The last rites and wrongs of the recently deceased

It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.

Ecclesiastes 7:2(NIV)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

CLUB DEAD: Ricardo Montalban


What's WRONG? At CLUB DEAD, The bell tolls for Ricardo Montalban dying at 88 of complications related to old age. He could sing, dance, grant wishes, even fantasies. He could convince us of the decadent luxury of "soft Corinthian leather," even though there is no such thing, but he still couldn't kill Captain Kirk.


Ricardo Montalban described "the five stages of an actor's career", which are...

  1. Who is Ricardo Montalban?
  2. Get me Ricardo Montalban.
  3. Get me a Ricardo Montalban type.
  4. Get me a young Ricardo Montalban
  5. Who is Ricardo Montalban?

He would know. He saw Hollywood like few ever have.

Ricardo Montalban was a suave latin lover in the movies, at a time when that was exactly what audiences wanted. The youngest of four children of Castailian immgrants, he was raised in Mexico. He had followed his older brother to California and into the movies, but returned home to live when his mother grew increasingly ill. He continued to act in Mexican movies until the chance came to star in a Hollywod musical, "Fiesta" which led to a contract with M-G-M.

He eventually was nominated for a Tony award for his work on Broadway in "Jamacia." Later on , he would win an Emmy for his portrayal of an Indian chief in "How The West Was Won." His occassional TV appearances had included a role in the first Gene Roddenberry-written science fiction teleplay, "The Secret Defense of 117." He also had a shot on "Bonanza" with the actress Madlyn Rhue. Years later, they would re-unite on screen in the Star Trek TOS episode "Space Seed." Rhue, his wife from "Bonanza," played the Starfleet historian who elects to and join him in exile, only to die soon after.

He made dozens of movies in the 40's and 50's but would not remain silent when his conscience told him to speak. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Although Montalban expressed appreciation for his success, he complained that Hollywood lacked respect for Mexican American actors. He said that while under contract at MGM, he portrayed Cubans, Brazilians and Argentines, but almost never Mexicans."

He fought for better treatment of Latinos in Hollywoood, was branded a troublemaker, and his career greatly suffered due to his efforts. But in one of the great second acts ever, he bounced back with a tripleheader performance.

As spokesman for Chrysler, he extolled the virtues of "soft Corinthian leather," which was actually an invention of the advertising people. Then Aaron Spelling cast him as the mysterious benefactor of "Fantasy Island" where guests were treated to the ulltimate in creature comforts, and dreams came true. This later led to parts in Spelling's "Dynasty" and "The Colbys."

And in 1982, he also reunited with Roddenberry. Montalban registered a turn as one of the best ever Star Trek villians, first in "Space Seed," then in the film "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan." Montalban reprised his TV role as Khan Noonien Singh, the leader of a group of genetically engineered super humans. Khan had returned to seek revenge on Captain James Kirk for stranding his crew on a desert planet. In "Space Seed" Rhue, his wife from "Bonanza," had played the Starfleet historian who elects to become his wife and join him in exile, only to die soon after.

Montalban played the character with delightful terror, vengeful even in death, and was the best of the movie villians which sprang from TOS.

Then again, screw him, he's dead. Let's go look for crocodiles.



StevenK

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