Fernando Rey Movies

This historical epic from Italy tells the stories of two of the most memorable figures in the Old Testament. Gideon (Ivo Garrani) saves the children of Israel when, under God's command, he defeats the Midianites by destroying the altar of Baal. In the second half of the film, Sampson (Anton Geesink) is the most physically powerful man in the world -- until he falls prey to the allure of the wily Delilah (Rosalba Neri). Fernando Rey highlights the supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

The first of two sequels to The Magnificent Seven (1960), this bloody western featured only Yul Brynner from the original picture's all-star cast. Once again, the residents of a pastoral Mexican village become enslaved by a maniacal brute, this time the insane rancher Lorca (Emilio Fernandez), who has corralled a small army of 50 gunmen to intimidate the citizenry into building a church in memory of his son. Chico (now played by Julian Mateos), an original member of the seven gunslingers from the first film, hears of the villagers' plight and sends for Chris Adams (Brynner), who rounds up another lucky seven shootists from various places of ill-repute (including prison). The new bunch, which now includes Warren Oates and Claude Akins, storms the storm, intending to restore order. This film was, in turn, followed by a pair of further sequels, Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969) and The Magnificent Seven Ride! (1972). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

When a space capsule is accidently launched, a repairman finds himself in a time warp covering many centuries. ~ All Movie Guide

When Paco (Luis Ferin) is fired from his job at a local hotel, he soon discovers his friends and family have turned their backs on him. With no further jobs available, Paco decides to earn his living by becoming a bullfighter. With no experience, the eager youth jumps into the ring with a ferocious bull. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

In this sword-and-sandal fantasy, the mighty Goliath must battle the evil Bokan who has usurped him from his throne. He must also deal with feisty Amazons, tremendous tempests, and scary sea monsters before he can save the beautiful Elea. He does, and of course, he wins. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Based upon a novel by Shelley Smith, The Running Man opens at the memorial service for Rex Black (Laurence Harvey), the owner of a small air transport company who is believed to have drowned in a recent glider accident. It soon turns out, however, that Black is very much alive; he faked his death as a means of getting back at the insurance company who denied an earlier claim because he was one day late in making his payment. He has enlisted the cooperation of his wife Stella (Lee Remick) in this scheme. While she waits for the insurance company to approve the claim, he disguises himself, assumes a new identity (that of Charles Erskine, a shoe salesman) and goes to wait for Stella in Spain. Once there, he meets drunken Australian millionaire Jim Jerome in a bar; when Jerome inadvertently leaves his passport at the bar, Rex confiscates it and hatches a new plan to collect on Jerome's insurance as well. In the meantime, Stella has met with insurance representative Stephen Maddox (Alan Bates), who eventually approves her claim. She journeys to Spain, but finds Rex a changed man, and isn't comfortable with either his new personality or his latest scheme. To make matters worse, Maddox shows up. Is it a coincidence or is he suspicious? The rest of the film hinges on the answer to this question, as well as what Maddox's plans are in either case. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

After 25 years' exile, Luis Buñuel was invited to his native Spain to direct Viridiana -- only to have the Spanish government suppress the film on the grounds of blasphemy and obscenity. Regarded by many as Buñuel's crowning achievement, the film centers on an idealistic young nun named Viridiana (Silvia Pinal). Just before taking her final vows, Viridiana is forced by her mother superior to visit her wealthy uncle Don Jaime (Fernando Rey), who has "selflessly" provided for the girl over the years. She has always considered Don Jaime an unspeakable beast, so she is surprised when he graciously welcomes her into his home. Just as graciously, he sets about to corrupt Viridiana beyond redemption -- all because the girl resembles his late wife. It is always hard to select the most outrageous scene in any Buñuel film; our candidate in Viridiana is the devastating Last Supper tableau consisting of beggars, thieves, and degenerates. As joltingly brilliant today as on its first release, Viridiana won the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This lurid Spanish thriller involves the efforts of a revolutionary plastic surgeon (Fernando Rey) to graft a lovely new face on a former mental patient (Lisa Gaye). Though she requires regular applications of an experimental skin cream in order to render the new look permanent, she escapes into hiding after committing murder to cover her shadowy past. When her supply of the treatment runs out -- on her honeymoon, no less -- she undergoes a grotesque transformation and sets out on the requisite murderous rampage. A bit of impromptu (and sloppy) cosmetic surgery was also performed on this film by its U.S. distributor, with additional English dialogue scenes haphazardly edited into the already confusing original. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide

Set during one day in Retiro Park in Madrid, this series of static skits involves people interacting in the park or sitting on benches, and talking. People passing through the park include a gentleman looking for a wealthy woman to romance. The woman he encounters, and other characters, alternate between the comic and the melodramatic as the skits unfold. Based mainly on dialogue rather than action, this day in the park features talented actors with not that much to say underneath it all. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

An oil executive (Lex Barker) is forced to travel to Morocco to investigate the murder of one of his employees. While there, he tries to find a valuable microfilm (which points out the location of large oil deposits) but begins to realize that others are looking for it also. ~ John Bush, All Movie Guide