Hollywood’s Hidden Hispanic Heritage
By Miguel Perez
In 1934, Wallace Beery was Pancho Villa in MGM’s “Viva Villa.” In 1939, Paul Muni played Benito Juarez in Warner Bros’ “Juarez.” In 1952, Marlon Brando starred as Emiliano Zapata in FOX’s “Viva Zapata.” In 1961, Natalie Wood became the Puerto Rican “Maria” in United Artists’ “West Side Story.”
Do you see a pattern here?