¡¡¡Mátenme porque me muero!!! (1951) Tin-Tan & Tongolele By Francisco Rivero Gil

Description

This is a vintage original 27.5 x 37.5 in. "country or origin" Mexican poster from the popular 1950's Mexican comedy,
¡¡¡Mátenme porque me muero!!!
(
Kill Me Because I'm Dying!
), released in Mexico in 1951 and
directed by
Ismael Rodríguez
.
Based upon the novel by
Enrique Jardiel Poncela, Tin-Tan just won the lottery and wants to donate it to an orphanage; however, Sataela and Riverita want to keep the money for themselves. In an attempt to do so, they convince him of having a terminal disease and suggest that committing suicide is his best option.
The artwork was designed by the renowned Spanish illustrator, Francisco Rivero Gil
(1899-1972), and is dominated by a large image of Tin-Tan (
Germán Valdés
), wearing a bright blue suit and hat with a bright yellow shirt, as he raises his hand to his neck as if he can't breathe. During his ordeal, he is surrounded by a group of unsavory characters which includes El Enanito Tun-Tun (the Midget, portrayed by
José René Ruiz
), who is literally clinging to Tin-Tan by his jacket pocket, looking over his shoulder at the exotic
Tongolele
(herself). She is wearing a tight one-piece outfit and high heels as she holds her black cape open to expose the interior white lining. Tin-Tan is surrounded on both sides by three very sinister-looking men, one of which is pointing a gun (left) and, at the right, an evil doctor holds an absurdly large hypodermic needle and another man with a green face wields an axe. Francisco Rivero Gil's signature is featured in the bottom right corner of the artwork and is displayed vertically.
This vintage original "country of origin" Mexican poster was
professionally linen-backed without any restoration whatsoever
, as none was needed since it was in near-perfect condition when we obtained it years ago. We had it linen-backed by Poster Mountain for conservation purposes only and it has remained in a flat flat ever since then. It is in very fine+ condition and the colors are fresh and vibrant without any signs of fading. Rivero Gil's illustration style on this poster is particularly interesting. The image of the famous Tongolele is very reminiscent of the style of animation that was used in the Universal comedy horror classic,
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
, for the scene in which Dracula (Bela Lugosi) changes into a bat. The artwork of Francisco Rivero Gil has been on display at such famous institutions as the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.
Germán Genaro Cipriano Gómez Valdés de Castillo
(September 19, 1915 – June 29, 1973), better known as
Tin-Tan
, was an actor, singer, and comedian who was born in Mexico City but was raised and began his career in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. He often displayed the pachuco dress and employed pachuco slang in many of his movies, some with his brothers Manuel "El Loco" Valdés and Ramón Valdés. He made the language of the Mexican American pachucos famous in Mexico. A "caló" based in Spanglish, it was a mixture of Spanish and English in speech based on that of Mexican immigrants. Tin Tan began his career by calling himself
Topillo
(slang for the trickster), which a friend of his stated sounded too vulgar and uncouth for a comedian. He suggested instead the nickname Tin Tan (based on the phonetic sound of bells ringing), which Tin Tan originally disliked but grew to like and use professionally for his whole career.
His movie career came as a completely surprise for everyone. He used to work as a sweeper for the XEJ radio station in Ciudad Juarez, when he decided to try and mimic the radio announcers for fun. Unbeknownst to him, the actual announcer had left leaving the microphone on. His quick wit and funny personality garnered him acclaim and he was quickly promoted to the main radio announcer himself. It was in this circumstances that legendary ventriloquist, Paco Miller, contacted him to act in films, and his career began. He usually acted alongside his “carnal” (blood brother), Marcelo Chavez, who also accompanied Tin-Tan with a guitar. He was a prominent figure during his golden years of movie making, from 1949 onward. His 1948 movie,
Calabacitas tiernas
, a comedy, was chosen as one of the best in Mexican cinema
.
He was also one of several people who were originally intended to be on the front cover of the Beatles’
Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
, but declined the invitation. He requested that Ringo Starr swap him for a Mexican Tree known as "El Arbol de la Vida" (the Tree of Life) and he did. He was the voice of Baloo the bear and Thomas O'Malley the cat in the Mexican Spanish dubbing of the Disney films
The Jungle Book
and
The Aristocats
; both roles were originally voiced by Phil Harris. Tin-Tan was the subject of the 2005 documentary,
Ni Muy Muy… Ni Tan Tan… Simplemente Tin Tán
, by Manuel Márquez and Carlos Valdés, son of the comedian.
Yolanda Yvonne Montes Farrington
(born January 3, 1932 in Spokane, Washington, better known by her stage-name Tongolele, is a Mexican
vedette
and actress of American origin.
Her career was sheltered by theatrical success in the main theaters and cabarets of Mexico City. Tongolele boosted the success of the "Exoticas", a group of vedettes that caused a sensation in Mexico in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Although other vedettes that became popular at the time (like "Kalantán" and Su Muy Key
) appeared, none reached the levels of popularity of Tongolele. Yolanda was baptized by Mexican journalist Carlos Estrada Lang as "The Queen of Tahitian Dances," as each night, she congregated a wide male audience who adored her perfect silhouette and feline movements that marked an era in Mexico. She made her film debut in 1948 in the film,
Nocturne of Love
, starring the actress Miroslava Stern
. In 1948, she starred in the film,
¡Han matado a "Tongolele"!
, directed by Roberto Gavaldon. The plot was developed in the theater Folies Bergère of Mexico City. At another level of the plot, several envious people attempted to assassinate her. The film premiered on September 30, 1948. As a guest, she starred in
El Rey del barrio
(1949) and
Kill Me Because I'm Dying!
(1951) and the musical,
Musica de siempre
(1956). In 1966, she returned to the cinema and appeared in the terror film
The Panther Women
. In 1968, she appeared in the film
El crepusculo de un dios
, directed and carried out by Emilio Fernandez
.