Ontañón, Santiago


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PeplumParadise
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Ontañón, Santiago

Post by PeplumParadise » 03/06/2022, 22:38

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Santiago Ontañón in La familia y... uno más (1965)
Santiago Ontañón was a Spanish small-part actor and set decorator/art director, active in Spanish and European films from the start of the 1930's until the start of the 1980's.

He was born Santiago Ontañón Fernández on November 22nd 1903 in Santander, Spain. He had 3 sisters.

His family moved to Madrid when he was still young. In the early 1920’s he lived in Paris, where he worked as an illustrator for magazines and in 1923 he built his first stage design for a performance by the Russian Ballet. He returned to Madrid in 1927 where he built a reputation as a theatrical set designer and from the start of the 1930’s he began working in films, both as an actor and designer.

When the Spanish Civil War began in 1936, Santiago enlisted as a soldier of the republican cavalry while continuing to design sets and costumes for theatrical productions and writing and illustrating for magazines. In 1939, with the republicans defeated, Santiago applied for political asylum in Chile. While there he married a woman named Nana Bell and the couple would move around South America, first to Uruguay, then Argentina, where he contiuned to design sets for stage productions and eventually Peru.

At some point in the mid-1950’s he returned to Spain, where, in addition to theatrical projects, from 1957 onwards he would resume his cinematic career on both sides of the camera. He would then continue working in cinema throughout the 60’s and 70’s, retiring in the early 1980’s. In 1988 he published his memoirs in the book “Unos pocos amigos verdaderos“ (A few true friends).

He died in Madrid on August 26th 1989 at the age of 85.

The bulk of Santiago’s biographical details come from his profile on the Enciclopedia del Cine Español website. His biography there goes into far more detail, particularly in regard to his activities outside film-making.

I did find a few undocumented appearances by Santiago in films where he has production credits so there may be more roles to be found.

Filmography

1934
  1. La traviesa molinera .... The Miller (poster credit - role unconfirmed)
  2. Por un perro chico, una mujer .... role? (poster credit)

    1936
  3. Una mujer en peligro .... Ricardo (poster credit - role unconfirmed)

    1957
  4. Faustina .... Don Fernando (credited)

    1958
  5. La vida por delante .... Patient 'Sra. de Anglada' (credited)
  6. Muchachas en vacaciones .... Uncle Abelardo (credited)

    1959
  7. El día de los enamorados .... Tony (credited)
  8. La vida alrededor .... Business partner (credited)
  9. Miss Cuplé .... Director (credited)

    1960
  10. Amor bajo cero .... Rear admiral (credited)
  11. Días de feria .... President of the jury at the milking contest (credited)
  12. Miss Cuplé .... Director (credited)
  13. Mi calle .... (credited, but not found)
  14. Sólo para hombres .... Early customer (credited)

    1961
  15. ¡Adiós, Mimí Pompón! .... Bernardo Chamonix (credited)
  16. El pobre García .... role? (credited)
  17. Ha llegado un ángel .... Producer (credited)
  18. Honorables sinvergüenzas .... Don Leon (credited)
  19. Julia y el celacanto .... Professor Alessandro Poppi (credited)
  20. La rosa roja .... role unknown (credit unknown)
  21. Siempre es domingo .... Card player (credited)

    1962
  22. La gran familia .... Examiner (credited)
  23. Tómbola .... Insurance advisor (credited as "S. Ontañón")

    1963
  24. El verdugo .... Sr. Corcuera (credited)
  25. Le avventure di Scaramouche .... Member of the theatre troupe (credited)

    1964
  26. Búsqueme a esa chica .... Promoter (credited)
  27. La Tulipe Noire .... Nobleman robbed by The Black Tulip (credited)
  28. Los dinamiteros .... Doorman (credited)
  29. Rueda de sospechosos .... Don Pablo (credited)

    1965
  30. La familia y... uno más .... Don Andreas (credited)
  31. Un lugar llamado Glory .... Mayor (credited)

    1966
  32. El arte de no casarse .... Doctor (credited)
  33. El Greco .... Pompeionio (uncredited)
  34. I sette falsari .... Funeral director (uncredited)

