★ 5 / 10
Takes too long to become good
For a long while, "El Extrano Viaje" (1964) seems episodic and shapeless. It is further burdened by the insufferably idiotic antics of Rafaela Aparicio and…
For a long while, "El Extrano Viaje" (1964) seems episodic and shapeless. It is further burdened by the insufferably idiotic antics of Rafaela Aparicio and Jesus Franco (yes, THE Jesus Franco) in two atrocious performances. After literally more than an hour, a plot emerges, and it is a well-organized one, which manages some mild surprises. It's just a shame that it takes so long to emerge. ** out of 4.
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★ 8 / 10
Spanish ¨Cult movie¨ filled with thrills , suspense , absurd events and being masterfully directed by Fernando Fernán Gómez
ma-cortes
Based on an actual event called "the crime of Mazarrón", that inspired Luis Garcia Berlanga to write this particular story in the best Spanish tradition and…
Based on an actual event called "the crime of Mazarrón", that inspired Luis Garcia Berlanga to write this particular story in the best Spanish tradition and including interesting as well as amusing screenplay by Paco Beltrán and Manuel Ruiz Castillo . This damned film or ¨Pelicula Maldita¨ deals with Paquita (Rafaela Aparicio) and her brother Venancio (Jesús , ¨Jess Frank¨ , Franco) , both single and childish , live in a village near Madrid . Their grumpy sister (Tota Alba) , also an old maid , dominates them . Meanwhile , a musical orchestra whose singers leaders are Fernando (Vicente Parra) and Pepe (Luis Marín) , called ¨Los Guacamayos¨ plays at the village saloon old music for the villagers . There stands out a bombshell named Angelines (Sara Lezana) who wanna be a singer in Madrid and dances between the gossiping people . One night , Paquita hears her sibling tell somebody about her intention to sell all the family wealth . Once the money is gathered , she wants to travel to Paris with a strange person and get rid of her brother and sister . Paquita and Venancio are horrified about it and things get worse .. Splendid movie that mingles black comedy , drama , rural conventionality , social habits and suspense . This is a piece of absurdity and nonsense , full of mysterious intrigue , thriller and ¨noir¨ happenings . The dramatic narrative is developed by means of flashbacks when at the end is uncovered the weird deeds . This is not the typical comedy by that time , here there is a brief social denounce about the repression during Franco dictatorship . As all the villagers are repressed characters , coerced by social conventionalism and hypocrisy . The original title ¨The crime of Mazarrón", was eliminated , that's why the explicit mention to the small town where the real killing was committed . Premiered 8 years later its shooting and in second class theatres ; the picture is nowadays a real ¨Cult Movie¨ . The best parts of the flick result to be the enjoyable descriptions of the villagers with colorful characters , including the ordinary roles : the priest , Mayor , pharmaceutic , the gossip people , the old men playing cards .... The picture has some unforgettable scenes as when it happens the special dance with earphones between Fernando and Ignacia , , the dressing parade carried out by Fernando and the surprising final images taken from ¨El Tonel de Amontillado¨ or ¨The Cask of Amontillado¨ by Edgar Allan Poe . The magnificent cast gives magnificent acting , such as : Tota Alba as the bossy eldest sister Ignacia , Vicente Parra as the musician who becomes involved with dark romances , Lina Canalejas as his virginal girlfriend and special mention for the two childish brothers : Jesus Franco and Rafaela Aparicio who steal the show playing their peculiar roles . Furthermore , other actors interpreting villagers , such as the shopkeeper María Luisa Ponte , Luis Marín , Joaquín Roa , Xan Das Bolas , Ramón Lillo and the gorgeous Sara Lezana . Thrilling and suspenseful score by Cristobal Halffter , adding fragments from Huésped Del Sevillano by Guerrero and Canción Del Olvido by Serrano . Atmospheric and evocative cinematography by Jose F. Aguayo . Being voted seventh best Spanish film by professionals and critics in 1996 Spanish cinema centenary . The motion picture was compellingly directed by Fernando Fernández Gómez . This prolific and prestigious actor also directed a few films , such as : ¨Lazaro De Tormes , ¨Fuera De Juego ¨, ¨Mambrú Se Fue a La Guerra¨ , ¨5 Tenedores¨ , ¨5.000 Dias Juntos¨ , ¨Ninette¨ , ¨Venganza De Don Mendo¨ and his greatest success ¨Viaje a Ninguna Parte¨
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80%
AUDIENCE
7.6/10
1.9K
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