Julio Bracho began his career in the world of avant-garde theater as a writer/director, and reportedly only began working in cinema by accident when he met Paul Strand and was offered a job on the feature film Redes (1936). Bracho went on to write several screenplays, before being offered the chance to direct one himself: the musical comedy Ay! Que tiempos Señor Don Simón! was a breakaway success, smashing box-office records and securing Bracho’s place as one of the most important directors of the Golden Age.
Bracho’s second feature was Historia de un gran amor, which was based on the 1880 novel El niño de la bola by Spanish writer Pedro Antonio de Alarcón. Featuring photography from Gabriel Figueroa, meticulous, sweeping sets by Jorge Fernández and music by the great Mexican composers Raúl Lavista, Manuel Esperón and Miguel Bernal Jiménez, the film is a lavish melodrama about the impossible and epic love between Manuel, a poor young boy (a role that launched the career of actor and singer Jorge Negrete) and beautiful, rich Soledad (Gloria Marín, who was also Negrete’s off-screen wife). Fueled by his passion, Manuel leaves the small town to seek his fortune, returning a wealthy man desperate to claim the hand of the woman he loves.

Daniela Michel e Chlöe Roddick