Suspiros de Triana

The Spanish folk singers Angelillo and Paquita Rico star in this musical comedy, a remake of the more famous Suspiros de España (1939), directed by Benito Perojo 16 years before and now producer of the new version. It's focused on the show business world and in fact the plot model isn't very different from some of which starred in the 1930s Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Distinct is the music, the settings and may be the the feelings. Not so different are, at least for my personal taste, the results, because i found the film very pleasant and watchable. And better than the previous version from 1939.

Many people of my generation in Spain have grown with the topic by that times of Franco Spanish folk cinema called 'Españolada' is absolutely abhorrent. And sometimes, as it is the case, we had quite a few surprises when we got into the 50s or the 40. The reason is clear: Spanish popular folk music is nice, despite the fact that in most of those films is identified with Andalucía. If you add that sometimes the plots and its treatment is not so bad or silly as we have often been told before we see the movies, the topic goes down.

Benito Perojo direct before our Civil War, among other films, the superb musical "La Verbena de la Paloma". After the national tragedy he was dedicated to the production of movies And this one is not only very worthy, but odd and interesting, specially in its first half settled in Sevilla.

In that half there's a traditional but also rather naturalistic traditional portrait of the popular quarter of Triana. Yes, there is, as much naturalistic as a musical comedy can be, but of course there is!!. That half have also some comic situations that work very good, specially by the funny character of Tio Relampago(played by Antonio Riquelme), and all the other members of the family of the character played by Paquita Rico. The scenes in which Tío Relámpago and the character played by Angelillo are known each other and strengthen their friendship in a binge, and serve as a framework for various interpretations of 'copla' and light flamenco (in a completely spontaneous and natural way as a part of the plot) are anthologies.

The only problem with the film (and in spite of this I rate it 7 because it deserves it) is its second half, set in a boat. Its just my personal opinion and taste, but the screenplay lapses pretty and this second half isn't better than the previous version. Though stays alive mostly thanks to the humour of Riquelme and some musical performance, everything is somewhat predictable.