Valiente

A routine picture concerning the rise of a known Torero, Jaime Ostos, inside and outside of the bullfighters ring. The renowned bullfighter Jaime Ostos (Jaime himself) suffers a goring during one of his monumental bullfights at Tarazona. While he is convalescing in the hospital, struggling between life and death, a friend (Conchita Nuñez) of his remembers how it was the day of his alternative. A later meeting between the matador and his old lady will allow them to remember other key moments of his career together with his manager (Miguel Palenzuela). Jaime enjoys a not very happy marriage with his wife Nieves (Mercedes Alonso) who is always worried about his dangerous job, as well as his father (Felix Dafauce), both of them do not want him to continue bullfighting. There will be many flashbacks in the film, these memories will make Ostos question the possibility of returning to the ring since his loved ones constantly beg him not to do so. But his passion and vocation weigh more than all that and as soon as he recovers he returns to show his art in all the Spanish plazas.

This is a biopic about a known bullfighter , and how his wished dreams come true, including the ordinary romances . This is a semi-documentary and remarkable film about the mythical bullfighting figure, including several 'cogidas' or 'goring' . Of humble origin, Ostos managed to become one of the most famous representatives of international bullfighting and is considered to be one of the icons of the 1960s. Jaime Ostos was not only popular for his profession, but also in the gossip press. The matador plays himself, and due to his limited acting experience he does so regularly. His two love interest are shared between his legal wife, the always beautiful Mercedes alonso, and his old girlfriend, Conchita Nuñez. Remaining support cast is frankly good with full of prestigious secondaries with long careers , such as: Miguel Palenzuela as Apoderado, Erasmo Pascual as sereno, Manuel Arbó as Mayor of Tarazona and Félix Dafauce as his father.

The film gives a real description about ¨Bullfighting¨ art , as the bull is released into the ring, where he is tested for ferocity by the matador and Banderilleros with the magenta and gold Capote ("Cape"). This is the first stage, the Tercio de Varas ("the lancing third"). The matador confronts the bull with the Capote, performing a series of passes and observing the behavior and quirks of the bull . Next, a picador enters the arena on horseback armed with a Vara (lance). In the next stage, the Tercio De Banderillas ("the third of Banderillas"), each of the three Banderilleros attempts to plant two Banderillas, sharp barbed sticks, into the bull's shoulders . In the final stage, the "the third of death" , the matador re-enters the ring alone with a small red cape, or Muleta, and a sword .

It contais an evocative and atmospheric soundtrack by Juan Quintero, including ordinary music full of bullfighting sounds and adding the dances of the bailaora Maria Rosa. Adequate cinematography in black and white by notorious cameraman Manuel Merino. The motion picture was professionally directed by Luis Marquina, but nothing special. Luis Marquina was a film craftsman who was born in Barcelona (1904) and died in Madrid (1980). In his beginnings he was sound engineer , but was Luis Buñuel who gave him the chance to shoot his first movie: Don Quintin el amargao (1934), based on Carlos Arniches play. Marquina was a writer, producer and director, and had a prolific career, writing and directing all kind of genres with penchant for musical and comedy; he made various coproductions as well. Being known for The Gossiper (1938), La viudita naviera (1962)Siege of Terror (1970), Backfire !. Crucero de verano, Su hermano y él, Malvaloca, Torrbellino , El capitán veneno, Noche fantástica, Ventolera , Navidades en Junio, Fabulous fraud, Adiós Mimí Pompón, Maribel y la extraña familia, la batalla del domingo, Siege of Terror. Rating: 4.5/10 . Mediocre but passable.