Along with the Jorge's(Reynoso, Rivera, Luke)and Mario Almada, Valentin Trujillo was one of the regulars among action adventure heroes of the Mexican cinema of the 1970's and 1980's. As the years went on the actors movies tried to outdo each other in violence. Rising to the top of this bloody category were both Jorge Reynoso and Trujillo. "Mexico de Noche" is a good example of the latter's movies minus the blood. There is a deliberate sense of foreboding throughout, although the primitive violence is offset by the many musical numbers included. For the female lead, how many violinists have made it to the big screen, and taken their violin along? Olga Breeskin is certainly in a very select group, which of course would include Jack Benny. If you were to take out the musical numbers, they would make a very pleasant variety show. In some ways this motion picture is very similar to the many "part musical" features done in Bollywood. Among the crime scenes, not much time is wasted. The music score is well done, distinctive and noteworthy sometimes by its absence. The basic plot involves rival crime gangs, and the son(Valentin) who wants to be his own man. When the movie seems to be rolling along at a regular pace the director will deliberately slow it down to the point of exaggeration to make this film just a little bit different from the rest. This is a definite classic of its kind. And, oh yes, much of the movie does take place at night. SPECIAL NOTE: one would think Donald O'Connor made a financial contribution to this movie as his name is very prominently spotlighted on a billboard not once, but twice!
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