A Mexican newspaper boy invents video calls in 1957. Wild, right?
Cleto, a poor newspaper boy, dreamed of becoming a cyclist and inventor. His latest invention is delivering newspapers by rockets. When he finds the owner of the newspaper, dismisses him. But Cleto do not give up and shows Don Macario his latest invention: " The telemirófono ", a device that allows you to see the person talking on the phone...
Acting
Germán Valdés physical comedy as Cleto—pure elastic-limbed magic.
Production
DIY rocket bikes and proto-video phones made on shoestring budget.
Writing
Satire of wealthy gatekeepers still painfully relevant today.
Director
Fernando Cortés
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Germán Valdés 'Tin Tan' was Mexico's biggest comedy star; this was one of his rare straight-ish underdog roles rather than his usual pachuco persona.
The film satirizes Mexico's post-war industrial optimism—ordinary Mexicans inventing the future while elites ignore them. The telemirófono scene reportedly got huge laughs in 1957 theaters.
MX
