
La perla (The Pearl). 1947. Mexico. Directed by Emilio Fernández. Screenplay by Emilio Fernández, John Steinbeck, Jackson Wagner, based on the novella by John Steinbeck. Cinematography by Gabriel Figueroa. With Pedro Armendáriz, María Elena Marqués, Fernando Wagner. DCP. In Spanish; English subtitles. 85 min.
Oyster diver Pedro Armendáriz discovers a gigantic pearl, which he hopes will bring happiness to his wife (Maria Elena Marqués) and young son. Sadly, as he soon discovers in this parable based on a novella by John Steinbeck, the world does not work that way for the poor and disenfranchised. Coproduced by RKO Radio Pictures, the film won the Golden Lion at the 1947 Venice Film Festival and confirmed Fernández’s stature as Mexico’s leading filmmaker.