FOCUS SPAIN
International Prize for Comedy Film,
Special Mention (screenplay), Cannes 1953
Directed by: Luis Garcia BERLANGA
Year of production: 1953
Country: Spain
Genre: comedy
Length: 78 minutes
The film has long been noted as a landmark film in Spanish cinema, “el clásico más irónico del cine español”. Under the guise of a comedy of manners, this great box office success is really a work of social criticism. Its main song has gained mythical status in Spanish cinema.
Villar del Río is a small, peaceful village, where the folkloric singer, Carmen Vargas, and her manager arrive to give a performance. On the same day, a government delegation announces that a Marshall Plan commission, offering financial aid to develop the country, is to pass through the village. In order to give a surprise to its American visitors, the village mobilises itself to organise a grand reception in the purest Andalusian style.
Luis Garcia BERLANGA – Director
Luis Garcia BERLANGA – Script / Dialogue
Miguel MIHURA – Script / Dialogue
Juan Antonio BARDEM – Script / Dialogue
Manuel BERENGUER – Cinematography
SOLANO – Music
Jesus G. LEHOZ – Music
F. CANET-GUBEL – Set decorator
Alberto ROMEA
Luis PEREZ DE LEON
José FRANCO
Elvira QUINTILLA
José ISBERT
Lolita SEVILLA
Manolo MORAN
Fernando REY