Rafael Luis Calvo Movies
- 1965
French novelist Henri-Francois Rey adapted his novel Les Pianos Mecaniques with director Juan Antonio Bardem for this French/Italian/Spanish co-production, set in Spain. Vincent (Hardy Kruger) is recovering from a nervous breakdown in a seaside village on the Costa Brava. He enters into an affair with nightclub owner Jenny (Melina Mercouri), but their relationship changes when she falls for alcoholic author Pascal Regnier (James Mason), who is struggling to resume his writing career. Vincent eventually returns home, leaving Jenny to stay on with Pascal and his young son Daniel (Didier Haudepin). Their love enables him to start writing again. ~ Nicole Gagne, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Melina Mercouri, Hardy Kruger, (more)
Though Fall of the Roman Empire is now infamous as the epic which destroyed the cinematic "empire" of producer Samuel Bronston, the film is actually an above-average historical drama, attempting to make sense of the political intrigues which resulted in the dissolution of the Glory That Was Rome. The film begins with wise, diplomatic emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness) calling together the various representatives of the many nations within the Empire as a means of securing peace and prosperity for all involved. When Marcus intimates that he intends to turn over his crown to adopted son Livius (Stephen Boyd) rather than the logical successor Commodus (Christopher Plummer), he is poisoned by one of Commodus' cronies. Marcus' daughter Lucilla (Sophia Loren) tries to get Livius to claim the throne, but he wants no part of it; thus, the fate of the empire is in the incompetent hands of the preening Commodus. Despite efforts by cooler heads to save Rome from ruin, Commodus vainly declares himself a god and kills anyone who poses a threat to him. When he learns that Lucilla actually has a stronger claim to the throne than he does, Commodus condemns her to be burned at the stake. Only then does Livius intervene, slaying Commodus and promising to try to pick up the pieces of the disintegrating empire. Attempting to find a common ground between history buffs and action fans, Fall of the Roman Empire has come to be regarded as a classic. Alas, audiences in 1964 had grown weary of epics (especially after the highly touted but disappointing Cleopatra), and failed to turn out in sufficient enough numbers to justify Fall's exorbitant cost. Virtually wiped out, Samuel Bronston would not be able to return to filmmaking until 1971, and then only on a much smaller and more pinchpenny scale. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Alec Guinness, Sophia Loren, (more)
- 1962
In this action drama, set during the Algerian War, 1961, a Foreign Legion captain must stage a daring raid to kidnap a rebel leader. They are successful, but then the helicopter that was to pick them up is shot down. The men are forced to do an overland trek with their prisoner. Many of them do not make it across the burning desert. Those that do are shocked to learn that in their absence the political situation changed. The leader they kidnapped is now a crucial figure in helping to get the French to leave Algiers. The captain is so angry, that he thinks about killing the leader, but then cools off. He thinks of all the suffering and death his troop endured to bring the leader to safety. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
One major film star referred to director Nicholas Ray as a "loser," because of Ray's alleged willingness to let his more temperamental actors walk all over him. Evidently, Ray had a very compliant and cooperative cast in King of Kings, inasmuch as the film emerged as one of the most disciplined Biblical epics ever made. Jeffrey Hunter is cast as Jesus Christ, delivering a wholly credible performance in this most taxing of roles (never mind the wags who referred to the film as "I Was a Teenage Jesus"). Siobhan McKenna is a radiant if somewhat overaged Mary; Hurd Hatfield offers a properly preening Pontius Pilate; Rip Torn portrays Judas more for the tragedy than the treachery; Robert Ryan (a personal favorite of Ray's) is one of the best John the Baptists you're ever likely to see; and Harry Guardino convincingly interprets Barabbas as a firebrand political extremist. The only false note in the casting is the MGM-dictated selection of teenaged Brigid Bazlen as Salome. The best aspect of the film is its handling of the days after the Resurrection; the "Jesus sightings" are offered as secondhand information, so as to retain some of the mystery inherent in the Scriptures. King of Kings was previously filmed in 1927 by Cecil B. DeMille, with a middle-aged H.B. Warner as Jesus. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jeffrey Hunter, Hurd Hatfield, (more)
