The Minister and Me

Mateo Melgarejo is a notary public and scribe for the illiterate people of Santo Domingo, a neighborhood north of Mexico City's Zócalo. A squatter friend asks for his help in negotiating with the land census bureau to regularize a land title. After a great deal of frustration with the government bureaucracy, he writes a letter to the cabinet minister, earning an audience with him. The minister hires Melgarejo to reform the bureau, and the appointee proceeds to lecture the officials on their duties in a democratic society. At the end, he gives up the post, returning to Santo Domingo to help its poor residents.

Cast

Cantinflas

Mateo Melgarejo 'Mateíto'

Chela Castro

Vicky

Lucía Méndez

Barbara

Ángel Garasa

Avelino Romero 'Romeritos'

Manolita Saval

Estrellita

Delia Peña Orta

María

Alonso Castaño

Don Nachito

Miguel Manzano

Don Antonio, señor ministro

Daniel Herrera

Huésped de Yucatán

Tamara Garina

Tamarita

Crew

Cantinflas

Story

Miguel M. Delgado

Director

Tito Davison

Screenplay

Carlos León

Additional Dialogue

Jacques Gelman

Producer

Gustavo César Carrión

Original Music Composer

Jorge Stahl Jr.

Director of Photography

Gloria Schoemann

Editor

Salvador Lozano Mena

Production Design

Ana Guerrero

Makeup Artist