Biography
Juan J. Ortega (27 October 1904 – 27 December 1996), born Juan José Ortega García, was a Mexican film director, distributor, and journalist. Born in Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, he worked as a journalist for more than 15 years before entering the film industry. In 1935, while serving on the Irrigation Commission, he participated in the production of the documentary features Irrigación en México and Gigantes de piedra. His experience with these productions led him to pursue filmmaking. He made his directorial debut with Sendas del destino (1939), beginning a career that would span more than four decades. Among his notable films are La casa de la Zorra (1945), La mujer legítima (1945), Me gustan todas (1953), Frente al pecado de ayer (1954), Yo no creo en los hombres (1954), and the series of westerns centered on the character Leonardo Moncada. From the late 1960s onward, he focused primarily on film distribution and founded several production and distribution companies. He received numerous recognitions for his contributions to Mexican cinema and published his memoirs, Memorias de una vida, in 1994. He died in Mexico City, Mexico, on 27 December 1996.
Directed 39
2020s
- 2020
Pep
Director
1960s
- 1966
Pacto de sangre
Director
- 1965
Preciosa
Director
- 1964
The Bats
Director
Frente al destino
Director
El río de las ánimas
Director
- 1963
Las bravuconas
Director
Herencia maldita
Director
- 1962
Horizontes de sangre
Director
Pueblo de odios
Director
La moneda rota
Director
- 1961
Ay Chabela...!
Director
En carne propia
Director
1950s
- 1957
- 1956
Una lección de amor
Director
No me olvides nunca
Director
Wild Heart
Director
- 1955
Yo no creo en los hombres
Director
Frente al Pecado de Ayer
Director
- 1954
Me gustan todas
Director
- 1953
Cinnamon Skin
Director
- 1952
La mentira
Director
- 1951
Lodo y Armiño
Director
- 1950
Caribbean Rhythms
Director
Cuando el alba llegue
Director
1940s
- 1949
Zorina
Director
El ángel caído
Director
- 1947
La insaciable
Director
- 1946
Amar es vivir
Director
- 1945
La casa de la zorra
Director
La mujer legítima
Director
Sendas del destino
Director
Toda una vida
Director
- 1944
El abanico de Lady Windermere
Director
- 1943
La razón de la culpa
Director
Lo que sólo el hombre puede sufrir
Director
La hija del cielo
Director
- 1942
Flor de fango
Director
Wrote 24
1960s
- 1965
Preciosa
Screenplay
- 1964
The Bats
Screenplay
Frente al destino
Screenplay
El río de las ánimas
Screenplay
- 1963
Las bravuconas
Screenplay
Herencia maldita
Screenplay
- 1962
Horizontes de sangre
Screenplay
Pueblo de odios
Screenplay
- 1961
Ay Chabela...!
Screenplay
En carne propia
Writer
1950s
- 1957
- 1956
Una lección de amor
Screenplay
No me olvides nunca
Screenplay
Wild Heart
Screenplay
- 1955
Yo no creo en los hombres
Screenplay
Frente al Pecado de Ayer
Screenplay
- 1954
Me gustan todas
Screenplay
- 1953
Cinnamon Skin
Screenplay
- 1952
La mentira
Screenplay
- 1951
Lodo y Armiño
Writer
- 1950
Caribbean Rhythms
Writer
Cuando el alba llegue
Screenplay
1940s
- 1947
La insaciable
Story
- 1943
La hija del cielo
Screenplay
Produced 7
1970s
- 1976
Santo in the Mystery of the Black Pearl
Producer
- 1970
Santo Faces Death
Producer
1950s
- 1956
Wild Heart
Producer
- 1951
Lodo y Armiño
Producer
1940s
- 1949
Zorina
Producer
- 1947
La insaciable
Producer
- 1944
Other crew 1
1940s
- 1943
El ametralladora
Technical Supervisor