Emilio Fernández (El Indio): The Mexican History Behind the Academy Awards Statuette
by Dee Dee Garcia Blase on Feb. 25, 2013, under Art y arte, Cultura, Culture, Entertainment
I learned some more Academy Award knowledge today from Jim Estrada.
I had no idea that little statuette had serious Mexican-American history. Did you?
Estrada writes:
QUIÉN SE PARECE A SU PADRE, HONRA SU MADRE: One more little tidbit before I stop kicking this dead horse. Mexican filmmaker and actor Emilio Fernández (El Indio) posed for the initial design of the statuette given to all the winners since 1929. While working in Hollywood, Fernández befriended Mexican actress Dolores del Rio—wife of MGM art director and AMPAS member Cedric Gibbons. Del Río introduced El Indio to Gibbons, who was then responsible for the statuette’s design. Despite the oversights and being the objects of their humor the “golden god” has a lot of Mexican influence in the annual awards show, but alas, it goes unknown and unnoticed. Ahora ya saben porque se parece el Oscar tanto a algunos parientes, eh?
