The Wild Bunch and Academy Awards

[J-BAR #18287]

Emilio Fernandez, the actor who played General Mepache in "The Wild Bunch", was apparently an important and respected actor in the Mexican film industry. But he also made a surprising contribution to American films.

 

As a young man, he posed nude as the model for the Oscar.

 

So when you see that beautiful actress holding her Academy Award, now you know who she's really holding.

 

Muy Bueno, General Mepache. Salud!!

 

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0273477/bio

[Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438]

Emilio Fernandez, the actor who played General Mepache in "The Wild Bunch", was apparently an important and respected actor in the Mexican film industry. But he also made a surprising contribution to American films.

 

As a young man, he posed nude as the model for the Oscar.

 

So when you see that beautiful actress holding her Academy Award, now you know who she's really holding.

 

Muy Bueno, General Mepache. Salud!!

 

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0273477/bio

 

 

The world is full of great connections. Read the rest of the linked article, and you will also see that Fernandez was assigned by the Mexican government to the crew of The Magnificent Seven, which was filming in Mexico. His assignment was to assure that the portrayals of Mexicans were not demeaning. I saw an interview with Steve McQueen's widow, in which she described problems with the government over the costuming of the village peasants. The Mexicans objected to showing them with dirty clothes, so we ended up with a bunch of dirt farmers in absolutely clean, white outfits. Eventually, they allowed some working dirt to appear.

 

Fernandez' filmography is astounding, as an actor, writer and director. Although much of it is Mexican, he also acted in American Westerns, including "Billy the Kid and Pat Garrett", "The Appaloosa" and "The War Wagon".

 

LL