The Shadow of the Tyrant

Bracho’s 1960 passion project, based on the famous 1929 novel by revolutionary author Martín Luis Guzmán, daringly tackles the corruption of the Mexican elite and the country’s political process; its depiction of treachery and sleaze (all based on the behavior of real-life politicians) outraged the army, and left it banned for over thirty years. Tackling the murderous scramble for power between strongmen and their suck-ups after the Mexican Revolution, The Shadow of the Tyrant still has time for rousingly populist set pieces (showgirls who sing “Respect the popular vote! Don’t be a rat!”), noirish intrigues, and some wonderful location shooting amidst Mexico City’s cultural landmarks.