Delia Fiallo (4 July 1924 – 29 June 2021) was a Cuban author and screenwriter who lived in Miami, Florida. She was born in Havana, Cuba and raised in Pinar Del Rio, Cuba. She was one of the most distinguished representatives of the contemporary romance novel, dabbling in various genres which appeared in her literary output.
Due to the contributions she made to the rise of the melodrama genre in the late 1970s and mid–1980s, she is considered to be the "mother of the Latin American telenovela". By the late 1980s, her shows had over 100 millions viewers combined.
Biography Fiallo studied philosophy at the University of Havana, graduating in 1948. She began writing radionovelas in Havana in 1949, making her first adaptation to a telenovela with Soraya, which was released in Cuba in 1957. She left the country, together with her family, in 1966, for exile in Miami, where she would write most of her novels.
She lived for a time in Venezuela, to supervise productions of her works by Venevisión and later Radio Caracas Televisión. Thanks to her compatriot Enrique Cuscó, she was able to contact the owners of the former, who broadcast her first telenovela in that country, 1967's Lucecita.
Fiallo had not written an original telenovela since Cristal in 1985, since the last project she worked on, La Felicidad, was never completed and she decided to retire. At that time, she sold the rights to her works to Televisa. Their adaptations, as she had declared on several occasions, she had not liked.
Personal life She married radio director Bernardo Pascual in 1952. They were married for 67 years, until he died in March 2019. She was mother to five children, and had 13 grandchildren.
By Fiallo's account, she had not visited her native country Cuba, since she exiled nor Venezuela since the election of former President Hugo Chávez in 1998.
Fiallo died in June 2021 at the age of 96, at her home in Coral Gables, Florida.
Telenovelas
Original
El ángel perverso The protagonist of the original radionovela is Angelina, a wicked woman who impersonates an invalid to retain her husband Gustavo, and finally, after being discovered, is devoid of truth. However, to meet the standards of telenovelas, in which the protagonist must be good, Fiallo was forced to introduce a new character into the first teleplay – Lucecita, an illegitimate peasant daughter of Angelina's father. She starts working as a maid in the house and has a love affair with Gustavo.
The story was intended to end after the death of Angelina in an accident, with Gustavo and Lucecita happily married with a daughter, but because of its success, Fiallo wrote an extension in which Gustavo is left with amnesia after an accident, and Angelina's nurse Mirtha (who had secretly been in love with him) takes him and the girl from the country to make him believe she is his wife. Meanwhile Lucecita, without losing hope of finding her husband and daughter, comes to serve at the house of the Aldamas, a family of miserable millionaires who regain their happiness through Lucecita. Five years later, Gustavo, Mirtha, and the girl return, and Lucecita starts working as a maid in their house to be near her daughter. Gustavo, still amnesiac, falls in love with Lucecita not knowing that she is actually his true wife. This version of the story is the one which has remained in all subsequent adaptations, all very successful. Lucecita – Venezuela (1967) with Marina Baura and José Bardina Estrellita, esa pobre campesina – Argentina (1968) with Marta González and Germán Krauss – Venezuela (1972) with Adita Rivera and Humberto García Lucecita – Argentina (1976 film) Virginia – Venezuela (1984) with Alba Roversi and Miguel Ángel Landa (very loose adaptation) Estrellita mía – Argentina (1987) with Andrea del Boca and Ricardo Darín – Colombia (1992) with Linda Lucía Callejas and Guillermo Gálvez – Peru (1998) with Angie Cepeda and Christian Meier