    1967
  35. De cuerpo presente .... Man who dies in the dance-off (credited)
  36. Escuela de matrimonios (TV series) Ep. 11: "Maridos a gogó" .... role? (credited)
  37. La familia Colón (TV series) Ep. 11: "Se necesita auténtico gancho" .... Producer (credited)

    1969
  38. Marquis de Sade: Justine .... Priest who takes Justine's money (uncredited as actor)
  39. The Castle of Fu Manchu .... Governor of Anatolia (uncredited as actor)

    1970
  40. Crimen imperfecto .... Drunken guest (credited)
  41. El mesón del gitano .... Impresario (uncredited as actor)

    1971
  42. Blanca por fuera y Rosa por dentro .... Don Felix (credited)
  43. Varietés .... Decorator (uncredited as actor)

    1972
  44. Dans la poussière du soleil .... Banker (uncredited as actor)

    1973
  45. Las señoritas de mala compañía .... Don Faustino (uncredited as actor)
  46. No encontré rosas para mi madre .... Man leaving the ship (uncredited as actor)

    1974
  47. ...altrimenti ci arrabbiamo! .... Cafe customer (uncredited as actor)
  48. Fantasma en el Oeste .... High roller in the casino (uncredited)
  49. Hold-Up, instantánea de una corrupción .... Photography shop proprietor (uncredited as actor)

    1975
  50. No quiero perder la honra .... Priest (credited)

    1976
  51. La muerte ronda a Mónica .... role? (credited)
  52. La petición .... Priest at party (uncredited as actor)

    1977
  53. Casa Manchada .... Rich man (credited)
  54. Mi hija Hildegart .... Psychiatrist (credited)
  55. Secretos de alcoba .... Don Cornelio (credited)
  56. Uno del millón de muertos .... Priest (uncredited)

    1979
  57. Historia de 'S' .... Hospital patient with porn (uncredited)

    1980
  58. Cinco tenedores .... One of "Los Monteros" (credited)
  59. El español y los siete pecados capitales (TV series) Ep. 2: "La soberbia (segunda parte)" .... Father Abbot (credited)

    1981
  60. Préstame tu mujer .... Priest at party (credited)

Titles to check
  • El embrujo de Sevilla (1931) EdCE (Enciclopedia del Cine Español)
  • Falso noticiario (1933) EdCE
  • Hola, Robinsón! (1959) EdCE
  • Juego de niños (1959) EdCE
  • Cotolay (1965) EdCE
  • Tres perros locos, locos (1966) EdCE
  • Crónica exterior (1976 short film) IMDb
Production credits

1935
  1. La verbena de la Paloma .... Costume designer

    1937
  2. La reina mora .... Set decorator

    1959
  3. La verbena de la Paloma .... Production designer

    1960
  4. ¿Dónde vas triste de ti? .... Costume designer
  5. El indulto .... Costume and production designer
  6. Mi calle .... Costume and production designer

    1961
  7. Fray Escoba .... Set decorator
  8. Julia y el celacanto .... Set decorator

    1964
  9. Cyrano e d'Artagnan .... Set decorator
  10. La nueva Cenicienta .... Art director
  11. Los dinamiteros .... Set decorator

    1965
  12. La visita que no tocó el timbre .... Set decorator

    1967
  13. La casa de las mil muñecas .... Art director
  14. Mayores con reparos .... Set decorator
  15. Run Like a Thief .... Art director

    1968
  16. The Face of Eve .... Set decorator

    1969
  17. Honeymoon with a Stranger (TV movie) .... Art director
  18. Marquis de Sade: Justine .... Art director
  19. Se armó el belén .... Production designer
  20. The Castle of Fu Manchu .... Production designer

    1970
  21. Dramma della gelosia .... Set decorator
  22. El mesón del gitano .... Set decorator
  23. El último día de la guerra .... Art director
  24. Tibetana .... Art director

    1971
  25. Varietés .... Set decorator

    1972
  26. Che c'entriamo noi con la rivoluzione? .... Set decorator
  27. Dans la poussière du soleil .... Set decorator
  28. La semana del asesino .... Set decorator
  29. La ragazza di Via Condotti .... Production designer
  30. No encontré rosas para mi madre .... Set decorator

