UCLA Series Opens With Figueroa Tribute

UCLA began its “Mexican Film and the Literary Tradition” series Thursday by honoring a legendary cinematographer.

Gabriel Figueroa, who was behind the camera on “Los Olvidados,” “The Pearl” and John Huston’s “Night of the Iguana,” was on hand at the Motion Picture Academy’s theater to receive praise from 450 guests at the post-tribute reception. Figueroa was chosen for the honor because “his work runs like a thread through all the quality Mexican cinema of the past 50 years,” said series executive producer Geoffrey Gilmore.

“Figueroa’s work elevated the art of Mexican cinema to equal anything that was done in Hollywood,” said Edward James Olmos. “He’s one of the true masters of black and white.”

Though the tribute began with five minutes of “Two Mules for Sister Sara” in color, it was primarily a collection of clips from Figueroa’s Mexican black-and-white work during the ‘40s and ‘50s that was shown during the 90-minute retrospective.

“He really understood the subtlety of black and white,” said director George Schaefer. “In his hands, it was infinitely more expressive.”

Figueroa, 84, was on his feet throughout the party, greeting friends in English and Spanish. His wife, Antonieta, tried to get him to sit and rest, but Figueroa insisted on enthusiastically welcoming the guests. “I feel very much at home here,” he said. “This is where I learned my craft--the lighting, the camera--when I was with Gregg Toland.”

Of his work, Figueroa said, “I put all my power into the image of Mexico. My work is old, but the image is still there on the screen.”

Among the guests were Mexican Consul General Jose Angel Pescador, directors Randa Haines and Luis Valdez, Mexican film stars Silvia Pinal and Ofelia Medina, producer Moctesuma Esparza and cinematographer Stanley Cortez.

Though there was no direct connection with the “Mexico: Splendors of 30 Centuries” exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the UCLA program is part of the current celebration of Mexican culture inspired by the museum.

“A lot of what you see at the county museum--Siqueiros, Rivera, Orozco--is reflected in Figueroa’s work,” said series co-curator Michael Donnelly. “If Gabriel had a brush, his work would be hanging at the museum.”

“Mexican Film and the Literary Tradition” will run at UCLA’s Melnitz Theater through Dec. 14.