Manuel Granada (6 November 1896 - 30 January 1974) was an Argentine actor who appeared in American, Spanish, Argentine and Mexican films. For the first half of his career, he worked under the names Paul Ellis and Manuel Granado.
Granada was born Benjamin Ingenito in Buenos Aires on November 6, 1896. He made his film debut in the Metro-Goldwyn film The Bandolero in 1924 under the name Manuel Granado. He was signed to a contract by Louis B. Mayer and listed as a Metro-Goldwyn principal player in the same year. An April 1925 article by Harry Carr for Motion Picture dubbed him 'Hollywood's New Sheik.' Like other Latino actors in silent-era Hollywood, he had adapted a WASPy screen name, which stood in contrast to his dark features, a look that was popular at the time. Despite this, he was still cast almost exclusively as secondary ethnic characters, unlike his contemporaries in silent-era Hollywood like Gilbert Roland and Barry Norton (a fellow Argentine). He was singled out for praise by The Los Angeles Herald Examiner and other Los Angeles newspapers after the 1926 premiere of The Dancer of Paris.
The coming of sound found Paul Ellis relegated to bit parts, though he did secure some substantial roles in Spanish-language versions of English-language films such as La Voluntad del muerto (1930). In 1930, he also wrote and appeared in the film Alma De Gaucho. Ellis also appeared in Charros, gauchos y manolas, a musical directed by Xavier Cugat. These films were usually released in Spanish-language territories only. He continued to appear in American films for another ten years, mostly in brief uncredited roles, though he is remembered by some for his appearance in Marihuana (1936), which retains a small cult following. He made his last American film, Whistling in the Dark, in 1941.
Still using the name Paul Ellis, Granada next shows up in films in 1947 in Argentina, and continued to appear in films in Argentina. He appeared in the Mexican/Argentine co-production La Tierra del Fuego se apaga.
1970
as Bouso
1968
as El Cojo
1967
1966
1964
as Tio Pedro
1963
as Don Fabián Márquez
1963
1961
1958
1957
1955
1954
1954
as (as Manuel Granada)
1953
1953
1951
1950
as Roberto
1950
1947
1942
as Pedro Alverez (uncredited)
1941
as Henchman (uncredited)
1941
as Ortega (uncredited)
1941
as Steward Taking Dagwood's Sandwich (uncredited)
1940
as Racetrack Official (uncredited)
1940
as Henchman Mario
1939
as Faber - Henchman
1939
as Minor Role (uncredited)
1939
1939
as Spanish Radio Broadcaster
1939
as Frank (uncredited)
1938
as Miguel Cantova
1938
as El Chato
1937
as Greenway
1937
as General Castillion
1937
1936
as Paris Cafe Guest (uncredited)
1936
as Tony Santello
1936
as Agent
1936
as Tony Cosmato (uncredited)
1935
as Lavelle, the jewel thief
1935
as Franko - Henchman
1935
as Enrico Garcia
1935
as Zamboni
1935
as Henchman
1935
as Carlos Duran
1935
as Raphela Mendoza
1934
as Dancer (uncredited)
1934
as Pinkerton in 'Madame Butterfly'
1934
as Dapper Dan
1933
as Travers - the Gigolo
1932
as Vargas
1932
as (as Manuel Granado)
1932
as Count Ivan Karloff
1931
as Querido
1931
1931
as Manuel Granada
1930
1930
1929
as Crook
1928
as Balcarce
1927
as Stefani Blanco
1927
as Gilbert Wainwright
1926
1925
as Toreador
1925
as Warren Hadley
1924
as Ramon