Sarita Montiel Movies
Spanish singer/actress Sarita Montiel, born Maria Antonia Abad in Campo de Criptana, Spain, is most popular in Spanish-speaking countries and appeared in many films from the mid-'40s through the early '70s. She also appeared occasionally in Hollywood films. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide- 1987
In this comedy, a woman pretends to be a famous singer. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1965
Sarita Montiel and Ferdinand Gravey co-star in this melodrama. A cabaret singer is lured into slavery when she signs on for a tour of the Middle East. After escaping the sheik's harem, she is saved by an elderly doctor whose handsome son falls in love with the girl once she is safely back in Paris. This was the last film for director Ladislao Vajda, who died just before the feature was completed. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sarita Montiel, Fernand Gravey, (more)
- 1958
The legendary Spanish screen siren Sarita Montiel headlines this gentle romantic drama; she stars as Soledad, a beautiful yet humble violet seller whose life turns a fantastic corner when she meets and falls deeply in love with the wealthy suitor Fernando. Unfortunately, because he is the product of Madrid's upper crust, the reality of class differences soon checks in and he splits off from her. Yet Soledad aggressively pursues her own brand of success and establishes herself as a popular singer - effectively giving herself another chance with her old love. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1957
Several film historians, notably the late William K. Everson, have noted the striking resemblances between Run of the Arrow and the 1990 Oscar-winner Dances with Wolves. Rod Steiger stars as O'Meara, an Irish-brogued Confederate soldier with an intense dislike for Yankees. Unable to accept the South's defeat, O'Meara heads westward after the Civil War, to start life anew amongst the Sioux Indians. Surving a ritual rite of passage called the Run of the Arrow, O'Meara is accepted into the tribe, and shortly afterward marries Sioux woman Yellow Moccasin (played by Spanish actress Sarita Montiel, whose voice was dubbed by Angie Dickinson). The true test of O'Meara's fidelity to the Sioux comes when his adopted people come into conflict with a Cavalry troop, headed by Northerner Captain Clark (Brian Keith). The cast includes such western "regulars" as Charles Bronson, Olive Carey (the widow of Harry Carey) and Colonel Tom McCoy (a recognized Indian-lore expert). Produced by RKO Radio, Run of the Arrow was released by Universal-International. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rod Steiger, Sarita Montiel, (more)
- 1956
Loosely based on a novel by James M. Cain, this romantic drama centers on the struggles of a humble vineyard worker (real-life opera star Mario Lanza) who rises to become a renowned opera star. In the original book, Damon, the protagonist, has a homosexual relationship with the patron who boosts his career, but in the film, the patron is a wealthy and manipulative young woman named Kendall (Joan Fontaine). As charming as she is selfish, poor Damon cannot help but fall in love with Kendall. Unfortunately, she is a fickle creature and soon grows bored with him, thereby breaking his heart and causing him to choke during his audition for the Met. Afterward, he flees to Mexico. There he comes down with a mysterious, debilitating movie disease. Fortunately, Juana, a beautiful ex-bullfighter's daughter is there to help him recover. Damon falls in love with her, but just as it looks like happiness will finally be his, conniving Kendall reappears. In addition to singing numerous selections from popular operas, Lanza also sings a pair of Sammy Cahn/Nicholas Brodszky pop tunes: "Serenade" and "My Destiny." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mario Lanza, Joan Fontaine, (more)
A once-popular fashion house that's about to go under as a result of an overweight model who insists on showcasing all of the clothes resorts to desperate measures in order to keep their good name in this farcical Mexican comedy from director Chano Urueta. Despite the fact that the stubborn, plus-size model is married to powerful business partner Mr. Lazaro, Lazaro's quick-thinking son vows to find a more appropriate candidate for the job before the bottom falls out of the struggling business once and for all. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Produced by Burt Lancaster's own company, Vera Cruz teams Lancaster with the venerable Gary Cooper. The story, set during the Mexican revolution of 1866, casts Coop and Lancaster as Ben Trane and Joe Erin, two rival soldiers of fortune who team to fight for the highest bidder. The two men come to loggerheads when Trane's sweetheart Nina (Sarita Montiel) begs them to fight on the side of the rebels, while the wealthy Marquis de Labodere (Cesar Romero) implores them to offer their services to Emperor Maximillian. Though they still haven't taken sides, Trane and Erin agree to escort the aristocratic Countess Marie Duvarre (Danielle Darrieux) through hostile territory to Vera Cruz. It soon develops that the Countess is transporting a gold shipment to the Emperor's armies. Hardly the most patriotic of souls, she offers to split the gold with Trane and Erin, but they steal it for themselves instead. It takes a while (and several bloody armed confrontations) before the two protagonists do The Right Thing. While it's fun to watch Burt Lancaster try to upstage the taciturn Gary Cooper, the film's best line goes to supporting player Henry Brandon: impassively watching the loutish Lancaster wolf down his dinner and slop wine all over his blouse, Brandon says calmly "Be careful, senor. Some of it is getting in your mouth." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gary Cooper, Burt Lancaster, (more)
The Mexican comedy Reportaje follows the wacky adventures that ensue when a man offers a large reward to the journalist that can uncover the best news story that occurs during New Year's Eve. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
The Mexican drama El Enamorado concerns a man who must stand up to murderous criminals would they threaten his hometown and his family. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pedro Infante, Sr., Sarita Montiel, (more)
The Mexican comedy Necesito Dinero stars Pedro Infante as a simple mechanic who attempts to win over the girl of his dreams by becoming a professional boxer. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pedro Infante, Sr., Sarita Montiel, (more)
Popular Mexican singing star Pedro Infante heads the cast of Ahi Viene Martin Corona. Infante plays a roaming ranch hand with an eye for the ladies and a talent for gambling. His carefree lifestyle is in for an overhaul when he falls in love with pretty heiress Sarita Montiel, who in addition to being drop-dead-gorgeous can dance up a storm. Nothing in taken seriously in the proceedings, not even the underhanded activities of a local outlaw band. Also known as Little Love of My Life, this innocuous musical had been run innumerable times over the Spanish cable service Univision. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pedro Infante, Sr., Sarita Montiel, (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)
- 1947
This Spanish cinemazation of Cervantes' Don Quixote may well have cost more money than any previous adaptation of that literary classic. Rafael Rivelles stars as the ageing, windmill-tilting knight-errant, while Juan Calvo plays Quixote's faithful manservant Sancho Panza. In fact, it is Calvo's sure-handed comic performance that keeps this elephantine production afloat. At 138 minutes, the film proved too much of a good thing for American filmgoers, many of whom were probably still resentful that they'd been force-fed Cervantes in high-school Spanish Class. Herman G. Weinberg, a film critic and historian best known for his essays on director Ernst Lubitsch, wrote the English-language subtitles for Don Quixote de la Mancha. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rafael Rivelles, Juan Calvo, (more)
