MIMÍ DERBA

(book in Spanish)

Written by Dr. Ángel Miquel Rendón, well-known Mexican film historian and author of several books.  He is particularly interested in the silent era of Mexican cinema, as well as in the pioneers of film criticism in this country.

Mimí Derba was born in Mexico, into an educated, well-off family.  She started on her artistic career being still very young, and was one of the most celebrated beauties in her day.  Apart from becoming a star in vaudeville theatre, she wrote short stories that were published in periodicals and books.

Miss Derba was also interested in cinema and went to the United States to study film editing.  With Enrique Rosas, she founded 'Azteca Films' in 1917 (this company had nothing to do with the film distribution firm of the same name). In addition to being one of the financial backers and producers in Azteca, Derba wrote and starred some of their films, and she even directed one of them, thus becoming the first Mexican woman in directing a feature film. 

One of the aims of the Azteca was to produce nationalistic films, but the few that were completed ended up resembling the Italian dramas in vogue.

Though these movies were successful at the box office, Azteca did not reap all the rewards and was forced to limit its filmic projects.

Mimí Derba continued his theatrical career.   After her retirement from the stage in 1932, she continued appearing in movies.  She is well remembered for her roles as a refined lady and stern mother.

In her youth, Mimí Derba was described by a poet as the woman "three parts Aphrodite and one part Minerva".

The book provides the reader with a very well informed panorama of the theatre and vaudeville in Mexico by the turn of the century and its stars, like María Conesa and Celia Montalván.

Book characteristics:

All contents © Agrasánchez Film Archive