Jesus Tordesillas Movies
Director John Frankenheimer, extrapolating from his earlier films The Gypsy Moths and Grand Prix, examines machismo and how men test themselves to the limits of endurance in The Horsemen. The film takes place in modern day Afghanistan. Uraz (Omar Sharif), the son of Tursen (Jack Palance), the stable master for a feudal lord, is a master horseman who lives by a primitive code of honor. Uruz's family honor is damaged when he breaks his leg playing the game which is the Afghani equivalent of polo. His father, who lost a lot of money betting on his son, will barely speak to him. To regain the family honor (and wealth) he must somehow re-learn how to ride -- after his injuries cost him his leg below the knee. In the face of great obstacles, and despite the derision and treachery of others, he gains the chance to play in the games given by the king of Afghanistan. The footage of the horsemanship in these dangerous and anarchic games is one of the real highlights of this film. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Omar Sharif, Leigh Taylor-Young, (more)
- 1970
Jorge (Francisco Ruiz) is a young orphan boy sent to live with his grandmother (Ana Marie Noe). His only memory of his parents comes from two old photos he has saved. He buries the pictures in two flower pots and takes great care of them. Two young children, a boy and a girl, are soon seen playing in the garden and the hallways of the house, and Jorge joins his new friends. A feeble-minded aunt and a lecherous servant girl are his only other companions, so Jorge delights in playing with the two newcomers. He soon realizes that the two children are his parents and they are the same age as he is in this symbolic fantasy. Jorge must decide if his visions are real or only a wishful dream. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Berta Riaza, Ricardo Lucia, (more)
- 1958
A jealous man is confronted with his worst fear in this thriller. Merritt Blake (Richard Kiley) is an architect from the United States who is invited to work on a project in Spain. Since he cannot speak Spanish, Blake is in need of an interpreter, and he hires Mari Zarubia (Carmen Sevilla), a beautiful Spanish woman, to serve as his translator. Zarubia's boyfriend, Antonio (Jose Guardiola), does not trust Blake, and follow him as he travels the countryside with Zarubia, convinced he intends to steal his woman away. Antonio's paranoia becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when Blake and Zarubia find themselves falling in love, which only feeds his violent jealousy. Spanish Affair was shot on location in Spain, with Sam Leavitt's VistaVision camera work making the most of the nation's scenic backdrops. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Richard Kiley, Carmen Sevilia, (more)
- 1948
The Mad Queen is Doña Juana (Aurora Bautista), the daughter of Spain's King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. In truth, she is no more mad than anyone else in Spain, but sinister forces have her declared insane so that they may claim the throne. Left unbalanced by these court intrigues, Doña Juana is driven further into lunacy by the philandering of her husband, Don Felipe (well played by Fernando Rey)---better known to history as King Philip. Though Aurora Bautista plays the title character, the film is stolen by the moody histrionics of Sara Montiel, cast as Don Felipe's moorish mistress. The English subtitles for The Mad Queen were written by noted film scholar (and Erich von Stroheim and Ernst Lubitsch biographer) Herman G. Weinberg. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aurora Bautista, Fernando Rey, (more)
