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Ismael Rodríguez

Ismael Rodríguez

Director, writer, producer and actor, also editor · Died August 7, 2004, aged 86 · Mexico City, Mexico

Ismael Rodríguez Ruelas (October 19, 1917 – August 7, 2004) was an acclaimed Mexican film director. Rodríguez directed many major stars, including Pedro Infante, Dolores del Río, María Félix, and even Toshiro Mifune, the favorite actor of Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, as a Mexican Indian in the film Ánimas Trujano (1961). This film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Rodríguez's most renowned international film is Tizoc, in which Pedro Infante-who starred alongside Maria Felix -received a Golden Globe nomination for best actor. For this role, Infante won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 7th Berlin International Film Festival. Pedro Infante died in a plane crash. on April 15, 1957, before receiving the award. When Ismael Rodriguez asked Pedro's mother to keep the Silver Bear, she refused to accept it. Instead she told Rodriguez that because He had "made" Pedro Infante, deserved to keep the statue. He humbly did. Rodriguez, not only worked with the best of Mexican and international actors, he made some of the most memorable movies of the time. A brilliant writer/director.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 19, 1917
Died
August 7, 2004 (aged 86)
From
Mexico City, Mexico
Works as
Director, writer, producer and actor, also editor
Titles
36 on MovieCove · 83 credits in all

What are Ismael Rodríguez's films like?

Across their 34 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

What they feel like to watch

their average across 34 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category

A split, not a type: Light 17 · Serious 6 · Dark 11

Grounded 25 · Stylized 7 · Heightened 2

Gentle 7 · Charged 22 · Intense 5

A split, not a type: Steady 19 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 8

Slow burn 17 · Even-paced 17 · Relentless 0

Casual 25 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 0

A split, not a type: Easy watch 13 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 9

Resolved 32 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
18
Melancholic
15
Hopeful
10
Absurd
8
Romantic
6
Other
28

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet10
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous4

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ismael Rodríguez's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 6 of their 36 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Subscription and free streaming for Ismael Rodríguez's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

83 credits, 36 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Becoming Frederick Douglass(2022)

    Cinematographer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Reclusorio III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Director · Writer

  • Fuera de la ley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Reclusorio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Director · Screenplay

  • El hombre cine mexicano: Pedro Infante, el mito (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Pandilleras (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Producer

  • Two Kinds of Schemes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Director

  • Solicito marido para engañar(1988)

    Director · Executive Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • The Scent of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Screenplay

  • ¡Yerba Sangrienta! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director · Writer

  • Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Corrupción (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • Burdel(1982)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Snow White and Her Seven Lovers(1980)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
  • El secuestro de los cien millones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Director

  • Ratero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Director

  • Somo del otro Laredo (Chicanos Go Home)(1977)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Nosotros los feos(1973)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Mi niño Tizoc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Director · Adaptation · Screenplay

  • El ogro(1971)

    Director · Editor · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Trampa para una niña (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Director

  • Faltas a la moral(1970)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • The Butcher’s Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • The Door and the Butcher's Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Producer · Story

  • Cuernos debajo de la cama (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Autopsia de un fantasma(1968)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films
  • Chewing Gum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • The Boy and the Ball and the Hole in the Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Director · Writer

  • The Mighty Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Director

  • This was Pedro Infante (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Director · as Ismael Rodríguez

  • The Paper Man(1963)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • La Bandida (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Producer

  • The Important Man(1961)

    Director · Adaptation · Producer · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
  • My Son, the Hero(1961)

    Director · Adaptation

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
  • Cada quién su vida(1960)

    Executive Producer · Producer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • The Soldiers of Pancho Villa(1959)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
  • This Was Pancho Villa: Second chapter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • El gran premio(1958)

    Producer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • This Was Pancho Villa: Third chapter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Director · Producer · Screenplay

  • Land of Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Director · Writer

  • Tizoc(1957)

    Director · Story

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
  • This Was Pancho Villa: First chapter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films
  • Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
  • Cupido pierde a Paquita(1955)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Sheena: Queen of the Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 3 episodes · Production Executive

  • Los paquetes de Paquita (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Director

  • Píntame angelitos blancos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Director

  • Romance de fieras (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Director · Producer · Writer

  • Storm in the souls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Director

  • Maldita ciudad (un drama cómico)(1954)

    Director · Producer · Writer · as Paquita's wooer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
  • Two Careful Fellows(1953)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • Pepe El Toro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Director · Screenplay · as Paseante (uncredited)

  • Del rancho a la televisión(1953)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Mátenme porque me muero(1951)

    Director · Adaptation · Producer · as Transeúnte (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
  • ¿Qué te ha dado esa mujer? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Full Spead Ahead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Director · Screenplay · as Hombre que cuelga el telefono (uncredited)

  • Las Islas Marias (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Producer

  • Las mujeres de mi general(1951)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
  • Over the Waves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director · Writer

  • No desearás la mujer de tu hijo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Director · Writer

  • The Black Sheep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Director · Screenplay

  • Ustedes, los ricos(1948)

    Director · Screenplay · Story · as Transeúnte (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
  • Los tres huastecos(1948)

    Director · Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
  • Nosotros los pobres(1948)

    Director · Producer · Story

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
  • Los tres García(1947)

    Director · Producer · Writer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
  • Vuelven los García (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director · Screenplay

  • ¡Qué verde era mi padre! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    Director

  • Cuando lloran los valientes(1947)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • ¡Ya tengo a mi hijo!(1946)

    Director · Writer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Escándalo de estrellas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director · Writer

  • Amores de ayer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    Director

  • Beautiful Michoacan(1943)

    Director

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • ¡Mexicanos al Grito de Guerra! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    Director · Supervising Technical Director

  • Cuando viajan las estrellas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Sound Engineer

  • Las cinco noches de Adán (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    Sound

  • El secreto del sacerdote(1941)

    Adaptation

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • Viviré otra vez (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    Producer

  • Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
  • Don't Fool Yourself Dear(1937)

    as Empleado oficina (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
  • The Tiger of Yautepec (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    Sound Montage Associate

  • Santa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    Actor

Career shape

A full career of 82 titles from 1932 to 2022.

Film career

  • 1951Screen debut· Full Spead Ahead

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting9 of 82: 3 only acting, 6 with another roleDirecting64 of 82: 19 only directing, 45 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thWriting46 of 82: 3 only writing, 43 with another role · typical Midcredits score83rdProducing24 of 82: 6 only producing, 18 with another role · typical Midcredits score79thCinematography1 of 82: 1 only cinematography, 0 with another roleOther crew6 of 82: 5 only other crew, 1 with another role

82 titles, 45 with more than one role — directing and writing overlap on 43 of them.

By decade

1930s3 · 2 acting · 1 crew1940s18 · 1 acting · 18 crew1950s26 · 4 acting · 26 crew1960s13 · 1 acting · 13 crew1970s7 · crew1980s9 · crew1990s5 · 1 acting · 4 crew2020s1 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Ismael Rodríguez's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 64th percentile, the median of all 36; across their 34 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 58th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Reach · how many have seen their films

9thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 34

Midcredits score across 36 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th6

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 36 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic6
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed11

Reviewers score the atmosphere 61/100 and the pacing 41/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a director.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Ismael Rodríguez work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ismael Rodríguez's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Raúl Lavista shares the most, 16.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles