Ontañón, Santiago

[PeplumParadise]

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

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1934

1. La traviesa molinera .... The Miller (poster credit - role unconfirmed)
2. Por un perro chico, una mujer .... role unknown (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 .... Don Alfredo (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)
35. Tres perros locos, locos .... Monk (credited)
    
    1967
36. De cuerpo presente .... Man who dies in the dance-off (credited)
37. Escuela de matrimonios (TV series) Ep. 11: "Maridos a gogó" .... role unknown (credited)
38. La familia Colón (TV series) Ep. 11: "Se necesita auténtico gancho" .... Producer (credited)
    
    1969
39. ¡¡Se armó el belén!! .... Set decorator (uncredited as actor)
40. Marquis de Sade: Justine .... Priest who takes Justine's money (uncredited as actor)
41. No disponible .... Don Gregorio (uncredited)
42. The Castle of Fu Manchu .... Governor of Anatolia (uncredited as actor)
    
    1970
43. Crimen imperfecto .... Drunken guest (credited)
44. El mesón del gitano .... Impresario (uncredited as actor)
    
    1971
45. Blanca por fuera y Rosa por dentro .... Don Felix (credited)
46. Varietés .... Decorator (uncredited as actor)
    
    1972
47. Dans la poussière du soleil .... Banker (uncredited as actor)
    
    1973
48. Las señoritas de mala compañía .... Don Faustino (uncredited as actor)
49. No encontré rosas para mi madre .... Man leaving the ship (uncredited as actor)
    
    1974
50. ...altrimenti ci arrabbiamo! .... Cafe customer (uncredited as actor)
51. Fantasma en el Oeste .... High roller in the casino (uncredited)
52. Hold-Up, instantánea de una corrupción .... Photography shop proprietor (uncredited as actor)
    
    1975
53. No quiero perder la honra .... Priest (credited)
    
    1976
54. La muerte ronda a Mónica .... role unknown (credited)
55. La petición .... Priest at party (uncredited as actor)
    
    1977
56. Casa Manchada .... Rich man (credited)
57. Mi hija Hildegart .... Psychiatrist (credited)
58. Secretos de alcoba .... Don Cornelio (credited)
59. Uno del millón de muertos .... Priest (uncredited)
    
    1979
60. Historia de 'S' .... Hospital patient with porn (uncredited)
    
    1980
61. Cinco tenedores .... One of "Los Monteros" (credited)
62. El español y los siete pecados capitales (TV series) Ep. 2: "La soberbia (segunda parte)" .... Father Abbot (credited)
    
    1981
63. Préstame tu mujer .... Priest at party (credited)
64. Tú estás loco Briones .... Alvaro Mendez (uncredited)

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
• Crónica exterior (1976 short film) IMDb

Production credits

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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
    
    1966
13. Tres perros locos, locos .... Set decorator
    
    1967
14. La casa de las mil muñecas .... Art director
15. Mayores con reparos .... Set decorator
16. Run Like a Thief .... Art director
    
    1968
17. The Face of Eve .... Set decorator
    
    1969
18. ¡¡Se armó el belén!! .... Production designer
19. 99 Women …. Art director
20. Honeymoon with a Stranger (TV movie) .... Art director
21. Marquis de Sade: Justine .... Art director
22. The Castle of Fu Manchu .... Production designer
    
    1970
23. Dramma della gelosia .... Set decorator
24. El mesón del gitano .... Set decorator
25. El último día de la guerra .... Art director
26. Tibetana .... Art director
    
    1971
27. Varietés .... Set decorator
    
    1972
28. Che c'entriamo noi con la rivoluzione? .... Set decorator
29. Dans la poussière du soleil .... Set decorator
30. La semana del asesino .... Set decorator
31. La ragazza di Via Condotti .... Production designer
32. No encontré rosas para mi madre .... Set decorator
    
    1973
33. Las señoritas de mala compañía .... Set decorator
    
    1974
34. ...altrimenti ci arrabbiamo! .... Set decorator
35. Hold-Up, instantánea de una corrupción .... Set decorator as "Santiago Ontanon Fernandez"
    
    1976
36. La petición .... Set decorator
    
    1978
37. 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
• 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

[PeplumParadise]

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.

[PeplumParadise]

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

[PeplumParadise]

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

[PeplumParadise]

Una mujer en peligro (1936) credited on the poster, as Ricardo (role to be confirmed)

[PeplumParadise]

La reina mora (1937) credited as Set decorator.

[PeplumParadise]

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.

[PeplumParadise]

La vida por delante (1958) credited, as Patient 'Sra. de Anglada'

Images upgraded

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Muchachas en vacaciones (1958) credited, as Uncle Abelardo

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