This is one of the most unknown titles, not only by its author, but also in Spanish cinema throughout its history: The Black Lagoon (1952) and considered to be a 'doomed film'. Based on the dark poem included by Antonio Machado in his magnum opus "Campos de Castilla" (Fields of Castile), entitled "The Land of Alvargonzález," in which, over the course of 712 verses, the poet recounts the legend of a farming family in the province of Soria, in a village in the Urbión mountain range. In this story, brothers Juan (Tomás Blanco) married to the good pregnant wife Ángela (María Jesús Valdés) and Martín (José María Lado) driven by greed and instigated by Candelas (Maruchi Fresno), Martín's wife, murder their father and sink his body in the Black Lagoon. However, with the dead man presumed missing, the ambitious Alvargonzález children will not be able to collect the coveted inheritance until the death is confirmed, which will put both of them in a dangerous and difficult situation.
So, the Black Lagoon in Urbión, and its dark waters surrounded by mountains, hides the secret of a murder and the curse it carried over the village people. From then on, a curse will hang over their lands and their lives. Greed led them to commit the most terrible of crimes !.
This adaptation of the poem "La tierra de Alvargónzalez", included in the book "Campos de Castilla", has its main attraction in being the first film based on a work by Antonio Machado when it was still banned by General Franco's censorship. Dealing with the greed, selfishness and ambition of the members of a Castilian family, in a town in the Urbion mountain range, in the north of the province of Soria. A strong, hard and dry theme in which twisted and increasingly complex incidents develop, with the usual resulting outcome typical of all the films of the time, with God's justice anticipating that of men. It is a decent production with an excess of melodrama, and where a criminal intrigue develops itself, resulting in dire consequences. Although the protagonists sometimes act with excessive theatricality, they give good performances, outstanding the starring quintet: Maruchi Fresno, Tomás Blanco, Fernando Rey, José María Lado and María Jesús Valdés. While the supporting cast is full of the best Spanish supporting actors of the forties, fifties, and sixties, among which are: Irene Caba Alba, José Bódalo, Julia Caba Alba, Antonio Riquelme, Manuel Guitián, José Riesgo, José Sepúlveda, Julia Delgado Caro, Casimiro Hurtado, Arturo Marín , with special mention of the peddler who finds the missing father's watch, wonderfully acted by Félix Fernández and Luis Pérez de León in the role of the judge.
¨La Laguna Negra¨ displays an evocative cinematography in black and white by José F. Aguayo, shot on location in Picos de Urbión ridge, Soria, Castilla y León, and Segovia, Castilla y León (Castle of Turégano). As well as a sensitive and thrilling musical score by composer Jesús García Leoz. The motion picture was competently directed by Arturo Ruíz-Castillo. Being filmed in usual style of the Fifties and in stylistic scholarship, without leaving a trace the rural issues, in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement .Ruiz-Castillo has gone down in history as the director of one of the most markedly pamphleteering titles of the triumph of the Regime, The Sanctuary Does Not Surrender (1949), a heroic event during the Spanish Civil War, clearly one of the best patriotic films of the time and also one of the most unusual, as it reveals many traits inviting reconciliation between the Nationalist and Republican sides. It should not be forgotten that Ruiz Castillo was the co-founder of the university theater group La Barraca in 1932, along with Federico García Lorca. Arturo Ruiz Castillo is generally considered to be a decent director. He made several shorts and documentaries and directed all kind of genres . As he filmed autobiography about a player, Kubala , : ¨Los Ases Buscan La Paz¨, Historical : Catalina La Grande¨ , Drama : ¨Las Inquietudes De Shanti Andía¨, ¨Culpables¨, ¨Llovidos Del Cielo¨ , ¨Dos Caminos¨, ¨Pachin¨. Of course, ¨La Laguna Negra¨ and even he directed a Paella Western : ¨El Secreto Capitan O´Hara¨ . His best film was ¨Las Inquietudes de Shanti Andia¨ (1947) that won many Prizes : Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain 1948 Winner , "Gimeno" Revelation Award Arturo Ruiz Castillo for the direction, Winner CEC Award Best Supporting Actor Jesús Tordesillas Best Cinematography Manuel Berenguer and Best Music Jesús García Leoz. And is also included in what is considered one of his best works ¨La Laguna Negra¨. It has a rating: 7/10. Better than average. The flick will appeal to Spanish cinema classics fans.
