This is the first version of Esmeralda (the second one is Topacio from 1985; the third one is Esmeralda from 1997). Despite cardboard sets and black-and-white film, Esmeralda's story sucks you in from the first chapter. Lupita Ferrer is beautiful as the title character and plays blind very well; Jose Bardina is very handsome as Juan Pablo, the leading man; Adita Riera is excellent as the tragic Graciela. Esmeralda is a wild country girl who surprisingly knows her way around the woods, despite being blind. Juan Pablo is the newly graduated doctor from a wealthy family who falls for her. Graciela is his fiancée - and also his first cousin - but though they care for each other, they are not in love. Graciela falls for the ranch hand (despite herself and to her mother's deep discontent). Graciela's domineering mother will bring tragic consequences - her story does not have a happy ending. Esmeralda is original and so good it has been remade twice. Though IMHO the best version is the 1997 Esmeralda (better cinematography and color, of course), this is a very good production for its time.
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