Orta, Sergio

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 18/12/2022, 13:54

: Sergio Orta in Alexander the Great (1956)

Sergio Orta was a rotund small-part actor, dancer and choreographer, active in films shot in Cuba, the United States, Mexico and Spain between the late 1930's and the mid-1960's.

He was born in Cuba on October 14th 1905.[1]

His earliest reported film appearance is in a Cuban production from 1938. He next turns up in Hollywood in 1941, where, for the next 2 years, he would appear in several major productions and work with stars such as Judy Garland, Spencer Tracy and Victor Mature. After 2 years in the US it appears he abandoned Hollywood and relocated south of the border to Mexico, where he would work on a number of productions both as actor and choreographer. The Mexican phase of his career would run from 1943-1949.

It then appears that he relocated to Spain, where he made his first film appearance in 1952. Over the next 12 years he would appear in a number of Spanish and international productions, mostly in small acting roles. His last known Spanish film appearance comes from 1964, after which no information is known.

In addition to his film work it appears he was also active in theatrical productions and may have also worked as a stand-up comedian. This could explain why his film work was rather sporadic.

Filmography

1941

Ziegfeld Girl .... Native dancer (credited)

1942
Flying with Music .... Dancer (uncredited)
Moonlight in Havana .... Martinez (credited)
Seven Days' Leave .... Dancer (uncredited)
Woman of the Year .... Mr. "Yes" (uncredited)

1943
El globo de Cantolla .... Don Fidencio (credited)

1944
Balajú .... (credited as choreographer - does not appear)
Escándalo de estrellas .... Joselito (credited)
Naná .... Impresario (credited)

1946
Embrujo antillano .... Gordito (credited)

1949
Un cuerpo de mujer .... (credited as choreographer - does not appear)

1952
El sistema Pelegrín .... Don Carlos Martínez (credited)

1953
Vuelo 971 .... Private secretary of Mr. Solis (credited)

1955
Al fin solos .... Impresario (credited as "Sergio Ortas")
Mr. Arkadin .... Chef (uncredited)

1956
Alexander the Great .... Man in political debate (uncredited)

1959
El día de los enamorados .... TV director (credited as actor and choreographer)
La vida alrededor .... Man on the phone (credited)

1962
Torrejón City .... (credited as choreographer as "Sergio Ortas" - does not appear)

1964
El espontáneo .... Man in la calle de la Victoria (credited)

Titles to check

Sucedió En La Habana (1938) Cuban production
Panama Hattie (1942) US production. IMDb as uncredited technical advisor. Since he is uncredited there is no way to confirm this. He does not appear.
Conga bar (1944 short film) Mexican production. IMDb
Esclavitud (1944) Mexican production. IMDb as actor and choreographer
Estampas Habaneras (1944 short film) Mexican production. IMDb
Las locuras de Bárbara (1959) Spanish production. IMDb as choreographer, may not appear

No Sergio!

Titles where Sergio is listed as appearing somewhere online, but cannot be found. There always has to be one!

Moon Over Miami (1941) IMDb as Jose. I have checked this film thoroughly and there is no such role and no sign of Sergio.

Notes and sources

1. What little biographical information is known comes from a 1951 interview found on the Manuel del Arco blog.

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 18/12/2022, 14:06

Ziegfeld Girl (1941) credited, as Native dancer.

Sergio appears prominently next to Judy Garland in the "Minnie from Trinidad" number. Busby Berkeley is credited as choreographer, but from the interview with Sergio, where he says that Hedy Lamarr was the most problematic person he ever choreographed, it seems that he was largely responsible for the routine in this number - quite believable since this is a samba-based number rather than one of Mr. Berkeley's showy concoctions.

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 18/12/2022, 14:11

Flying with Music (1942) as Dancer.

IMDb has him listed as playing "Juan Matanza - Fat Comic", however this role does not exist. Sergio can, however, be spotted briefly in the dance number which closes the film (but is barely recognisable in the rather blurry images).

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 18/12/2022, 14:14

Moonlight in Havana (1942) credited, as Martinez

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 18/12/2022, 14:17

Seven Days' Leave (1942) in a toupée, as Dancer

Post by **PeplumParadise** » 18/12/2022, 14:21

Woman of the Year (1942) as Mr. "Yes".

He has an amusing little scene opposite Spencer Tracy (and, fleetingly, Katherine Hepburn), as an Arab party guest who only knows one word of English.