This black and white film VIVA MEXICO! is part of RKO Radio Pictures “This is America” series. These films were produced in hopes of keeping Mexico and other “south of the border” nations strongly allied with the USA in its WWII fight with the Axis. (Some background on this: during World War I Germany asked Mexico for its support in the event the USA entered the conflict, causing consternation in America.)
Viva Mexico! was produced between June 1, 1942 and September 2, 1945 since it states that Manuel Avila Camacho is the current President of Mexico, features his declaration of war in 1942, and implies WWII is still ongoing at the end. It was produced by Frederic Ullman, Jr., with music supervised by violinist Herman Fuchs. The film opens with highlights of Mexico City, including the Metropolitan Cathedral (:33), the Federal Government Palace (:44), the Palace of Fine Arts (:48), the Hotel Reforma (:55), the Banco de Londres Y Mexico (:59), and the Benito Juarez Monument (1:17). People congregate in Chapultepec Park (1:24). Cuernavaca mansions dot the hills (1:36-1:42). Silver is mined from Real de Monte, as are gold, copper, and tin in the area (1:51-2:09). Oil is also produced (2:10-2:16). Mexico bridges the United States with Central America (2:21). There are three distinct topographies: the Sierra Madre Mountains, the lowlands, and the plateaus (2:40). Mexico is dominated by 2,000 miles of mountains (3:04-3:18), creating dramatic waterfalls (3:20-3:37). The vast desert areas hinder agriculture (3:42-4:17). Mexico dates centuries back, as exemplified by the ruins of the ancient Mayan and Aztec temples (4:48-5:02). Spain conquerors built churches in the 1500s, such as at Cholula (5:05-5:29) and the convent La Merced (5:29-5:41). Remains survive of the aqueduct at Morelia, built in 1785 (5:44-5:51). Cordoba (6:00-6:17) was founded in 1618. A painting of Benito Juarez, President of Mexico from 1857-1852 (6:19), is followed by a portrait of General Diaz (6:27), who would rule the next 35 years. In 1910 when General Diaz fell from office, soldiers load guns onto train cars and march in rebellion (6:34-6:57). A campfire surrounded by singers playing guitars (7:00-8:20:) tell the store via music. President Manuel Avila Camacho (8:21) is seen at his desk as the current president, serving from 1940 to 1946.
Mexico also has rural areas. Various locals are shown (8:43-9:06). The church is a staple of Mexican life (9:07-9:52). The village market is busy selling goods, including sombreros (9:58, shoes (10:10), blankets (10:11), breads (10:14), and bamboo (10:17). Children play outside at school (10:21-10:55). Workers pick produce (10:56). Inside an adobe house (11:14) a woman makes tortillas (11:18-11:33). Meals are preceded by prayer (11:35).
President Camacho declares war against the Axis powers on June 1, 1942, which mustered men into the military (11:54-13:24). The Colegio Militar (13:24-14:08) is the equivalent of West Point, and we see highlights of the young men’s training. The same is true for the Escuela Naval Academy in Veracruz (14:06-14:46) and the Escuela de Aviacion in Monterrey (14:45-15:11). The Mexican military was prepared to fight alongside Americans, if needed (15:12-16:34).
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