Julio Bracho

Julio Bracho was born in Durango, Mexico, as the ninth of eleven children of a prominent family. His sister Guadalupe became a famous actress under the name Andrea Palma, and his cousins were Dolores del Río and Ramón Novarro, both Hollywood stars. Bracho studied drama and became involved in modern theater projects in Mexico, founding several groups and directing plays by authors such as Eugene O'Neill and J.M. Synge. He also worked as a journalist and a radio announcer. He made his debut as a film director in 1941 with the comedy ¡Ay, qué tiempos, señor Don Simón!, which was a hit at the box office. He then directed several films that are considered classics of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, such as Historia de un gran amor (1942), Distinto amanecer (1943), Crepúsculo (1945), and La sombra del caudillo (1960). He was known for his meticulous style, his attention to detail, and his social and political themes. He collaborated with actors such as Pedro Armendáriz, Arturo de Córdova, María Félix, Dolores del Río, and his daughter Diana Bracho, who became a successful actress herself. He was married to actress Rosenda Monteros from 1955 to 1957. He died in Mexico City in 1978, leaving behind a legacy of 50 films as a director and 36 as a screenwriter.