Cantinflas’ double-entendres in Spanish and social satire were not easily translated for an American audience. So the script, critics said, was reduced to tired racial stereotypes.

Cantinflas’ most popular film in the U.S. was the 1956 adventure “Around the World in 80 Days,” also starring David Niven, which won the Oscar for best picture.

Cantinflas the movie tries to capture the magic of this much-loved legend, and it does so in fits and starts. Most of the credit goes to Oscar Jaenada in the title role, who does a remarkable job ...

Cantinflas’ comedy was “very local, and very Mexican,” hinging on his status as a Mexico City slum dweller, said del Amo. Yet his appeal transcended borders too.

As Cantinflas, Moreno invented the low-hanging-pants look. Wearing frayed, patched clothing, Cantinflas occupied the bottom rung of the social ladder, but kowtowed to no man.

He produced and acted in 50 movies and even co-wrote several. Moreno defined Cantinflas as a “humble man, a man of the people, who has hopes of a better future, who fights to redeem himself.” ...

He made a difference in Texas.The rally took place at an H-E-B, a Texas grocery store chain, on November 4, 1961, according to a newspaper article from SNAP News. Even though Cantinflas was best ...