Flamenco

We screened this film at the San Francisco FF in 1996 with this note: "Duende, that untranslatable Spanish word rendered as "inner burning" or "restless demon" by the dictionary, is evoked more poetically by Federico García Lorca: "Duende is a power, not an act, a struggle, not a thought. I heard an old master guitarist affirm: 'Duende doesn't come from the throat; it rises within from the soles of the feet.'" The dark current of duende, this passionate lamentation rooted in the Spanish earth, is the unifying principle among the song and dance traditions gathered under the mantle of flamenco. Edgar Neville's 1952 documentary-fiction captures the great masters of these many styles in the breathtaking regional settings of their origins. The great masters of Spanish dance, song and music are immortalized against the backdrop of the Iberian landscape. The film was shot in Cinefotocolor, a then-innovative, now long-obsolete process, in hues to rival Technicolor's rich saturation. Filmoteca Española has restored this invaluable legacy, unseen and deteriorating for decades, to its original splendor. —Alicia Springer

It was looking through Pilar López de Ayala's filmography, and I was surprised when I observed that her film debut went back to this documentary-film one of 1952. Until that moment, I just thought it was a simple mistake. But how it was the surprise when I discovered that ,among the extensive collection of videos and documentaries of my dead father, I find the tape in question, and one of the beautiful singers and "bailaoras" is (or at least the accuracy resembles it) Pilar López of Ayala! the same one that recentky has starred in "Juana la Loca". I would like to contact with some other internet user that, just like me, have seen this movie, that, on the other hand, I recommend as one of the samples of the pure flamenco of the Antique Spain . Without more delays, hoping for hear from you soon. A. Sánchez Garcés.

Quintaessential Dance film features brilliant and frenetic choreography and embellished thanks to its chromatic aesthetic and a high-caliber Flamenco score , adding sensual re-creations , rural and urban sightseeing and other social manners . Enjoyable film very moving in its style with a superb Flamenco soundtrack and unique photography style , though being really necesary a perfect remastering because of the film copy is washed-out . At the same time , watching several Spanish locations , showing a real sightseeing of the marvellous cities and villages . The dazzling and devastating dancing set new standards for this splendid and wildly successful fim. An Andalusian musical movie of the late Fifities , being essentially a ballet , that's why it is musically riveting , it is almost , also, perfect and laced with glimmer cinematograph in Cinefotocolor by Heinrich Gärtner as Enrique Guerner . Heading the glorious cast are the mythical dancer Antonio , the veteran Pilar Lopez and the young Maria Luz Galicia , three of Spain's foremost dancers at the time , along with gypsy dancers , and other contributions as the members of the Ballet Espanol . All of them dancing fabulous Flamenco music , Bulerias , Seguidillas , Boleros de Panaderos , Sonatas composed by Father Antonio Soler, Intermedio from the opera Pepita Jimenez composed by Isaac Albeniz , Spanish dance number 11 composed by Enrique Granados and many others . Special mention for the fascinating dances performed by Antonio on attractive background location , in El Escorial and Ronda Bridge , the latter he plays an impressive Martinete at the end.

The motion picture was competently written and directed by Edgar Neville and narrated by the known actor Fernando Rey . Director Edgar Neville , Count of Berlanga de Duero , was considered to be one of the best filmmakers in the Francoist time . He was a notorious playwright , screenwriter and director , Edgar opted for a humor not politically compromised , which he cultivated in all the artistic genres : theatrical stage , poetry, novels, cinema, painting and others . From their privileged position he criticized without harshness the customs of the bourgeoisie at that time , in which Neville belonged himself as well as the kitsch and the absurd manners . Together with Tono, Antonio Mingote and Mihura, he wrote for the humor magazine La Codorniz , successor to the weekly La Ametralladora, which Mihura published in San Sebastián. Neville stood out above all as a good filmmaker . ¨La vida en un hilo¨ or ¨Life in a thread¨ was a great success both, the public and critic . It was first conceived as a film and later it was turned into a musical comedy by his son Santiago . It is a smiling reflection on the mechanisms of chance, as well as a plot against the bourgeoisie , being understood as a disease of the soul , against corniness and narrow-mindedness disguised as common sense . The play ¨El baile¨, which ran for seven years on stage , it was also a big hit , and reviewing social habits, as well . It is about a loving trio that triumphs over time and generations . Adapted to the cinema, it was distinguished for its agile and brilliant dialogues , in which tenderness and nonsense alternate here and there . Edgar directed a large number of films , some of them written along with his sweetheart actress Conchita Montes , who usually played too. In Edgar Neville's prestigious cinematic work stand out the following movies : La torre de los siete jorobados 1944 , La vida en un hilo 1945 , El crimen de la calle de Bordadores 1946 ,El traje de luces 1946 , Nada 1947 , El marqués de Salamanca 1948 , El último caballo 1950 , La ironía del dinero 1955 , El baile 1957 , Mi calle 1959 . He also made documentary , such as : La Ciudad Universitaria , Juventudes de España , Cante Jondo, and this Duende y Misterio del Flamenco, among others . Rating : 8/10. Above average . Essential and indispensable watching for Flamenco aficionados.