El rey del tomate is a 1963 romantic comedy film starring Lalo González 'Piporro', Luz Márquez, and Emma Roldán. The film is from
Filmadora Chapultepec and was directed by Miguel M. Delgado, who directed many successful
Cantinflas films.
PlotThe film is about farmer Librado Cantu Escamilla (Lalo González 'Piporro'), who decides to sell tomatoes in a Mexico City market. With the help of his 'Tia Mila' (Emma Roldán), he soon is prosperous, as many clients buy from his stand which he named
'El Tomatazo'. Librado soon meets Silvia (Luz Márquez), a spohisticated young lady from an important family. However, Silvia is looking forward to change Librado's style of clothes, manners, and etiquette. As he becomes interested to change for Silvia, his aunt Mila is worried for him, since he hasn't checked on his market stand for days. When Librado is invited to a dance party at Silvia's house, he mentions his plans of selling tomatoes for the rest of his life with Silvia, but Silvia does not agree, thinking that is was a waste to change Librado's ways. Unconsolably, Librado returns to his market stand after days of drinking heavily. To his surprise Silvia returned and is selling tomatoes at his stand, she forgives him and they cry, which he adds to the remark of
"...tomatoes, tomatoes, they look like onions but they're tomatoes!"
María Elena Velasco, also known for portraying
La India María (1972-), makes a cameo appearance as the lady who flirts with Librado at the market stand. She also made a cameo appearance in
El revolver sangriento (1964) as a poor farmer's wife. The film is of good quality