The two articles from page 8... the first one is extremely interesting, but the biographical sketch is not always, shall we say, accurate. ;)


TYRONE POWER’S CORDIAL SIMPLICITY

His former in-laws absent yesterday from Mexico [City]

Neither Señora Blanca W. de Alvarez Amézquita, nor Ariadne Walter, the former mother-in-law and sister-in-law, respectively, of the late actor Tyrone Power, were in the the capital city when the sad news was received.

At the two ladies’ homes -- Lomas de Chapultepec, and El Pedregal de San Angel -- the servants could only tell us that they were away from Mexico City.

Ariadne had always enjoyed Tyrone’s affection after she met him in Hollywood through her sister, Linda Christian, who, as is well known, he had married in Rome.

Power also cared greatly for his former mother-in-law, Doña Blanca, and she felt a genuine fondness for him. When the actor came to Mexico [City] he would stay the night at his in-laws’ home in Las Lomas, even after divorcing Linda. There always existed a sincere and undying affection between him and the family.

This reporter had occasion twice to greet him at the home of the Alvarez Amézquita family, when Tyrone was in Mexico -- his last stay here – during the shoot of his movie The Sun Always Rises, which was partly filmed in Morelia and partly at the Churubusco Studios.

Tyrone stopped going to his former in-laws’ house when it was said that his ex-wife, Linda Christian, was about to arrive in this capital from abroad. He did this, so he said, in order to avoid “misunderstandings.”

Power, from what we could observe, always cared deeply for Linda, although after the divorce he never thought about reconciling with her. He was a serious man, almost melancholy, but affectionate and with a great sense of humor. His favorite words in Spanish were “Hola” [“hello”] and “amigo” [“friend”], which he would invariably utter whenever he greeted Mexican journalists.

He was unaffected and friendly with everyone. The actor’s world fame never waned and he didn’t seem to give much importance to his popularity, especially with women, although he always conducted himself like a gentleman.

He was trying to learn Spanish, but he said that it was very difficult to master the language, mainly because he didn’t have time to study it as thoroughly as he wanted because of the heavy work schedule he generally had in Hollywood.

Whenever he was in Mexico [City], he liked to walk alone through the streets, and he was mostly interested in getting to know the capital’s outskirts: Xochimilco, Coyoacan, San Angel, etc.

He loved everything historical, and he twice visited the National Museum of History in Chapultepec Park, with the goal of studying and observing.

He liked tequila, alhtough he wasn't in the habit of drinking a lot, and he loved listening to the characteristic music of the country.

He dressed well, correctly; he shaved twice a day, because he had what is called a “heavy beard,” which gave him the appearance of a Latino man, as did his features in general. Tyrone easily could have passed for a Spaniard or Italian anywhere in the world.

His greatest loves, after his divorces from Annabella and Linda, were his two little daughters: Taryn and Romina, whom he visited several times here in this capital. They also lived with him in Hollywood for various periods.

He heaped both girls with presents and talked with them by telephone from whatever part of the world he found himself in. He did this invariably two or three times a week.

May the great actor Tyrone Power rest in peace.


Photo caption:

OTHER TIMES: In full idyll, the film actor Tyone Power, with his then-wife, Linda Christian. All movie lovers are in pain from the loss that the movies [“the seventh art”] have just suffered…


Biographical Sketch of Tyrone [Power]

•He began in the theater under the watchful eye of his father, who also was an actor

Hollywood, Cal., November 15 (AFP) – The film actor Tyrone Power, who just died in Spain, was born on May 5, 1914 in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents were actors and he grew up in an atmosphere of theatrical touring, making his own stage debut at 7 years of age. This appearance was not followed by others as his parents enrolled him in school for his education.

When he finished his studies in 1931, Tyrone received permission from his parents to attempt an acting career. His father entrusted him with a role in a production of The Merchant of Venice in which he was appearing. A few months later, the young actor discovered Hollywood and won a small role in the film “Miracle Man,” but he wasn’t able to pry open the doors of the movie capital and he returned to the stage.

