From Tourist Guide to Movie Star

Crucial to the story of “Old Gringo” is the role of Pedrito, a boy caught up in the changes that the revolution brings. Most of the cast and crew are amazed at how well an untrained 14-year-old, discovered by Luis Puenzo on a side trip to Zacatecas, performs in the role. But Samuel Valadez de la Torre, as one crew member joked, is “14 going on 30.”

Taking a break from a scene in which he and Jane Fonda’s character witness a hanging, Samuel told how he’d been discovered.

“I was working as a tourist guide in Zacatecas, the city where I grew up. I would explain to Americans, and Mexicans as well, all about the city and its history,” Samuel said. “One day last year, Mr. Luis Puenzo and his friends kept looking at me.” He paused to catch his breath.

“They started taking pictures of me and I asked them why? They told me it was for a film they were going to make in Zacatecas. They invited me to eat and I sang some songs for them. They asked me a lot of questions: Was I timid? I told them no. A day later they spoke to my parents. My parents said they were in agreement to a screen test.

“My first visit to Mexico City was on an airplane in the month of December. Then they gave me a screen test and had me ride a horse. They took my picture, tried costumes on me and they finally selected me. So here I am working.”

So far Samuel’s favorite scene has been when he had to give Jimmy Smits (as Gen. Arroyo) the death blow. After that scene they all congratulated him. “Even Miss Jane Fonda cried. Mr. Gregory Peck shook my hand. Jimmy Smits and Pedro Armendariz--all of them congratulated me.”

“I’d be in my second year of secondary school, but since I prefer to be out in the streets working, I’m only in the sixth year of school (overall). Anyway, my parents talked to my teachers and they gave me my lessons and I’ve been doing my homework to keep up,” Samuel said.

He’s opinionated, too. “I like corridos (folk songs) I don’t like rock music--it’s too noisy. I like cartoons, movies and telenovelas. I don’t have a girlfriend yet. I don’t plan to have one until I’m 16. I have a little friend, though. I invite her to my house now and then, so my folks know her already. Her name is Morenita. That’s the way I like it. That’s the way I am.”

The next day the buzz has gone around the company that Samuel has told the press there wasn’t a teacher on the set.

Producer Lois Bonfiglio was worried but tried to laugh about it. “That kid is so disarming. We made an arrangement for his father to tutor him during his time on location. I hope no one gets the impression otherwise. I wish I could speak to him in better Spanish.”

Near noon, the boy sat next to Bonfiglio during a lull in the shooting. “I’ve been doing my homework,” he said, gauging Bonfiglio’s reaction. “I’ve been reading a magazine article on homeless children and how they have to beg on the streets. I plan to write a report on that for my regular schoolteacher.”

Assured that his comments were being translated to Bonfiglio, he continued. “Tell her that once I complete the film, and if I continue to behave myself, I would like one wish: for her to get me a passport to go to the United States.”

“Why do you want to go to the States, Pedrito?” Bonfiglio asked, using the boy’s screen name.

“So I can study there and make something of myself,” he said with all the aplomb that his tourist-guide apprenticeship could muster.