La señorita Elena Elena, a teacher, arrives at the mansion of an elegant judge to serve as governess. She works wonders, inspiring his children and changing the course of things, bringing true love through help and understanding. La señorita Elena – Venezuela (1967) with Marina Baura and José Bardina – Venezuela (1975) with Ada Riera and José Luis Rodríguez "El Puma" Atrévete – Venezuela (1986) with Caridad Canelón and Pedro Lander Vivo Por Elena – Mexico (1998) with Victoria Ruffo and Saúl Lisazo
Tu mundo y el mío Emilia, who lived in abundance for many years, is forced to live humbly through mismanagement and bad luck. Using her knowledge of English, she manages to support her family by performing translations. She finds love in the arms of a young man of good standing, and although her grandmother and sister do not support her, returns to her life of luxury. Rosario – Venezuela (1968) with Marina Baura and José Bardina Emilia – Venezuela (1979–1980) with Elluz Peraza and Eduardo Serrano – Argentina (1987) with Nohely Arteaga and Daniel Guerrero Fabiola – Venezuela (1989) with Alba Roversi and Guillermo Dávila Second part of – Venezuela (1990) with Caridad Canelón and Orlando Urdaneta – Colombia (1994–1995) with Nelly Moreno and Edmundo Troya María Emilia, querida – Peru (1999) with Coraima Torres and Juan Soler
Lisa, mi amor A secretary to a successful businessman secretly loves her boss and gives him loyalty, understanding, and support. Lisa, mi amor – Venezuela (1970) with Marina Baura and José Bardina Buenos días, Isabel – Venezuela (1980) with Flor Núñez and José Bardina Bianca Vidal – México (1983) with Edith González and Salvador Pineda Inés Duarte, secretaria – Venezuela (1990–1991) with Amanda Gutiérrez and Víctor Cámara – Mexico (2008) with Ivonne Montero and Humberto Zurita Amor Secreto – Venezuela (2014) with Alejandra Sandoval and Miguel de León
Esmeralda The daughter of a powerful family is exchanged at birth with a poor country orphan. She is blind but very beautiful, and holds proof of her origin and fortune in the form of emerald earrings. Esmeralda – Venezuela (1971) with Lupita Ferrer and José Bardina Topacio – Venezuela (1984) with Grecia Colmenares and Víctor Cámara Esmeralda – Mexico (1997) with Leticia Calderón and Fernando Colunga Esmeralda – Brazil (2004–2005) with Bianca Castanho and Cláudio Lins Sin tu mirada – Mexico (2017–2018) with Claudia Martin and Osvaldo de Leon
María Teresa A beautiful girl selling flowers meets a pianist who is actually a rich kid hiding a grudge against a woman he thinks murdered his father, and who turns out to be the lost aunt of María Teresa. María Teresa – Venezuela (1972) with Lupita Ferrer and José Bardina Primavera – Venezuela (1988) with Gigi Zanchetta and Fernando Carrillo Rosangelica – Venezuela (1993) with Sonya Smith and Víctor Cámara (very loose adaptation) Rosalinda – Mexico (1999) with Thalía and Fernando Carrillo Rosalinda – Philippines (2009) with Carla Abellana and Geoff Eigenmann
Peregrina A stepmother gets rid of her husband's granddaughter, delivering her to a circus. Years later the circus comes back to town, bringing this woman who inspires crazy love in their two spoiled and rebellious twins. Peregrina – Venezuela (1973) with Rebeca González and José Bardina La muchacha del circo – Venezuela (1988) with Catherine Fulop and Fernando Carrillo Kassandra – Venezuela (1992) with Coraima Torres and Osvaldo Ríos Peregrina – Mexico (2005–2006) with África Zavala and Eduardo Capetillo
Una muchacha llamada Milagros A young girl lives traumatized after being raped by a man she later falls in love with – a somewhat strong story at the time. Una muchacha llamada Milagros – Venezuela (1974–1975) with Rebeca González and José Bardina Mi amada Beatriz – Venezuela (1987) with Catherine Fulop and Miguel Alcántara Cuidado con el ángel – Mexico (2008–2009) with Maite Perroni and William Levy
