The Children of Sanchez
Encyclopedia
The Children of Sanchez is a 1961
book by American
anthropologist Oscar Lewis
about a Mexican
family living in the Mexico City
slum of Tepito
, which he studied as part of his program to develop his concept of culture of poverty
. Due to criticisms expressed by members of the family regarding the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) government and Mexican presidents such as Adolfo Ruiz Cortines
and Adolfo López Mateos
, and its being written by a foreigner, the book was banned in Mexico for a few years before pressure from literary figures resulted in its publication.
Jesus Sanchez, age fifty, is the father, and his four children are Manuel, age thirty-two; Roberto, twenty-nine; Consuelo, twenty-seven; and Marta, twenty-five.
and was released in 1979
. It stars Anthony Quinn
as Jesús Sánchez, a widowed farmer trying to care for his family in Mexico City. An abusive womanizer, he is a hard worker and feels that by supporting his family financially, he is fulfilling his responsibilities to them. His conflict with his daughter Consuelo (Lupita Ferrer
) continues through the entire movie as she attempts to break out of the role of being a submissive daughter. For advice and love, Consuelo goes to her grandmother (Dolores del Río
), the family's matriarch that even Consuelo's father respects. The advice she gives Consuelo is to get married, as the only way to escape her abusive father.
Among those in attendance at the film's American premiere on November 17, 1978 were President Jimmy Carter
and Rosalyn Carter, who were greeted at the premiere by Quinn, Ferrer and director Bartlett. Quinn himself escorted the President and the First Lady to their seats, and all proceeds went to the Mexican Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
The musical score for the film was written by Chuck Mangione
and won a Grammy award
. The film's title song was also written by Mangione and earned him a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Bette Davis
appeared in an uncredited role in the film.
1961 in literature
The year 1961 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*First English production of Bertolt Brecht's The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui*Michael Halliday publishes his seminal paper on the systemic functional grammar model....
book by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
anthropologist Oscar Lewis
Oscar Lewis
Oscar Lewis was an American anthropologist who is best known for his vivid depictions of the lives of slum dwellers and for postulating that there was a cross-generational culture of poverty among poor people that transcended national boundaries...
about a Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
family living in the Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
slum of Tepito
Tepito
Tepito is a barrio located in Colonia Morelos in the Cuauhtémoc borough of Mexico City bordered by Avenida del Trabajo, Paseo de la Reforma, Eje 1 and Eje 2. Most of the neighborhood is taken up by the colorful tianguis or open-air market. Tepito’s economy has been linked to tianguis or traditional...
, which he studied as part of his program to develop his concept of culture of poverty
Culture of poverty
The culture of poverty is a social theory that expands on the cycle of poverty. Proponents of this theory argue that the poor are not simply lacking resources, but also have a unique value system...
. Due to criticisms expressed by members of the family regarding the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) government and Mexican presidents such as Adolfo Ruiz Cortines
Adolfo Ruiz Cortines
Adolfo Ruiz Cortines was President of Mexico from 1952 to 1958, representing the Institutional Revolutionary Party he was one of the oldest presidents of Mexico...
and Adolfo López Mateos
Adolfo López Mateos
Adolfo López Mateos was a Mexican politician affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party who served as President of Mexico from 1958 to 1964...
, and its being written by a foreigner, the book was banned in Mexico for a few years before pressure from literary figures resulted in its publication.
Jesus Sanchez, age fifty, is the father, and his four children are Manuel, age thirty-two; Roberto, twenty-nine; Consuelo, twenty-seven; and Marta, twenty-five.
Film
The film based on the book and with the same title was directed by Hall BartlettHall Bartlett
Hall Bartlett was an American film producer, director, and screen writer.-Early life:Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he graduated from Yale University Phi Beta Kappa, and was a Rhodes Scholar nominee...
and was released in 1979
1979 in film
The year 1979 in film involved some significant events.- Major events :* March 5 - Production begins on Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.* May 25 - Alien, a landmark of the science fiction genre, is released....
. It stars Anthony Quinn
Anthony Quinn
Antonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
as Jesús Sánchez, a widowed farmer trying to care for his family in Mexico City. An abusive womanizer, he is a hard worker and feels that by supporting his family financially, he is fulfilling his responsibilities to them. His conflict with his daughter Consuelo (Lupita Ferrer
Lupita Ferrer
Lupita Ferrer is a Venezuelan theater, film and television actress.Ferrer was born Yolanda Guadalupe Ferrer in Maracaibo to Spanish immigrant parents. She became famous for her beauty and her strong theatrical presence.Ferrer has a strong theatrical background...
) continues through the entire movie as she attempts to break out of the role of being a submissive daughter. For advice and love, Consuelo goes to her grandmother (Dolores del Río
Dolores del Río
Dolores del Río was a Mexican film actress. She was a star of Hollywood films during the silent era and in the Golden Age of Hollywood...
), the family's matriarch that even Consuelo's father respects. The advice she gives Consuelo is to get married, as the only way to escape her abusive father.
Among those in attendance at the film's American premiere on November 17, 1978 were President Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
and Rosalyn Carter, who were greeted at the premiere by Quinn, Ferrer and director Bartlett. Quinn himself escorted the President and the First Lady to their seats, and all proceeds went to the Mexican Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
The musical score for the film was written by Chuck Mangione
Chuck Mangione
Charles Frank "Chuck" Mangione is an American flugelhorn player and composer who achieved international success in 1977 with his jazz-pop single, "Feels So Good." Mangione has released more than thirty albums since 1960.-Early life and career:...
and won a Grammy award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
. The film's title song was also written by Mangione and earned him a Grammy for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Bette Davis
Bette Davis
Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis was an American actress of film, television and theater. Noted for her willingness to play unsympathetic characters, she was highly regarded for her performances in a range of film genres, from contemporary crime melodramas to historical and period films and occasional...
appeared in an uncredited role in the film.