"La Mies es Mucha" gets its title from the gospels. "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." Naturally this is a Catholic film that could only have been done during the Franco years in Spain. Overly sentimental it focuses on a Spanish priest, Father Santiago, who arrives in India to evangelize the natives. Excited about his mission, the good priest soon finds that things are more complicated than he expected. For starters, there is a Protestant pastor competing for conversions with better resources to offer the famished locals. The priest also encounters the intrigues of the pagan religious leaders who incite the populace against his mission. There is also an abusive mine owner who exploits the workers by lending them money at high interest rates, making the pay back impossible. In exchange he works them to death at the mine. Father Santiago intervenes by offering to pay the workers' debt but that places him in a compromising situation since he doesn't have that kind of money either. Things get tougher and tougher for the priest, including a plague breakout, but he faces all challenges with saintly patience and daring heroics. In spite of the heavy Catholic propaganda and a dull black and white cinematography, director Saenz De Heredia manages to keep things moving. That and some fine acting by all, especially Fernando Fernán Gómez as the priest, makes the film viewable. A very young Sarita Montiel wrapped in a sari, shows up a couple of times in a minor role in spite of being credited as one of starring players. Over all I do not recommend this drab film unless you are interested on the subject matter.
