Los gallos de la madrugada

After the military service a young called Paco (Tony Isbert) returns his far village of fishers in Almeria . There meets his widower father , a fisher and mechanic old man (Alfredo Mayo) . Nowadays , he lives with a feisty , sympathetic prostitute , Lola Garcia (Concha Velasco) , who usually flirts with the boy and the villagers . Then , there appears an ¨Afilador¨ (Fernando Fernán Gómez) , who stands on a nearly beach and Lola befriends him . But the young Paco and the beatiful girl don't get along and both of whom start a discussion . Morning after , on the beach shows up the deceased corpse of Lola . Who is the killer ?

Entertaining and engaging film narrated by various flashbacks while the sergeant of Guardia Civil : José Maria Escuer , and a Judge : Manuel Diaz Gonzalez interrogate three suspicious people : Tony Isbert , Fernando Fernán Gómez and Alfredo Mayo . Filmmaker José Luis Sanez De Heredia directs this decent seaside melodrama crammed with murder mystery in which the killer results to be the most improbable person . The cast is frankly excellent . Conchita Velasco delivers an enjoyable performance as the foul-mouthed , seductive as well as shameless whore . Fernando Fernán Gómez is perfect as the resorceful and likeable drifter . Support cast is pretty good , as José Maria Escuer , Manuel Diaz and special mention for the always great José Sazatornil , ¨Saza¨ . This is an acceptable comedy/drama with intrigue criminal , based on an original screenplay by prolific and prestigious writer Carlos Blanco . Colorful and shining cinematography by Vicente Minaya , assisted by Teo Escamilla . Shot on location in Cabo De Gata , Negras Rodalquivir , Almeria . Atmospheric musical score by the classy composer Ernesto Halfter , including lively songs at the beginning and the end .





The motion was well directed by Jose Luis Saenz De Heredia giving an adequate film with a little intrigue , ironic touches and supported on a slick description of peculiar characters . He was a controversial figure in Spain because of his strong and unabashed support of dictator Francisco Franco . At the beginning his career he was hired by Luis Buñuel , as executive producer , to direct ¨La Hija De Juan Simon¨ (1935) and ¨Quien Me Quiere a Mi¨ . During the Spanish Civil War , Jose Luis Heredia is detained but freed thanks to Luis Buñuel and Santiago Ontañon . Heredia directed various ¨Propaganda films¨ . It is well known the main title ¨Raza¨ written by General Francisco Franco under pseudonym : ¨Jaime Andrade¨ . As Jose Luis became the official filmmaker of the dictatorship , as he writes ¨Escuadrilla¨ (1941) . Posteriorly ,in the 40s , he directs several successful dramas : ¨El Escandalo¨ (43) based on Pedro Alarcón novel , ¨Mariona Rebull¨(1947) based on Ignacio Agusti book , ¨La Aguas Bajan Negras¨ based on Armanado Palacio Valdes , ¨El Destino Se Disculpa¨ based on Wenceslao Fernández Florez , ¨Don Juan¨ based on Don Juan Tenorio by Zorrilla , ¨Bambu¨ about the Cuba War and ¨¨Mies Es Mucha¨. In addition , a very good drama about Carlistas wars : ¨Diez Fusiles Esperan¨ . Heredia subsequently makes inferior comedies as ¨Grano De Mostaza¨, ¨Derechos De La Mujer¨ and ¨La Decente¨ . And various Manolo Escobar/Concha Velasco vehicles such as ¨Pero En Que País Vivimos¨, ¨Juicio De Faldas¨, Relaciones Casi Publicas ¨and ¨Me Debes Un Muerto¨. And other films for Paco Martínez Soria: ¨Se Armo El Belen¨, ¨Don Erre Que Erre¨. His greatest hits were ¨Historia De La Radio¨(1955) and ¨La Verbena De La Paloma¨ or ¨The fair of the dove¨.