teldenman-19180

Lots of confusion about this film. It was entirely filmed in Almería, Spain. Where a lot of the spaghetti westerns were filmed later. Even the New York Times review thought it was filmed in Syria! It put Almería on the cinema map. Lawrence of Arabia and Cleopatra used it a few years later. Then Leone and the cowboys rode in. The director had scoured the world looking for the best scenery. But found Egypt, Libya and Jordan far too monotonous. A friend who worked in a geographical institute in France suggested he look at Almería. The film was not shown in Spain at the time, presumably because Franco and the fascists thought it would reflect badly on Spain that they had an area so bleak and poor it could stand in for north Africa. It was nominated for the Golden Lion at the 1957 Venice film. It didn't win. It was poorly reviewed in France, as Cayette was not a fashionable director. The costar later appeared in spaghetti westerns.