The film deals with the timid Marcelino (Adolfo Marsillach) , a quiet widower and owner of a chocolate factory at a village next to a lagoon . Marcelino along with his mother Doña Matilde (Guadalupe Muñoz Sampedro) arrive in Madrid to stay at aunt Paula (Julia Caba Alba) home . Then , Marcelino meets a woman called Maribel (Silvia Pinal who holds a strong Mexican accent) at an American Bar and he falls in love for her , but she results to be a call-girl . As shy Marcelino's earnest wish is to marry the former prostitute Maribel , but things go awry . As he pretends to marry her but her three whore friends (Gracita Morales , Carmen Lozano , Trini Alonso) think Marcelino attempts to kill her by drowning , similarly to his first wife . When Maribel gets to know his elderly mother and aunt , however, strange things concerning Marcelino's first wife start to arise .
This agreeable picture with very good cast concerns a widower , his family and bride , along with a group of unfortunate as well as bungling people . There are some nice jokes in the film and the cast , playing eccentric characters , make a cosy fit . It takes a simple concept , a peculiar couple wishes to marry but complications ensue . This film packs attractive images , strange situations , diverting events , twists and turns ; but it especially contains charming touches of humor and irony . The flick interweaves fun comedy along with a brief social criticism about Spain of the sixties and a little bit of suspense and great amusement . It turns out to be a highly original yarn , being made to entertain , and this movie , especially for a good time and a pleasant entertainment . The flick contains silly incidents , fun plot twists , tongue-in-cheek , grotesque situations and above all , humor . Sitting in a strange middle ground between the completely absurd and the stylishly cool ; being mostly set in interiors and adapted to Spanish characteristics by that time . This film moves in fits and starts most of which would be desirable and some moments of enjoyment and others quite a few ridiculous . Interesting as well as funny screenplay by prolific as well as distinguished writers Miguel Mihura , Luis Marquina , Vicente Coello and the same director Jose Maria Forqué ; all of them attempt to adapt the original play to contemporary times . However , it was rigidly censored by the stiff censorship of the Franquismo . Based on the homonymous novel by Miguel Mihura who also collaborates in screenplay . Mihura was a known writer and playwright , he along with ¨Tono¨ created the famous magazine ¨La Codorniz¨. Mihura scripted successes as ¨Hija Del Penal¨, ¨Castillo De Naipes¨, ¨Calle Sin Sol¨ , ¨la Corona Negra¨, ¨Bienvenido Mr Marshall¨ and ¨Viva Lo Impossible¨. And also wrote several plays , most of them had its cinematic rendition , such as : ¨Tres Sombreros De Copa¨, ¨Mi Adorado Juan¨, ¨Melocotón En Almibar¨, ¨Carlota¨ and ¨Ninette Y Un Señor De Murcia¨ , the latter bears remarkable resemblance to ¨Maribel..¨. The characters are quite odd , grotesque and geek and the film races on at incredible incidents . Filmmaker Forqué delivers a sympathetic comedy in which the main and support cast are frankly outstanding . The main attraction resides in its excellent support cast cast in which stand out the old women , the illustrious veterans : Guadalupe Muñoz Sampedro and Julia Caba Alba . With special mention for the three friends : Gracita Morales , Carmen Lozano and Trini Alonso . Furthermore , other prestigious secondaries in brief interventions such as Jose Orjas , Alicia Hermida and Erasmo Pascual .
It displays an atmospheric cinematography in black and white by expert cameraman Jose F. Aguayo , being shot in Madrid and Lago Sanabria , Zamora . Evocative musical score , including some catching songs , by maestro Manuel Parada . The motion picture was compellingly realized by prolific filmmaker Jose Maria Forque who carries out a decent , nimble and professional direction , though including some flaws . José María Forqué was born in Zaragoza , being father of actress Verónica Forqué and director Álvaro Forqué . He was a director and writer, known for filming some classic Spanish films , such as ¨Accidente 703¨ (1962) , ¨Amanecer en Puerta Oscura¨ (1957) , ¨Un Millon En La Basura¨ and especially ¨Atraco a Las Tres¨ . And shot successful TV series : ¨Miguel Servet¨ , ¨El Jardín De Venus¨ , and ¨Ramon Y Cajal¨ . He also filmed some international co-productions such as ¨Tarot¨ with Gloria Grahame , ¨Mujer De Tierra Caliente¨ with Stuart Whitman , Laura Gemser and ¨El Ojo Del Huracan¨ or ¨In the eye of hurricane¨ with Tony Kendall and Jean Sorel . Rating : 6.5/10 . Well worth watching for Spanish cinema fans .
