Alfonso Bedoya

Benito Alfonso Bedoya y Díaz de Guzmán[1] (April 16, 1904 – December 15, 1957) was a Mexican actor who frequently appeared in U.S. films. He is best known for his role in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, where he played a bandit leader and delivered the "stinking badges" line, which has been called one of the greatest movie quotes in history by the American Film Institute.

Alfonso Bedoya
Bedoya (right) with Dona Drake, in Fortunes of Captain Blood (1950)
BornApril 16, 1904
DiedDecember 15, 1957 (aged 53)
Other namesAlfonso Bedolla
Alfonso 'El Indio' Bedoya
Years active19351957

Early life

Bedoya was born in the small town of Vícam, Sonora, Mexico, of Yaqui Indian heritage, to Norberto Bedoya Perea and Ignacia Díaz de Guzmán.[2][3] He had a nomadic childhood upbringing in Mexico, traveling throughout the country with his parents and 19 siblings. At 14, he emigrated to the United States and was educated in Houston, Texas.[4][5] He ran away from school and worked as a railroad section worker, dishwasher, waiter, and cotton picker.[6]

Film career

Bedoya found work as a character actor in the US and Mexican film industries in the 1930s to 1940s. During that time, he worked in over 175 Mexican films.[7][8] His last movie, The Big Country, was released in 1958 after his death.[8]

"Stinking badges"

Bedoya is best remembered for his role in John Huston's 1948 adventure film The Treasure of the Sierra Madre as "Gold Hat", the bandit leader. Bedoya's role includes the famous outburst: "Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges!"[5][9] The line was ranked number 36 on AFI's 100 Greatest Movie Quotes list, and it has been widely referenced and parodied in TV, film, music, and literature.[8][5][10] Treasure of Sierra Madre was also ranked number 30 on AFI's 100 Years…100 Movies.[5]

Personal life

Bedoya married Gertrude Elizabeth Larky Karas on March 8, 1950, in Mexico City.[11]

Bedoya completed filming The Big Country in November 1957, in California, and returned to Mexico City on December 8. Eight days later, after a night of partying with manicurist María Lucía Solana Martínez, Bedoya, 53, died of a heart attack in a Mexico City motel room.[12]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1935Todo un hombre
1937Los chicos de la prensa
1937La llaga
1937Almas rebeldes
1937Adiós NicanorServidor del GavilanUncredited
1937La madrina del DiabloCantinero
1938Ojos tapatios
1938La AdelitaVillista
1938Los bandidos de Río FríoEspiridión
1938While Mexico Sleeps
1938Pescadores de perlasSimón
1938La golondrinaUncredited
1939El capitán aventureroMesoneroUncredited
1939La China HilariaIsidro
1940Los olvidados de DiosEl Tejón
1940El gavilánPistoler
1940Los de abajoEl manteca
1940El charro NegroComandante de policía
1941El Zorro de JaliscoEsbirro de ErnestoUncredited
1941Rancho Alegre
1941Hasta que llovió en Sayula
1941El capitán Centellas
1941El rápido de las 9.15Tripulación del trenUncredited
1941The Unknown PolicemanGreñasUncredited
1942La epopeya del caminoUncredited
1942La abuelitaUn obrero
1942Virgen de medianoche
1942Simón BolívarConspirador PadillaUncredited
1942The Three MusketeersGorila en cabaret
1942La Vírgen morenaPopocaUncredited
1942I'm a Real Mexican
1942El baisano JalilEmpleado de JalilUncredited
1943Dulce madre mía
1943María EugeniaUncredited
1943Wild FlowerTeniente de Rogelio
1943El jorobado
1943Doña BárbaraPeasant
1943Cuando habla el corazónEl Yaqui
1943El rebelde (Romance de antaño)BandidoUncredited
1944The Headless Woman
1944Mis hijosBorracho cantinaUncredited
1944Me ha besado un hombre
1945Me he de comer esa tunaEl Alacrán
1945Las AbandonadasGertrudis López, asistente
1945Club verde
1945'Como México no hay dos'!
1945El jagüey de las ruinas
1945Sendas del destino
1945Hasta que perdió JaliscoAmigo de Jorge
1945CanaimaCholo Parima (Pantoja)
1945RosalindaCecina
1946No basta ser charroPeónUncredited
1946La hija del payaso
1947Bells of San FernandoGuard at the PassUncredited
1947The Tiger of JaliscoBandido
1947Si me han de matar mañanaEl Nagual
1947Gran CasinoEl Rayado
1947Albur de amor
1947The PearlGodfather
1948The Treasure of the Sierra MadreGold Hat
1948El último chinacoSabas
1948Angel in ExileYsidro Álvarez
1948Angel on the AmazonPaulo
1949Streets of LaredoCharley Calico
1949La casa embrujadaVendedor de palomas
1949Border IncidentCuchillo
1950Fortunes of Captain BloodCarmilio
1950The Black RoseLu Chung
1950Furia rojaIgnacio 'El Nacho' López
1951Stronghold
1951Man in the SaddleCultus Charley
1952California ConquestJosé Martínez
1952Por ellas aunque mal paguenDon Lupe
1953SombreroDon Inocente
1953The Stranger Wore a GunDegas
1954Border RiverCapt. Vargas
1954Ricochet RomanceAlfredo Gonzáles
1954The Black PiratesGarza
1955Ten Wanted MenHermando
1956La doncella de piedraChuachuaima
1958The Big CountryRamón Gutierrez(final film role)

References

  1. San Antonio Light, Dec. 17, 1957, p. 20
  2. "Diario del Yaqui". Archived from the original on 2015-02-13.
  3. Mexico. State of Distrito Federal Civil Registration. Registro Civil del Estado de Distrito Federal, México
  4. Washington Court House Record-Herald, March 18, 1950, p. 4
  5. "Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The (1948)". www.classicfilmguide.com. 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  6. Washington Court House Record-Herald, March 18, 1950, p. 4
  7. Hal Erickson (2010). "Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The (1948)". Barnes & Noble. Archived from the original on 2013-12-30. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  8. Hal Erickson (2010). "Alfonso Bedoya Movies". Blockbuster. Archived from the original on 2012-03-15. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  9. Hal Erickson (2010). "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)". Blockbuster. Archived from the original on 2011-09-05. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  10. "AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes". USA Today. 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
  11. Mexico. Civil Registration. Registro Civil del Distrito Federal, México
  12. San Antonio Light, Dec. 17, 1957, p. 20
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