- 1959
Released not long before a much more spectacular Cleopatra came along to make Elizabeth Taylor even more famous, this routine drama by Vittorio Cottafavi, a director who favors historical epics, is no competition. The prelude to Cleopatra's demise is the main focus of attention, but in this drama Mark Antony's presence is usurped by the Roman envoy Curridius (Ettore Manni). Curridius travels all the way from Rome to warn Antony that the powers-that-be are not thrilled with his behavior. Along the way, he faces one danger after another and then encounters Cleopatra (Linda Cristal) to make it all seem worth the effort. Gladiators in combat, underwater fights, and other impressive action scenes enliven the story. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Linda Cristal, Georges Marchal, (more)
- 1958
The ancient Roman empire is the setting for this sword-and-sandal costume drama about the villainous Princess Amira (Gianna Maria Canale) who plans to poison the rightful heir to the Armenian throne, her younger brother. She has cast her lot with the Scythians, a foreign tribe who want to expand their territory. But a resistance movement is led by Asclepio (Georges Marchal), and when the Roman tribune Marcus Numidius (Ettore Manni) thunders in to set things right, he has Asclepio's underground force as an ally. Large-scale battles and smaller contests in the gladiatorial arena provide plenty of rousing action. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gianna Maria Canale, Georges Marchal, (more)
The Spanish Marcelino Pan y Vino (Marcelino Bread and Wine) is a seriocomic effort about a foundling child. Left on the doorstep of a monastery, the boy is adopted by the monks and raised by them. The film then flashes forward to the kid's sixth year, by which time he has developed into a mischievous young sprout. Yearning for friends his own age, the boy inadvertently causes all sorts of havoc when he ventures into town in search of companionship. It will take a miracle to undo the boy's damage -- and on cue, that miracle manifests itself before the wide-eyed villagers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pablito Calvo, Rafael Rivelles, (more)
- 1941
Sin Novedad en el Alcazar (Siege of the Alcazar) is fascist propaganda in the guise of popular entertainment. Set during the Spanish Civil War, the story dramatizes the 70-day defense of the Alcazar of Toledo by Nationalist troops under the command of General Moscardo. At the end of the siege, it appears as though the Republican forces are triumphant, but the defenders have the last laugh. The film's dramatic high point is Moscardo's sacrifice of his own son, held hostage by the Republicans (according to the film, the younger Moscardo goes to his death willingly and with a smile on his lips). Somehow or other, Spanish dictator Francisco Franco emerges as the hero of the film, though he was but one of three generals fighting at the Alcazar. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fosco Giachetti, Mireille Balin, (more)
- 1936
This lavish "Grand Hotel"-style yarn with religious undertones is set in Madrid in 1893. The story takes place during the annual festival of the Virgin of the Dove. The euphoria of the celebration has a positive effect on several celebrants, but yields most unexpected results for others. The film is based on a popular operetta, which in turn was inspired by a variety of old folk legends. All in all, the story and the music of La Verbend de la Paloma is secondary to the pageantry: If one didn't know better, one would swear that the film was lensed during the actual Virgin of the Dove festival, rather than a meticulous reconstruction. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Miguel Ligero
- 1935
Rumbo al Cairo (On the Road to Cairo) is a vehicle for Spanish musical favorites Miguel Ligero and Ricardo Nunez. Tired of being besieged by his fans, popular tenor Jaimie Noriega (Nunez) wants to go someplace where no one knows him. Jaimie's wealthy pal Quique (Miguel Ligero) obliges him by heading to Cairo. Once they've arrived, Quique and Jaimie both fall in love with Celia (Mary del Carmen), the governor's daughter. The catch: Celia is fed up with money in general and men in particular, and wants nothing to do with either of our heroes. The fun begins when Quique pretends to be poor and Jaimie pretends to be a "nobody" to win Celia's affections. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Miguel Ligero, Ricardo Nunez, (more)
