
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.
- October 19, 1917
- August 7, 2004 (aged 86)
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Director, writer, producer and actor, also editor
- 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.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 3 · Wry 1 · Earnest 30
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
- 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.
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
Reclusorio III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
Fuera de la ley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

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

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

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

Two Kinds of Schemes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)
Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Pasaporte a la muerte(1988)
Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Scent of Death (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

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

Masacre en el río Tula(1985)
Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Corrupción (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

Burdel(1982)
Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films
El secuestro de los cien millones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

Ratero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Nosotros los feos(1973)
Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Mi niño Tizoc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

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

Faltas a la moral(1970)
Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)The Butcher’s Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Important Man(1961)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
My Son, the Hero(1961)
Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films
Cada quién su vida(1960)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films
This Was Pancho Villa: Second chapter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

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

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

Tizoc(1957)
Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films
This Was Pancho Villa: First chapter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films
Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films
Cupido pierde a Paquita(1955)
Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Sheena: Queen of the Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

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

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

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

Storm in the souls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
Two Careful Fellows(1953)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Pepe El Toro (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)
Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Mátenme porque me muero(1951)
Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films
¿Qué te ha dado esa mujer? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

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

Las Islas Marias (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)
Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films
Over the Waves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

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

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

Ustedes, los ricos(1948)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
Los tres huastecos(1948)
Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Nosotros los pobres(1948)
Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films
Los tres García(1947)
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
Vuelven los García (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

¡Qué verde era mi padre! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)
Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
¡Ya tengo a mi hijo!(1946)
Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Escándalo de estrellas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

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

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

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

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

El secreto del sacerdote(1941)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Viviré otra vez (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

Al son de la marimba(1941)
Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films
Don't Fool Yourself Dear(1937)
Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
The Tiger of Yautepec (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

Santa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)
Career shape
A full career of 82 titles from 1932 to 2022.
Film career
- 1951Screen debut· Full Spead Ahead
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.
- 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
- Ismael Rodríguez Jr.Shared titles: Pasaporte a la muerte (1988), Solicito marido para engañar (1988), Masacre en el río Tula (1985), Burdel (1982), Faltas a la moral (1970)See all 5 shared titles with Ismael Rodríguez Jr.

Writers
- Pedro de UrdimalasShared titles: Masacre en el río Tula (1985), Faltas a la moral (1970), Autopsia de un fantasma (1968), The Paper Man (1963), Las mujeres de mi general (1951), Mátenme porque me muero (1951), Nosotros los pobres (1948), Ustedes, los ricos (1948), Los tres García (1947), ¡Ya tengo a mi hijo! (1946)See all 10 shared titles with Pedro de Urdimalas

- Carlos OrellanaShared titles: El gran premio (1958), Tizoc (1957), Cupido pierde a Paquita (1955), Maldita ciudad (un drama cómico) (1954), Del rancho a la televisión (1953), Two Careful Fellows (1953), Los tres García (1947), Don't Fool Yourself Dear (1937)See all 8 shared titles with Carlos Orellana

- Ricardo GaribayShared titles: El ogro (1971), The Paper Man (1963), My Son, the Hero (1961), The Important Man (1961), The Soldiers of Pancho Villa (1959)See all 5 shared titles with Ricardo Garibay

- Rogelio A. GonzálezShared titles: Los tres huastecos (1948), Ustedes, los ricos (1948), Cuando lloran los valientes (1947), Los tres García (1947)See all 4 shared titles with Rogelio A. González
Actors
- Pedro InfanteShared titles: Tizoc (1957), Two Careful Fellows (1953), Las mujeres de mi general (1951), Los tres huastecos (1948), Nosotros los pobres (1948), Ustedes, los ricos (1948), Cuando lloran los valientes (1947), Los tres García (1947)See all 8 shared titles with Pedro Infante

- Miguel ManzanoShared titles: Burdel (1982), The Soldiers of Pancho Villa (1959), Las mujeres de mi general (1951), Mátenme porque me muero (1951), ¡Ya tengo a mi hijo! (1946)See all 5 shared titles with Miguel Manzano

- Evita Muñoz 'Chachita'Shared titles: Faltas a la moral (1970), Nosotros los pobres (1948), Ustedes, los ricos (1948), Beautiful Michoacan (1943), El secreto del sacerdote (1941)See all 5 shared titles with Evita Muñoz 'Chachita'

- Cuitlahuac RodríguezShared titles: Pasaporte a la muerte (1988), Masacre en el río Tula (1985), El ogro (1971), Faltas a la moral (1970)See all 4 shared titles with Cuitlahuac Rodríguez
Composers and editors
- Raúl LavistaShared titles: Nosotros los feos (1973), Faltas a la moral (1970), Autopsia de un fantasma (1968), The Paper Man (1963), My Son, the Hero (1961), The Important Man (1961), The Soldiers of Pancho Villa (1959), El gran premio (1958), Tizoc (1957), Daniel Boone, Trail Blazer (1956), The Beast of Hollow Mountain (1956), Las mujeres de mi general (1951) and 4 moreSee newest 12 of 16 shared titles with Raúl Lavista

- Fernando MartínezShared titles: Autopsia de un fantasma (1968), The Soldiers of Pancho Villa (1959), El gran premio (1958), Daniel Boone, Trail Blazer (1956), The Beast of Hollow Mountain (1956), Cupido pierde a Paquita (1955), Maldita ciudad (un drama cómico) (1954), Del rancho a la televisión (1953), Las mujeres de mi general (1951), Los tres huastecos (1948), Nosotros los pobres (1948), Ustedes, los ricos (1948) and 1 moreSee newest 12 of 13 shared titles with Fernando Martínez
- Manuel EsperónShared titles: Masacre en el río Tula (1985), Del rancho a la televisión (1953), Two Careful Fellows (1953), Nosotros los pobres (1948), Ustedes, los ricos (1948), Los tres García (1947)See all 6 shared titles with Manuel Esperón

- Jorge BustosShared titles: Faltas a la moral (1970), The Paper Man (1963), The Important Man (1961), Cada quién su vida (1960), Beautiful Michoacan (1943), El secreto del sacerdote (1941)See all 6 shared titles with Jorge Bustos
Producers
- Pascual AragonésShared titles: The Paper Man (1963), The Important Man (1961), El gran premio (1958)See all 3 shared titles with Pascual Aragonés
- Tonatiuh RodríguezShared titles: Pasaporte a la muerte (1988), Solicito marido para engañar (1988), El ogro (1971)See all 3 shared titles with Tonatiuh Rodríguez
- Bertha LomelíShared titles: Pasaporte a la muerte (1988), Solicito marido para engañar (1988)See all 2 shared titles with Bertha Lomelí
- Luis Quintanilla RicoShared titles: Nosotros los feos (1973), Autopsia de un fantasma (1968)See all 2 shared titles with Luis Quintanilla Rico
Mixed roles
- Luis Leal SolaresShared titles: Mátenme porque me muero (1951), El secreto del sacerdote (1941)See all 2 shared titles with Luis Leal Solares


