Felix de Pomes Movies
In this wartime melodrama, Lieutenant Colonel Raspeguy (Anthony Quinn) is a French peasant who has worked his way up the military ladder during the French involvement in Indochina. Sent to Algeria, Raspeguy must mold a group of raw recruits into a competent fighting unit. He calls on Esclavier (Alain Delon), his sensitive assistant who eventually deserts the military out of frustration over the pointlessness of war. Raspeguy's other assistant is Boisfeuras (Maurice Ronet), the affable officer whose outside demeanor hides the heart of a vicious killer who loves the bloodlust of battle. Raspeguy takes up with Countess De Clairefons (Michele Morgan), the widow of a respected general. She promises Raspeguy she will marry him if he comes back from the conflict as a general. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, Alain Delon, (more)
- 1965
The final three days of Christ, covering his arrest, his death, and resurrection, are chronicled in this saga. ~ 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)
Romance, treachery, intrigue and spiritual awakenings abound in the Biblical film adaptation of Solomon and Sheba. Trouble begins between two brothers when poet Solomon (Yul Brynner) is chosen to be next in line to the throne by King David of Israel. His warrior brother Adonijah (George Sanders) is livid when Solomon becomes king. While Israel prospers under Solomon, Sheba (Gina Lollobrigida) conspires with the Egyptians to topple Israel. She is ambitious and seductive and finally gets Solomon to fall in love with her. When a pagan dance ritual turns into an orgy, the people turn against Solomon when the Temple of Jehovah is struck by lightning. After the righteous Solomon has fallen from the grace of God, Sheba renounces her pagan Gods and converts to Judaism. A cast of thousands depict the raging battle between the Israelites and the Egyptians. Directed by King Vidor at the cost of five million dollars, production was delayed when the original choice for the role of Solomon (Tyrone Power) died during the making of the film. Many scenes had to be redone with his replacement, Yul Brynner. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Yul Brynner, Gina Lollobrigida, (more)
- 1959
This youth-oriented romantic drama is one of several that have been based on the novel by the same name by early 20th century writer Alejandro Perez-Lugin. Director Rafael Gil brings forth a lively, entertaining version of the story about Gerardo (Arturo Fernandez), a young man coming from a turbulent background in Madrid to the city of Santiago de Compostela to enroll in the university. The errant Gerardo goes reluctantly off to study but soon the charms of Compostela and the surrounding countryside, and the excitement of student life win him over. What really turns the tables though, is his interest in Carmina (Ana Esmeralda, an accomplished flamenco dancer). Now Gerardo's problem is a new one -- how can he convince Carmina's parents that he is an acceptable suitor for their daughter? ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Arturo Fernandez, Jose Rubio, (more)
- 1959
Robert Stack stars in this sea-faring historical epic as John Paul Jones, the first great hero of the American Navy. While originally a loyal soldier of the King's army, Jones in time becomes a fervent supporter of the American Revolutionaries, and he volunteers to lead the colonists' ragtag fleet to impressive victories against the British Navy; during a battle against the British ship Serapis, Jones utters the deathless words "I have not yet begun to fight." While his brave and intelligent leadership helps win America its freedom, his appeals to Benjamin Franklin (Charles Coburn) and the other leaders of Congress to strengthen the United States Navy fall on deaf ears; Jones is eventually branded a troublemaker, and in time, he is ordered to Russia, where he is to help guide the fleet of Catherine The Great (Bette Davis). Jones leads the Russian Navy to stunning victories in the Black Sea, reestablishing his reputation as one of the great military minds of his day. John Paul Jones also features a rousing score by the great film composer Max Steiner. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Stack, Marisa Pavan, (more)
- 1959
This routine period drama is set during the first half of the 19th century, when Queen Isabela II of Spain was opposed by her uncle, Don Carlos. In this story, Jose (Francisco Rabal) is an officer in Don Carlos' army who deserts but is captured and sentenced to be shot by a firing squad. In the gentleman's war of the day, Jose is given an overnight reprieve before showing up for his appointment with the "ten waiting rifles." While he is out free during this time, he mulls over the idea of running away with the woman he loves. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Francisco Rabal, Ettore Manni, (more)
As was his custom, producer/director Stanley Kramer made some iconoclastic casting decisions when mounting his $5 million production The Pride and the Passion. Adapted from The Gun, a novel by C. S. Forester, the film is set in Spain during the Napoleonic wars. Captain Anthony Trumbull (Cary Grant), a British military officer, is ordered to retrieve a large and unwieldly abandoned cannon, then transport the weapon to the British lines, where it will be used to attack the French garrison at Avila. Hotheaded guerilla leader Miguel (Frank Sinatra) agrees to help Trumball move the cannon over hill and dale, even though he hates the Englishman's guts. Tagging along on the arduous odysseys is Miguel's fiery mistress Juana (Sophia Loren), who develops a yearning for the stolid Trundall (then-lovers Loren and Grant would later be teamed in Houseboat). Pride and the Passion made a mint at the box-office for both Kramer and United Artists. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, (more)
- 1957
In this adventure, an American is forced by smugglers to sail his boat from Barcelona to Tangiers. The ruthless fugitives then kill his son, and harm his shipmate, sending the pilot, himself an ex-smuggler into such a rage that he kills two gang members and helps police capture the survivors and bring them to justice. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1944
This 1944 Spanish film, the first directed by Edgar Neville (who was also a Count), was based on the Spanish Gothic horror novel by Emilio Carrere, El Torre de los Siete Jorobados. Although sometimes referred to in books on the history of the horror film, it is seldom seen. It combines many classic horror movie features with elements of humor and surrealism. In the story, an underground complex formerly used by Jews at the time of the Inquisition as a hiding place is now the hideout of a group of hunchbacks in the counterfeiting racket. The ghost of an anthropologist who was killed for having discovered the site enlists the aid of a heroic young man, Basilio Beltran (Antonio Casal) to protect his niece Dona Inez (Isabel de Pomes). She's in danger from the mastermind of the hunchbacks, Dr. Sabatino (Guillermo Marin). Typical of the film's offbeat approach are the periodic appearances of the ghost of Napolean, who can't seem to find the right seance. The bizarre mix of horror and comedy might appeal more to modern viewers than it did to audiences in the '40s. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Guillermo Marin
