RIP, Ricardo Montalban
Ricardo Montalban passed away yesterday at the age of 88. This is obviously sad news on a variety of fronts far more important than how it touches us here at Car Lust. But as a Star Trek fan and a Car Luster, I would be remiss if I let him go unhonored at the time of his passing.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan was, in my opinion, easily the high point of the entire franchise--thanks in large part to Montalban's scene-stealing performance as Khan Noonien Singh. In his portrayal of Khan, Montalban provided exactly the right blend of cheese and threatening malevolence; he was the exact, perfectly calibrated counterbalance to the heroic Captain Kirk. Given the lack of passion around the original Star Trek movie, it's not a huge stretch to assert that Ricardo Montalban's performance in the second movie played a major role in saving the franchise.
Of primary interest to us at Car Lust, of course, was Montalban's role as Chrysler pitchman in the 1970s and 1980s. We have already deconstructed his fantastic and iconic Chrysler Cordoba commercial; and the more slipshod automotive advertising I see, the more I appreciate that commercial. So strong is the association of Montalban with the Cordoba and Corinthian leather in the popular mind that Cordoba Club USA actually has a biography page for Montalban at its site. It's worth visiting that page if only to see the looping, hilarious video of a very young David Letterman and Montalban joking around about Corinthian leather.
Lost in the fame of the Cordoba commercial is the fact that Montalban did make other Chrysler commercials. A few of those follow this post. I'm itching to deconstruct the LeBaron GTS commercial, but given the circumstances I'll leave it at this--godspeed, Mr. Montalban.
--Chris H.
Jim Bob on January 15, 2009 at 08:25 PM
You had to be a great actor to call the Cordoba "Small" and deliver it without laughter. Still, he's probably the best spokesperson Chrysler ever had. That and he was a good foil to Kirk, and no one could drive a Dodge Aspen with no doors and an awning replacing it's Sawzall'd roof with more style than Ricardo Montalban.
David Colborne on January 16, 2009 at 12:32 AM
Hey, compared to the Cordoba's predecessors, it was small! In fact, it was the smallest Chrysler sold in a long, long time (possibly ever, at least up to that point). Of course, Iacocca, CAFE regulations, and changes in the market all did a wonderful job of pushing Chrysler to sell smaller and smaller cars, until we eventually ended up with little four-banger Chryslers that, sadly, were not equipped with Corinthian leather, but I digress.
My only regret is that he didn't do an advertisement for the Reliant. I mean... C'MON! How obvious was THAT?! Man, that would have been sweet.
Cookie the Dog's Owner on January 16, 2009 at 04:58 AM
From all accounts, the man was a class act in everything he did. Rest in peace, good sir, and enjoy driving that Cordoba on the Streets of Gold.
Dave on January 16, 2009 at 07:02 AM
Revenge is a dish best served cold... :-)
That dude could DELIVER LINES, and he was a pretty snappy dancer too.. and by the way his son still says that his chest was NOT plastic in the Star Trek movie.. those were his muscles..
not sure I believe that.. looked funny to me.. but Montalban was the kind of guy who could have pulled that off..
'fine corinthian leather'... he will be missed.
GOOCH on January 16, 2009 at 07:14 AM
KHAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That is all. D.GOOCH
Qinto on January 16, 2009 at 07:42 AM
May his heavenly ride be a chariot lined with rich Corinthian Leather
JohnMc on January 16, 2009 at 08:34 AM
What is really interesting is in the one Chrysler commercial they are comparing model to model against the competition. That hasn't been around till recently when GM started comparing themselves to Toyota. That last 20 years it seems all the automakers did was the usual 'JD Powers, Best in Class' shtick.
I guess the lack of guts on head to head comparison goes hand in hand with the demise of the Big 3....
Steaming Pile on January 16, 2009 at 08:40 AM
I still want a Cordoba. That one, not the second gen POS.
Chuck on January 16, 2009 at 10:47 AM
Ricardo Montalban suffered from medical conditions that caused him severe back pain all his acting career. He had to act as if he was not hurting all the time. As Khan, from "Space Seed" to "Star Trek II, The Whath of Khan", he gave class to the series that was unparalleled, and setting the format for all "Star Trek" stories to follow. And yes, that was no breastplate, that was him.
"ST II, TWOK", was also a rewrite of "Moby Dick". The book is even shown in a scene inside the camp on Seti Alpha 5.
John B on January 16, 2009 at 10:59 AM
God speed Mr. Montalban.
I still love the early Cordobas...especially with leather. Great looking car.
I agree, he was great in ST II. If that really was his chest (I've always assumed it was fake), I better get to the gym...he puts me to shame...especially since he was 60-something when that was filmed.
RIP, and condolences to his friends and family.
Chris Hafner on January 16, 2009 at 11:01 AM
FWIW, Leonard Nimoy has always staunchly maintained that those were Montalban's real muscles. Given how straightforward he has been about all subjects Trek, I'm inclined to treat that as pretty good evidence.
Awfully impressive, though.
William on January 16, 2009 at 07:19 PM
Having worked with Ricardo when he was shooting the Cordoba spot, I can attest to the fact of his considerable talent as an actor and his demeanor as a true gentlemen. I worked with jerks and bums when advertising Chrysler cars. Not Montalban. He was patient, hard-working, thoughtful and eager to perform to the crew's expectations, even after many takes. God speed.
coffee on February 11, 2009 at 12:55 PM
it seems like Montalban must have been a contender for Lady's Man of the year at least a few times during his lifetime