July 2025. Tagged: Film.
Mexican film (1954; vt The Silver Masked Man). Filmex. Directed by René Cardona. Written by René Cardona, José G Cruz and Ramón Obón. Cast includes Luis Aldás, Crox Alvarado, René Cardona Jr, Víctor Junco, Aurora Segura. 125 minutes. Black and white. IMDb gives the release year as 1954, but the end credits say MCMLIII, ie. 1953. This was originally intended as a twelve-part Serial Film – it is not clear whether it ever saw cinematic release in this form – before being edited into a full-length movie, and 1953 might refer to the serial version.
A striped, gloved hand pulls a lever and a hurricane changes direction (see Weather Control) causing much damage: the latest in a series of Disasters sabotaging Mexico's infrastructure. The Silver Masked Man – who the viewer will initially assume is the owner of the striped gloves – appears on a body-length television screen to inform his cronies they must now undertake robberies to fund further attacks. As his image leaves the screen another masked figure appears, that of the El Médico Asesino ("The Killer Doctor"), who warns them to desist – but they assume this is a test of loyalty by their boss. Shortly after, another of their number walks in, adjusting his clothes; he is chided for being late again. The gang's subsequent attempt to rob a rich man is foiled by the motorcycle-riding El Médico Asesino – though he then berates the victim for hoarding money when he could be using it to build schools, hospitals and gyms. Elena (Segura), the man's niece and a journalist, notices a wound on the hero's hand; then, when her colleagues Julio (Alvarad) and Alfredo (Junco) arrive, notices the same mark on Julio, only for Alfredo to display one too (one of them was also the tardy gang member).
Later, the niece is kidnapped, with El Médico Asesino captured during a rescue attempt; the Silver Masked Man puts him in an electric chair wired up to electrocute him when a door is opened. Brute strength enables our hero to break free in time (needless to say, this was an episode cliffhanger in the serial version). Shortly after, El Médico Asesino takes thirteen-year-old Pecas (Cardona Jr) under his wing, conducting him around the secret laboratory whose equipment (see Technology) picks up communications chatter, enabling him to locate people who require his aid; the boy is given a belt that transmits his location and a button to press when in danger. Later, Pecas is taken to an ice cream parlour by the journalists' editor, Mr Kroger (Aldás), only to be kidnapped. During his rescue, El Médico Asesino manages to capture the Silver Masked Man, who reveals he is just a front for the real boss, El Tigre – and is shot as he's about to reveal that villain's real name.
El Tigre, who wears a striped mask as well as the aforementioned gloves, tries to frame El Médico Asesino for murder and robbery, but the police realize the fingerprints aren't his – however, El Tigre does manage to locate the other's laboratory and destroy it (El Médico Asesino having been distracted by confronting and battling an imposter in the wrestling ring). El Tigre then recommences his acts of destruction and notifies the authorities he will shortly make his demands known. However, Pecas hides in the boot of one of the villain's cars and arrives at his headquarters, destroying the their laboratory and notifying the police and El Médico Asesino, the latter defeating El Tigre and removing his mask – to reveal Mr Kroger! We have been led to suspect either Julio and Alfredo as El Médico Asesino – with perhaps the other being the Silver Masked Man or El Tigre; the viewer is expected to have discounted Mr Kroger by his use of crutches.
El Enmascarado de Plata had been intended to star Mexico's most famous wrestler or Luchador, Santo, nicknamed "el Enmascarado de Plata" ("the Silver Masked Man"); his popularity was partially due to a very successful Comic book series created by José G Cruz, titled Santo, el Enmascarado de Plata – and Cruz, with Cardona, co-wrote the story that Obón developed into the screenplay. Unfortunately Santo was not interested, so the title character became the film's secondary villain and another wrestler, El Médico Asesino, took the lead role. Though not the first film about Mexican luchadors and only having one wrestling scene (the only indication, save for his costume, that the hero might be a wrestler), El Enmascarado de Plata created the template for subsequent decades' luchador films, where they are Superheroes of the Batman variety, fighting evil (see Crime and Punishment) without the aid of Superpowers; these stories often have sf, Horror or Fantasy elements and questions about which of the main cast have secret Identities. The film itself suffers from being overlong: cut back to something like 75 minutes it could be a moderately enjoyable if unremarkable watch. As it stands, the succession of serial cliffhangers and escapes come across as padding; though acknowledging it actually costs money for evil masterminds to build and use technology is a nice touch. [SP]
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