El gran Calavera (1949)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Luis Buñuel

Writers:

Janet Alcoriza (adaptation)
Luis Alcoriza (adaptation)

Release Date:

25 November 1949 (Mexico)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Buñuel's first "comeback" film since "L'Age d'Or" in 1930 (he made only a few musicals in the interim)...

Plot Keywords:

Based On Play

Cast

Fernando Soler	...	Ramiro de la Mata
Rosario Granados	...	Virginia de la Mata
Andrés Soler	...	Ladislao de la Mata
Rubén Rojo	...	Pablo
Gustavo Rojo	...	Eduardo de la Mata
Maruja Grifell
Francisco Jambrina	...	Gregorio de la Mata
Luis Alcoriza	...	Alfredo
Antonio Bravo
Antonio Monsell
María Luisa Serrano

Also Known As:

The Great Madcap (USA)

Runtime:

USA:92 min

Country:

Mexico

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Ultramar Films

Mexican period Bu-uel engages viewer gently sans surrealism

This Mexican film from Bu-uel's low profile commercial period is a comedy of manners, Those expecting the more caustic or iconoclastic subtexts of his famous films may be disappointed. I found it well made and quite enjoyable. Part of its value is in its conventionality. Seeing that he was capable of creating well crafted "popular" entertainments is a plus in his favor. Perhaps he was only working to pay the bills, but I think he may have actually enjoyed making this film.