It wasn’t until 1935 that he signed a contract for his first important stage role, Benvolio, in a Broadway production of Romeo and Juliet, starring the great American actress Katherine Cornell, who then cast him as the male lead in her production of George Bernard Shaw’s Saint Joan.

He then made a test for Darryl F. Zanuck which won him the lead starring role in Stage Door [sic]; Tyrone Power prevailed [at the box office] and his popularity continually grew, bringing him an uninterrupted series of successes, from Marie Antoinette with Norma Shearer until his last film, The Sun Also Rises with Ava Gardner and Juliette Greco, as well as The Rains Came with Myrna Loy, Blood and Sand with Rita Hayworth, In Old Chicago, The Mark of Zorro, Johnny Apollo and many others.

In 1939 he married the French actress Annabella, who starred with him in Suez. This marriage lasted eight years. In 1950 he married the Mexican actress Linda Christian; but this marriage was unhappy and Tyrone married again for the third time in May 1958, to Deborah Montgomery.

•
The death of Tyrone Power has caused enormous surprise in the film community, since…[article is cut off]

*****
For your enjoyment, the Spanish titles of Ty’s films from the biographical sketch and their literal English translations :)

The Rains Came
El Viento – The Wind

Blood and Sand
Arenas Ardientes – Burning Sands
(I don’t know why they changed it to Burning Sands as this movie was an adaptation of a very famous novel called, in Spanish, Blood and Sand)

In Old Chicago
El incendio de Chicago – The Fire of Chicago

The Mark of Zorro
El Signo de Zorro – OK, that translates as The Mark of Zorro :)

They misspelled Johnny Apollo as Jhonny Apollo but as you can tell from the description of Ty’s career above, that the least of their biographical mistakes.

This is wonderful, choice stuff, Peachtree :-)! Had no idea of the close connection to his mother-in-law. Can't recall now, but is appears that Ariadne is not the sister Linda C. had with her in that hotel in Rome where she first met TP (?) VERY interesting indeed as to the continuing affection with Linda's family; validates his charm even more, one would imagine.

Too, the walks through the streets and the calls to his daughters! Great stuff :-)!!

Yeah, a bit strange regarding the translation of Blood and Sand...even the Rains Came/The Wind for that matter.

I really had a great time translating that article about Ty's visits to Mexico City. It was nice to learn something about his personal life... everything I read about him makes me like him more and more. (If that's possible.) :)

>Whenever he was in Mexico [City], he liked to walk alone through the streets, and he was mostly interested in getting to know the capital’s outskirts: Xochimilco, Coyoacan, San Angel, etc.

Coincidentally, there was an interesting article in today's New York Times about Xochimilco... here is the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/world/americas/09mexico.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=mexico&st=cse&oref=slogin

Next up: reminisces by a very popular veteran Mexican actress about Ty.

Thanks for the translations, Peachtreegal. My Spanish is a bit rusty, and I was able to get the gist of them, but you've been more thorough.

I agree that the more you read about Ty, the more you like him and appreciate him as a person not only as an actor.

And Joanne's work certainly has made it easier for us to know him, too. What a collection you've shared, not to mention the time to get it mounted here.

(So Joanne--was the you who bought the passport? LOL)

>>I really had a great time translating that article about Ty's visits to Mexico City. It was nice to learn something about his personal life...

It IS great stuff, I know what you mean. It seems that the US press was lacking in delivering insight like this. One of the rare exceptions, at least it appears so are the NY newspaper interviews he gave in the 50's. They would offer a glimpse into his personal life as well, once in a while.

That's why these Mexican articles are all the more precious, IMHO. Not possible without you Peachtree !!!

Will check out the NY times article as well!

I think where you mention the article being cut off is here Peachtree, yes? If so, here is the rest of it (it belongs to the photo caption of TP holding the camera):

Enorme sorpresa ha causado en tedos los medios filmicos el falleciniento de Tyrone Power, pues era relativamente joven...

Looks like only the last few words were missing then. The entire sentence would translate as:

The death of Tyrone Power has caused enormous surprise in the film community, since he was relatively young.