    1973
  31. Las señoritas de mala compañía .... Set decorator

    1974
  32. ...altrimenti ci arrabbiamo! .... Assistant art director
  33. Hold-Up, instantánea de una corrupción .... Set decorator as "Santiago Ontanon Fernandez"

    1976
  34. La petición .... Set decorator

    1978
  35. Enigma rosso .... Set construction

Production credits to check
  • La traviesa molinera (1934) IMDb as Set decorator
  • Los claveles (1936) EdCE as Director
  • Una mujer en peligro (1936) IMDb as Set decorator
  • Cain (1938) EdCE as Director
  • La lunareja (1946) IMDb as Set decorator
  • Una apuesta con Satanás (1948) IMDb as Set decorator and Screenwriter
  • Nada menos que un arkángel (1960) IMDb as Set decorator
  • Il gladiatore invincibile (1961) IMDb as Production designer. He is not credited in the English or German versions, but may be in the Spanish
  • La rosa roja (1961) IMDb as Art director
  • Madame Sans Gêne (1961) IMDb as Set decorator. Not credited in the French version but may be in the Spanish
  • Cotolay (1965) IMDb as Costume designer
  • 99 mujeres (99 donne) (1969) IMDb as Art director. Not credited in the French version but may be in the Spanish
  • El desastre de Annual (1970) IMDb as Art director
  • Dieci bianchi uccisi da un piccolo indiano (1974) IMDb as Set decorator. Not credited in the Italian version but may be in the Spanish

No Santiago!
Titles where online sources say he should have a production credit, but he doesn't
  • Comando al infierno (1969) IMDb as Production director. Not credited in the Spanish version
Last edited by PeplumParadise on 18/01/2024, 20:35, edited 41 times in total.

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Ontañón, Santiago

Post by PeplumParadise » 03/06/2022, 22:39

La traviesa molinera (1934) credited on publicity material, as The Miller (role to be confirmed). He should also be credited as set decorator for this film.

It looks like Santiago must have played some much larger roles in the 1930's as he would never play roles large enough to be credited on posters in later films. Unfortunately Spanish films from the 1930's are even harder to find than Italian ones.
2016-00-00 - ARCOS EN EL CINE - La traviesa Molinera (1934) 03.jpg
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Last edited by PeplumParadise on 04/06/2022, 10:18, edited 3 times in total.

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Post by PeplumParadise » 04/06/2022, 10:14

Por un perro chico, una mujer (1934) credited on the poster, role uncertain
Por un perro chico, una mujer.jpg

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Post by PeplumParadise » 04/06/2022, 10:22

La verbena de la Paloma (1935) credited for "Figurines", which IMDb takes to mean Costume designer.
screenshot.jpg

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Post by PeplumParadise » 04/06/2022, 10:26

Una mujer en peligro (1936) credited on the poster, as Ricardo (role to be confirmed)
MV5BMTE0M2JjNzktZjI1MS00YzUzLWI1NjItYTQ1NTg4ZmYxNDJkL2ltYWdlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNzA4ODc3ODU@._V1_.jpg

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Post by PeplumParadise » 04/06/2022, 10:29

La reina mora (1937) credited as Set decorator.
screenshot.jpg
Last edited by PeplumParadise on 12/06/2022, 15:12, edited 1 time in total.

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Post by PeplumParadise » 04/06/2022, 10:50

Faustina (1957) credited, as Don Fernando.

This film marked Santiago's return to acting after 21 years. He would continue to work regularly as an actor for the next 23 years, always in small supporting roles.
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Post by PeplumParadise » 04/06/2022, 10:53

La vida por delante (1958) credited, as Patient 'Sra. de Anglada'
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Images upgraded
Last edited by PeplumParadise on 27/11/2023, 11:54, edited 1 time in total.

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Post by PeplumParadise » 04/06/2022, 11:02

Muchachas en vacaciones (1958) credited, as Uncle Abelardo
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Post by PeplumParadise » 04/06/2022, 11:06

El baile (1959) credited as "Ambientador", which IMDb lists as being Production designer.
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