Flamenco

An American architect (what else?) named Merritt Blake (Richard Kiley) is on assignment in Spain, where he becomes attracted to his guide Mari (the luscious red-lipped Carmen Sevilla). She reluctantly returns his advances, but is haunted by her half-gypsy heritage and her earlier betrothal to a dangerous dark gypsy king type named Antonio (José Guardiola) who threatens Merritt's life. Will love conquer all? Need you ask! In the meantime lots of nice travelogue-like photography in almost typical 1950s color brilliance. A little flamenco music and dancing (not exactly "Los Tarantos", mind you), and a song "The Spanish Rose" sung by Ms. Sevilla with Mr. Kiley joining in. I saw it on A&E about 20 years ago.

Gorgeous US/Spanish co-production in brilliant Technicolor/VistaVision photography with wonderful scenarios , dances and songs . Enjoyable film very moving in its style with a superb traditional and Flamenco soundtrack and unique photography style , beginning with paintings by Goya, Velázquez or El Greco in its credit titles , dealing with a predictable romance as it is precipitous in its passion . This is a ¨Road movie¨ in which the starring couple travel through several Spanish locations , showing a real sightseeing of the marvellous cities and villages . It deals with Merritt Blake (Richard Kiley) , an American architect who comes to Spain . The US architect traveling in Madrid to present a hotel project but his idea is not well accepted since the construction that he proposes is out of tune with the context. Along the way , he attempts to discover the essence of the country, as Merritt plans a trip through Spain with the company of the secretary Mari Zarrubia (Carmen Sevilla) , a beautiful young with a past trauma. Of course , Merritt falls in love with his interpreter ; they travelogue across a number of Spanish towns but are faced by a violent gypsy (José Guardiola) , Mari's jealous fiancé , who follows them. All the glamour and excitement of the most romantic spot on earth !. Filmed on location in primitive , passionate ...where love's not a game, it's a way of life! . Madrid, Toledo , Barcelona, Segovia and the world-famous art treasures of the Prado in the splendor of VistaVision ! . To the young American it was just a kiss...but to tempestuous Mari it was a pledge !.

This romantic road movie results to be a Spanish-American co-production from Don Siegel and accredited Luis Marquina as co-director for Spanish union demands . A nice film embellished thanks to its chromatic aesthetic and a high-caliber Flamenco score , adding tourist aspects of Spain, sensual re-creations of love , passion , betrayal , and jealousy ; however , with plenty of stereotypes and clichés . A dazzling and glimmer film including a triangular love story , culture shock , and devastating Flamenco dancings and Sardanas .

Special mention for the colorful cinematography by cameraman Sam Leavitt in CinemaScope , VistaVision showing gorgeous outdoors and sighseeing from Aqueduct of Segovia and the Alcazar of Segovia , Barcelona , Toledo and anything else , while interiors shot in CEA Studios - Madrid . Adding evocative and lively musical scote by Daniele Amfitheatrof . The motion picture financed by powerful Spanish producer Benito Perojo and American Bruce Odlum , being professionally directed by Don Siegel. Donald is well known for his extensive preparation and highly efficient shooting style, which were the main influence on the directing style of his protege, Clint Eastwood . He was a splendid director who excelled in all kinds of genres as Thriller : ¨Escape from Alcatraz¨, ¨Telefon¨, ¨Madigan¨, ¨Rough cut¨, ¨Private hell¨, ¨The black windmill¨, ¨Coogan's bluff¨, ¨Jinxed¨ . Noir Film as ¨The big steal¨, ¨Riot in cell block eleven¨ . Western as ¨Flamingo Star¨, ¨The shootist¨, ¨The beguiled¨, ¨Two mules for Sister Sara¨. And the classy SciFi : ¨Invasion of body snatchers¨, among others. Rating : 6/10 . Worthwhile watching. Essential and indispensable seeing for recently deceased Carmen Sevilla fans.

I watched this movie when I saw Don Seigel was one of the directors. I was not disappointed.

Siegel's cinematography is always first rate...in this movie it captures a Spain that no longer exists. The authentic Spain that has disappeared between forests of condos--millions of tourists and strip malls all of it. Ironically the theme of the movie is trying to upgrade Spain to accept modern (circa 1957) architecture.

The movie is far better than a travelogue yet has the lightness and easy flow of one...it is more almost a documentary of Spain and Spanish culture with out being boring. As well it has a nice romantic story that is not heavy handed or irritating in anyway and brings more of the Spanish culture to light.

This movie was an excellent accidental find on Netflix Streaming.

I have learned that directors are usually the most important element in a film. Writers are probably even more critical but they can be ruined easily by bad direction or acting. Siegel is talented and intelligent he studied art in London at some famous school before becoming a director.

He is known for his Clint Eastwood movies and helping form Eastwood into what he is.

Highly recommend it is beautiful and intelligent. It uses English in a foreign setting is a quality perfect way.

My father (Bruce Odlum) produced this movie, and his close friend Richard Collins wrote the screenplay.

The plot and the acting (especially by today's standards) are a bit "corny" IMHO, but typical of all films (especially romantic films) of that era. The cinematography is outstanding, and one has the opportunity to see some beautiful places in Spain, at a time when that country was still "tourist free".

I know it was my father's hope that a few other qualities would be communicated to the viewer, aside from his personal love of Spain and Spanish culture.

Bruce Odlum tried to be a "citizen of the world", and he was very sensitive to the arrogance and narrow mindedness of many Americans abroad in the years following the Second World War. This film attempts to show an American in Spain breaking out of that narrowness to some degree and genuinely learning something about himself through the values of a foreign culture.

It was also his desire to give the world a glimpse of Spanish Gypsy culture and its (arguably) greatest contribution to Spain, the music of Flamenco. The debate about "authenticity" has been going on for quite some time, and Flamenco is a living art form that is constantly evolving. But this circa 1955 snapshot of the music and dance of Spanish Gypsy culture is IMO quite authentic, and I say that as someone who has lived in Granada (2004) and immersed himself in what remains of that culture today (Sacromonte). Yes, the glimpse presented in the film is somewhat condensed and stylized for Hollywood consumption, but on the whole it accurately represents the culture as it still existed fifty years ago. The guitarist in the Madrid subterranean bar scene is real, a local "discovery" from the indigenous culture, whose artistry is featured throughout the film's soundtrack. Also real are the two young dancers in the Gypsy campfire scene - they were not choreographed. Even today, something of this culture remains "in the blood" in the inhabitants of Granada. The average ten-year-old on the streets of that ancient city can already sing and dance Flamenco with a degree of ease and natural style unobtainable to a foreigner after years of study.

Unfortunately, this film no longer exists. The last printed copies rotted away in a Paramount vault years ago. Fortunately, a VCR tape copy was made from the film before it was lost, and that tape was used to make a DVD, which I have in my possession. The quality is slightly diminished compared to the original film, an unfortunate consequence of the numerous transfers to alternate media in an era before a direct digital transference was possible. The NTSC DVD is available from http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3549745/Spanish_Affair_2 as a torrent.

There are no subtitles, the dialog is 90% English and 10% Spanish. You don't need to speak Spanish to understand the movie, but you will catch a few good jokes if you do.