Review by ma-cortes

Charming and agreeable but inferior follow-up with usual ingredients : moralism , sentimentality and good feeling . A really sentimental and nostalgic Spanish film with solid narrative and skillfully edited , dealing with an agreeable family formed by the father Carlos , El padrino and the fifteen children . It deals wiith Carlos the fine rigger, working in full-time, : Alberto Closas, nowadays , he's retired , he's a widower whose wife (Amparo Soler Leal) left behind an irreparable sadness , then the separated El Padrino : José Luis López Vázquez goes to live with him .Subsequently, there takes place various incidents , misfortunes and sad events . The numerous children are of diverse ages living in Madrid , now are well grown-up , and the motley lives of the disproportionated family have undergone various happenings and distresses , and in constant financial trouble . Through various events , we are told of everyday family life that has undergone several turns . As the good father and the Padrino move to the diverse homes of his children. We watch the enjoyable life of this attractive and lovely family , in spite of Carlos eventually makes discussion with relatives and arguments with his sons .

So-so sequel directed by the former producer , and screenwriter Pedro Masó , with script by prestigious Rafael Azcona , and full of flashbacks and stock-footage from former films . Here Masó carries out an attempt to turn over the deep morality of the first and second outings . A well paced film , being its structure similar to Italian comedy sketches with different intermingled episodes . There are several stories all around the retired rigger and widower Carlos and the likeable Padrino . Alberto Closas gives a nice acting as the retired ex-rigger who even follows really enamored his wife Mercedes who played by Amparo Soler Leal , but unfortunately , she passed away . Along with a lot of children performed by charming newcomers , and some of them to be continued a long career . Support cast is frankly fine , with plenty of all Spanish secondary actors as Julieta Serrano , Francisco Valladares , Carlos Piñar , Amelia De La Torre , Jaime Blanch ,Margot Cottens , Tomás Picó , María José Alfonso , Loreta Tovar , José Ruiz Lifante , Maria Kosti , among others . It contains a diverting screenplay from notorious writers as Rafael Azcona and Pedro Masó himself . And atmospheric and evocative musical score by Juán Carlos Calderon .The motion picture was regularly directed by Pedro Maso , being well and solidly paced , though inferior to previous installment .

This ¨Pedro Maso's Great family trilogy¨ is formed by ¨La gran Familia¨ 1962 by Fernando Palacios with Alberto Closas , Amparo Soler Leal , José Isbert , María José Alfonso , Mercedes Alonso , Carlos Piñar , Chonette Laurent ,Jaime Blanch , Mircha Carven , all of them live with the likeable grandfather giving a generous support , the great José Isbert, and usual home appearance by Juan, the good godfather : José Luis López Vázquez , and in which takes place missing Chencho that causes a deep gap and an extreme searching for streets, Madrid Plaza Mayor, and broadcasting by radio and TV, too. Followed by ¨La familia y uno mas or The family plus one¨ 1965, the big hit of La Gran Familia causes this also successful sequel . And , subsequently , this below average third installment, a nostalgic and really moralist follow-up : ¨La familia bien gracias¨ 1979 . Rating : 4.5/10 . Acceptable and passable but average .