Las tandas del principal

A frivolous young dandy spends his days trying to capture the attention of a celebrated operetta singer, sure that charm and bravado will do the trick. His plans collapse when the singer instead becomes involved with his older uncle, which creates awkward loyalties and simmering jealousies within the family. The story traces the consequences of these social missteps through musical numbers and comic set pieces, watching pride, ease and ambition clash in confined drawing rooms and onstage performances. Small deceptions and social maneuvering keep the plot moving and often amusing, as characters trade flirtation, rivalry and polite scandal.

Released in 1949, Las tandas del principal was directed by Juan Bustillo Oro, featuring Mapy Cortés, Luis Aldás, Fernando Soler and a strong supporting cast from Mexico's studio era, reflecting the period's taste for musical comedy and theatrical staging influences.

Contemporary box office records for the film are scarce, so exact commercial returns are unknown, though it circulated in Mexican theaters upon release and later appeared on television and festival programs preserving mid century cinema, and archival prints exist occasionally.

While not one of the era's most celebrated titles, Las tandas del principal contributes to the image of operetta and light comedy in Mexican popular film, giving audiences memorable performances by its leads and serving as a reference point for scholars studying postwar entertainment and star dynamics and enduring memory.

Critical response has been modest, reflected in an average rating of 6.0 out of 10 based on a small number of votes. The film leans on romantic farce, social manners and performative spectacle, relying on star charisma and situational humor rather than dramatic weight. It remains enjoyable for period-music fans.