The Bitter Stems (1956)
Los tallos amargos (original title)Reference View | Change View
- 1h 30min
- Crime, Drama
- 19 Jun 2024 (France)
- Movie
A washed up reporter teams up with an immigrant from Hungary to start a fake journalism by correspondence school.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 2 wins.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Carlos Cores | ... |
Alfredo Gasper
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| Julia Sandoval | ... |
Susana
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Vassili Lambrinos | ... |
Liudas
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| Gilda Lousek | ... |
Esther
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| Pablo Moret | ... |
Jarvis
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| Virginia Romay | ... |
Madre de Alfredo
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Bernardo Perrone | ... |
Andreani
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| Adolfo Linvel | ... |
Editor
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Otto Webber | ... |
Noriega
(as Otto Weber)
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Carmen Giménez | ... |
Dueña de pensión
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Alfonso Pisano | ... |
Chávez
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Jorge Villoldo | ... |
José
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| George Hilton | ... |
Hombre en redacción
(as Jorge Hilton)
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| Aída Luz | ... |
Elena
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Analía Gadé | ... |
(uncredited)
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Directed by
| Fernando Ayala | ||
Written by
| Sergio Leonardo | ... | (screenplay by) |
| Adolfo Jasca | ... | (based on the award-winning novel by) |
Music by
| Astor Piazzolla | ||
Cinematography by
| Ricardo Younis | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Gerardo Rinaldi | ||
| Antonio Ripoll | ||
Production Design by
| Germán Gelpi | ... | (as Germen Gelpi) |
| Mario Vanarelli | ||
Makeup Department
| Jorge Bruno | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| Orlando Vilone | ... | makeup artist (as Orlando Viloni) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Rubén W. Cavalloti | ... | assistant director (as Rubén W. Cavallotti) |
Sound Department
| Alfredo López | ... | sound |
| Alejandro Saracino | ... | sound supervisor (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Pedro Marzialetti | ... | camera operator |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Artistas Argentinos Asociados (AAA) (1956) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Flicker Alley (2021) (United States) (Blu-ray) (subtitled)
- Les Films du Camélia (2024) (France) (theatrical) (restored version)
- The Criterion Channel (2025) (United States) (video) (VOD) (subtitled)
Special Effects
Other Companies
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Alfredo Gaspar (Carlos Cores) is an unhappy reporter who teams with an immigrant bartender, Liudas (Vassili Lambrinos), in a get rich quick scheme; they advertise a correspondence course in journalism, and the money pours in. Other than being a crook, Liudas is a nice guy hoping to bring his wife and two children from Europe to Argentina. Gaspar is so moved by the family's plight that he offers Liudas a bigger share of the ill-gotten gains to help them. Eventually, though, Gaspar comes to suspect that Liudas hasn't told him the truth; perhaps someone who's, after all, a crook would also lie to him. Gaspar decides to exact revenge on his "business" partner and commits "the perfect crime"...or so he thinks. But nothing goes quite as planned. |
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| Parents Guide | Add content advisory for parents » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | As discussed on TCM's Noir Alley by host Eddie Muller in July 2021, a screening of the restored 35mm print of this film was held on behalf of the Film Noir Foundation at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City in February 2016, and shockingly in attendance was 90 year-old Vassili Lambrinos, who, after years of living in various parts of the globe, was living just a few blocks from MoMA. Lambrinos had never seen the film on the big screen nor with an audience before that screening, having seen the film only in an editing room before then. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Referenced in Preserving Memory: Fernando Martín Peña on Argentine Cinema (2024). See more » |
| Quotes |
Andreani:
You make him infallible. You have an old passion; the need to obey. Alfredo Gaspar: Passion to obey? Andreani: To be a subordinate. See more » |