
Ignacio Retes
Biography
José Ignacio Retes Guevara was a Mexican playwright, film, theater and television actor, director, and writer. Two-time winner of the Ariel Award. He studied at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in the 30s, where he was able to meet other prominent playwrights and directors of the time such as Rodolfo Usigli, Seki Sano and José Revueltas.
He founded the University Theater of San Luis Potosí in 1937 and the theater company Lantern Magic with workers from the Mexican Union of Electricians. With Usigli he founded the company Midnight Theater (in reference to the free time that both had to collaborate in it); with Sano he would work as an assistant. In 1950 he made his directorial debut with "Los cuadrantes de la soledad" by José Revueltas, which reached 100 performances. Said montage also featured scenography designed by Diego Rivera.
In 1944 he wrote his first play, "El día de Mañana". As a film actor, he made his debut in the 1950s and was directed by directors such as Jorge Fons, Felipe Cazals, Jaime Humberto Hermosillo, Sergio Olhovich and Arturo Ripstein. In his role as a screenwriter, he wrote the scripts for films such as Anguish Nights and Journey to Paradise, among others. He was also a public official, as director of the theaters of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), where he promoted the massive construction of public theaters, reaching 38 venues. In the 1960s he collaborated closely with the writer Vicente Leñero, with whom he made various works such as the theatrical version of Los albañiles and Los Niños de Sánchez, among others.
The Hidalgo-Ignacio Retes Theater in Mexico City has been named after the actor since 2006
His son, Gabriel Retes, became a prominent actor, director and writer.
Acting (44 movies)

Aunt Alejandra
1979

The Hard Years
1973

Three of Cups
1986

Deceitful Appearances
1983

Mariana Mariana
1987

Los Naúfragos II: Los Piratas
1986

Chido Guan, el tacos de oro
1986

Herencia maldita
1987

Knock Out
1984

The flying pony
1982

Chin Chin el teporocho
1976

Los años duros: El nacimiento de un guerrillero
1989

Playa azul
1992

Bienvenido-Welcome
1995

Motel
1984

El centro del laberinto
1985

If I Never See You Again
1997

Encuentro Inesperado
1993

El Reventón
1977

The Big Dead Dog
1981

El tahúr
1979

El rey de la vecindad
1985

La casta divina
1977

Doña Perfecta
1951

The Year of the Plague
1978

The Eve
1982

Mundo mágico
1983

Paper Flowers
1978

Lovers, Partners & Spies
1988

Amor a la medida
1993

A Married Woman
1982

New World
1978

Los Desalmados
1971

Esmeralda Comes by Night
1997

Luna de sangre
1984

Broken Flag
1979

The Realm of Fortune
1986

La vida tiene tres días
1955

Cuartelazo
1977

Everyone's Hell So Feared
1981

Melodías de amor
1955

Vintage Model
1992

Oficio de tinieblas
1981

The Castaways of Liguria
1985
Directing (1 movie)
| Title | Year | Job | 
|---|---|---|
| Paper Flowers | 1978 | Writer | 
| Broken Flag | 1979 | Screenplay | 
| Viaje al paraíso | 1985 | Screenplay | 
| The Naked City | 1989 | Screenplay | 