Mariana de la noche Mariana is seen in the village as a future black widow because she has inexplicably bad luck with her suitors. What is actually happening is that her wicked stepfather is responsible for getting rid of them until her true love arrives to fight for Mariana. Mariana de la noche – Venezuela (1976) with Lupita Ferrer and José Bardina Selva María – Venezuela (1988) with Mariela Alcalá and Franklin Virgüez Mariana de la Noche – Mexico (2003–2004) with Alejandra Barros and Jorge Salinas
La Zulianita A pretty girl, for reasons beyond her control, leaves her village for the city, becoming the maid of a wealthy family. She meets her true love, creating a passionate triangle that involves the whole family. La zulianita – Venezuela (1977), with Lupita Ferrer and José Bardina – Argentina (1985), with Grecia Colmenares and Jorge Martínez Maribel – Venezuela (1989), with Tatiana Capote and Luis José Santander (very loose adaptation) Morelia – Mexico–US (1994–1995), with Alpha Acosta and Arturo Peniche Un refugio para el amor – Mexico (2012), with Zuria Vega and Gabriel Soto
Rafaela Her mother was unlucky in love and lives in poverty. Rafaela becomes a doctor and meets the love of her life, discovers she is the daughter of a doctor, and lives happily. – Venezuela (1977) with Chelo Rodríguez and Arnaldo André Roberta – Venezuela (1987) with Tatiana Capote and Henry Zakka (very loose adaptation) Alejandra – Venezuela (1994) with María Conchita Alonso and Jorge Schuber Rafaela – Mexico (2011) with Scarlet Ortiz and Jorge Poza
María del mar María Celeste grows up alone without the protection of a father or mother. She does not know that her mother lost her mind after being raped by the evil Leonidas Parra Montiel and wanders the village streets desperately searching for her daughter. The handsome Victor Manuel Galindez arrives, and falls in love with Maria Celeste. At the same time, Victor Manuel rescues a beautiful but strange woman from the sea. María del Mar – Venezuela (1978) with Chelo Rodríguez and Arnaldo André Mar de amor – Mexico (2009–2010) with Zuria Vega and Mario Cimarro
Ligia Sandoval Because of the irresponsibility of a man who cheated, Ligia Sandoval becomes a single mother and lives in a humble residential area with her godmother and a teenage sister. To everyone, Ligia's son is her younger brother. The male protagonist is Luis Gerardo, a young doctor devoted to research who has a fling with Lissette, who manages to bring him to the altar. The marriage is doomed from the beginning. He decides to divorce, but unfortunately a car accident blinds him and his wife. Ligia Sandoval – Venezuela (1981) with Lupita Ferrer and José Bardina Todo Por Tu Amor – Venezuela (1997) with Jeannette Rodríguez and Jean Carlos Simancas (very loose adaptation)
Mi mejor amiga Mi mejor amiga – Venezuela (1981) with Flor Núñez and Félix Loreto
La heredera Cristina, an orphan girl, leaves her humble village for Caracas and the house of her wicked aunt Luisa Zambrano and her cousins. She hopes to become a successful puppeteer in the orthopedic children's hospital, despite having a disability in one foot. She does not know she is the daughter of Ezequiel Zambrano, a powerful businessman who has been desperately searching for her for years. Zembrano takes her to meet the love of her life, the lawyer Alfredo Mendez who seeks vengeance for his past which haunts him day and night. La heredera – Venezuela (1982) with Hilda Carrero and Eduardo Serrano Guadalupe – US–Spain (1993–1994) with Adela Noriega and Eduardo Yáñez Milagros – Peru (2000) with Sonya Smith and Roberto Mateos
Querida mamá This story was brought to the screen for the first time when Venezuela had a law limiting the number of chapters in telenovelas. Its success caused a sequel to be planned but it was, in the end, not made, leaving the telenovela with an open and incomplete ending. In later versions the unpublished second part was added, telling the whole story. – Venezuela (1982) with Hilda Carrero and Eduardo Serrano