DOUBLE FEATURE
MIL MASCARAS in his FIRST TWO FILMS

       

The 'Mil Mascaras' character [e.g., Aaron Rodriquez Arellano] was created before he ever entered the wrestling ring. He was introduced in Lucha Libre magazine by publisher Valente Perez [the man known as El Rey Midas de la Lucha Libre (the King of Wrestlng Arena)]. Seemingly, movie studio boss Luis Enrique Vergara was enjoying the success of his Lucha Movies, but he was unhappy because Santo wanted more money and Blue Demon was recuperating from an injury. Enter the new star, Mil Mascaras. His debut was supposed to be MIL MASCARAS, a black and white film scheduled for a 1967 release. But another studio, Cinecomisiiones Pictures, took advantage of a loophole and quickly produced their own Mil Mascaras debut, a color movie called LOS CANALLAS. After some show-biz confusion and threats of lawsuits, the two companies joined forces and arranged for CANALLAS to get the first release [perhaps because it was regarded as the better film] to be followed a year later - to capitalize on the anticipated success - by MIL MASCARAS.

FILM ONE
THE EVIL ONES [LOS CANALLAS] (1968) FULLSCREEN · SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES · 90 MINUTES
director: Federico Curiel
starring: Mil Mascaras · Regina Torne · Manolo Munoz · David Silva · Elvia Mendoza · Sergio Oliva

       

       

Incredible Regina Torne plays Kadena, the leader of a weird [and sadistically dangerous] gang knows as Hell's Angels. She is an unapologeticallyy sadistic and meanspirited chick who dabbles in Aztec Black Magic rites while whipping and torturing anyone who thinks about betraying her. Her boyfriend is currently in jail after being caught by archenemy Mil Mascaras. She desperately wants to kill the masked superhero and will stop at nothing to get the opportunity.

The first wrestling match features Mil against Olympic superstar Sergio Oliva [see pic above left]. They would reunite as friends a few years later in BLACK POWER. And interestingly, this film is the only time Mascaras is de-masked by a villain [see pic above right and, also below center when Kadena holds the mask in triumph].

    
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FILM TWO
MIL MASCARAS [PRESENTAMOS MASCARAS MIL] (1969) FULLSCREEN · SPANISH WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES · 92 MINUTES
director: Jaime Salvador
starring: Mil Mascaras · Malu Reyes · Dagoberto Rodriguez · Eric del Castillo · Agustin Isunza · Frankenstein

             
     

This film opens with a back story as a group of scientists and world leaders decide something must be done to protect the people of the world from an encroaching evil. At the end of World War II, they find an infant in Europe, clutched in his dead mother's arms. These men rescue and 'adopt' him, subject him to a brutal series of physical and mental trials to turn him into a superhuman champion of justice. For this episode, Mil Mascaras is pitted against some ruthless gangsters and a crooked wrestling match syndicate.

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