"Maria Mercedes" was a dismal remake of the 1977 novela "Rina" by director Valentin Pimstein with Thalia in the role originally played by Ofelia Medina and without the macabre flavor. Thalia's sister, Laura Zapata, plays Malvina del Olmo, a selfish and materialistic woman who is disinherited by her late husband as punishment for her greedy and selfish nature. Instead, he has left the house and fortune to Maria Mercedes, a poor and destitute girl he met on the street, on the condition she live there. According to his will, Malvina and her well-meaning but inept sister Filagonia may live there, though they will not inherit anything.
Malvina, along with her bumbling sister Filagonia, schemes a plot to disinherit Rina so they can control the fortune. Whereas the original was sinister the new version drops the supernatural elements and focuses on the comedic talents of Thalia as Maria. Thalia is quite striking and looks terrific but the revised plot is simply not interesting enough to hold much interest. Arturo Peniche as Jorge Luis del Olmo makes a handsome and romantic leading man for Thalia. but the chemistry is missing between the two. This was part of a three novela trilogy--the three Marias--starring superstar Thalia: Maria Mercedes, Mari-Mar, and Maria la Del Barrio. Of the three, Mari-Mar was the most successful.
