Sérénade espagnole

An exceedingly vivid, only slightly romanticised narrative of the authentically novel-like life of Spain's famed composer, Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909.) This classic of Argentine cinema has entertaining, variegated direction from the stalwart Amadori, with excellent production values, and an absolutely colossal, corking performance from the great Spanish-born star of stage and screen, Pedro López-Lagar, a fabulous figure quite reminiscent of Paul Muni.

Although he was in his late forties when he made it, the handsome Lagar somehow manages to transform himself into a boy to play the adolescent Albéniz as a devil-may-care stow-away to Cuba. He eventually dons a most convincing old man makeup for the composers' final years—a dramatic license, as Albéniz was only 48 at the time of his premature death, and so exactly Lagar's own age when the movie was made.

As the film is also brimming over with Albéniz' lovely music, this is a production to cherish and remember.