Melodrama , tragedy , a love story , social habits and Toreo in this enjoyable version based on the homonym novel titled ¨Los Clarines Del Miedo¨ or "Bugles of Fear" written by also screenwriter Ángel María de Lera . Filigranas and Aceituno are two unknown bullfighters who dream with fame and fortune , both of whom are hired for an amateur bullfight in a little town of Castile . Francisco , Alias Aceituno (Francisco Rabal) , oldest , is a 30-year-old veteran Toreador and , ex shoe-cleaner , but he's a disillusioned man , as he is afraid of bulls and his best period has passed away long time ago . And Filigranas , Rafael Garcia , (Rogelio Madrid) , who has great illusions of victory , as he wishes to get the chance of fighting in big plazas and get to be famous . Walking through the village called El Tarnejo where celebrates La Fiesta , they meet Fina (Silvia Solar) , a beautiful young woman , and Filigranas promises that he will dedicate her a bull if she attends the bullfight . At the end , Aceituno and Filigranas confront at El Tarnejo plaza (Madrid) where tragedies and distresses emerge , taking place a tragic denouement .
Good drama about the bullfighting world , being set during the popular parties with fireworks and park attractions , Fiestas , and Ferias from a Castilian little town . Narrating lives of a pair of unfortunate bullfighters , their relationships , fears and falls , in which they will learn to overcome difficulties and penury . It is described in semi-documentary style , including : Novilladas , stockbreeding of brave bulls or ¨Reses Bravas¨ ,Banderillas , Corridas , Tientas and other bullfight related traditions are shown . It stands out the description of the silly villagers , the rustic people and a terrible fear that expands on the two Toreadores as well as the amusing ambient of the popular parties . An atypical work within the sub genre in which the Toreros hold fears and apprehensions . Very good acting by Francisco Rabal as a veteran as well as disenchanted bullfighter and pretty good Rogelio Madrid as Filigranas , a young man with great enthusiasm and a huge desire to be successful . Support cast is frankly well , such as José Marco Davó , Manuel Luna , Francisco Bernal , Angel Alvarez and brief acting by Jose Maria Tasso , alias ¨Flequillo¨ , and Jose Riesgo .
Atmospheric photography in glimmer color by the Spanish classic cameraman Antonio L. Ballesteros , being shot on location in Torrelaguna, Madrid . Evocative soundtrack plenty of traditional music by Manuel Parada . The motion picture was well directed by Antonio Román , an uneven filmmaker at his best . Here Antonio Román surprises us with this unusual portrayal about the bullfighting world. Román was Spain's most celebrated filmmaker , wrote a lot of of movies and directed a few short documentaries and went on to become one of the managers of the Cooperativa Cinematográfica Castilla . His film debut was a documentary , ¨La Ciudad Encantada¨. And subsequently his first full length film was 1941's "Escuadrilla" (Squadron), it was made in collaboration with Raza's José Luis Sáenz De Heredia . Later on , he directed various dated historical dramas as ¨Lola Montes¨ , the successful ¨Los Ultimos De Filipinas¨, and ¨Fuenteovejuna¨ . Furthermore , several dramas as ¨Madrugada¨, ¨Pacto De Silencio¨ , ¨La Vida Encadenada¨ and ¨Intriga¨. And he made some Folkloric films . Soon after , he went on writing reviews and directing films throughout the '60s and into the 70s , although his output slowed . In 1970, he was fired from the set of "Ringo Del Nebraska", after having filmed less than 10%, because the producer did not like his slow and meticulous pace. He was replaced by Mario Bava, his friend and protégé , in fact Román wrote "Planet of the Vampires". Out of respect for Román, Bava refused to accept credit on the film.
