The Great Vazquez (2010)
"El Gran Vázquez" (original title)

Is it possible to live aside of the system, thinking only about the present and oneself? A feature film about Manuel Vázquez, the best comic book author in Barcelona during the sixties, but... See full summary »

Director:

Óscar Aibar

Writer:

Óscar Aibar

Stars:

Santiago Segura, Mercè Llorens, Álex Angulo

2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Santiago Segura	...	Vázquez
Mercè Llorens	...	Rosa
Álex Angulo	...	Peláez
Enrique Villén	...	González
Manolo Solo	...	Ibáñez (as Manuel Solo)
Héctor Vidales	...	Carlitos
Pep Sais	...	Sastre
Itziar Aizpuru	...	Paz
Lita Claver	...	Madame (as Lita Claver 'La Maña')
Oriol Tramvia	...	Dibujante triste (as Oriol Tramvía)
Estrella Zapatero	...	1ª mujer
Ernesto Sevilla	...	Camarero
Xus Gomar	...	Gracita
Mario Guerra	...	Chico recados
Paula Soldevila	...	Monja

Storyline

Is it possible to live aside of the system, thinking only about the present and oneself? A feature film about Manuel Vázquez, the best comic book author in Barcelona during the sixties, but, mainly, a man with a very particular way of living his life.

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Plot Keywords:

comic book | bigamist | hotel | jail | burial | 

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Genres:

Biography | Comedy

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Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

24 September 2010 (Spain)

Also Known As:

The Great Vazquez

Filming Locations:

Alicante, Alicante, Comunidad Valenciana, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Distinto Films, Canal+ España, Castafiore Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (35 mm version)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Rosa and Vázquez moves to a new house, their housekeeper is an old woman called Paz. One of the most known characters of Vázquez is called Abuelita Paz (Grandma Paz).

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Goofs

In the bar where Vázquez meets Rosa, he is creating a character called Anacleto inspired by a magazine's cover where appears Don Adams like Maxwell Smart (from Get Smart but the movie happens in 1964, when the TV show not existed still.

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Connections

Referenced in Special Collector's Edition: Titanic - 1ª Edición (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Play with Fire (And You'll Get Burned)"
Written by Danny Cohen, Morris Levy, Richard Grasso (as Richie Grasso) and Gary Illingworth (as Gary Lee Illingworht)
Performed by Los Bravos

User Reviews

It's an excellent combination of comedy and tragedy.

This is Comic biopic of Spanish Manuel Vázquez (Madrid, 1930-Barcelona, 1995), creator of popular comic "La familia Cebolleta" or "Anacleto, Agente secreto". It is Barcelona, 60's. Vazquez is spring and life breathes his lungs. His characters succeed in Comics Editorial Bruguera. Meanwhile, the best comic illustrator in Spain enjoys what he wants when he wants to pay nothing, dodging their creditors wit, mockery and esteem to their bosses and collecting a happily married family after another. Until a grey bookkeeper of his editorial decides that he must abide by the rules like everyone else. It will not be easy: for the brilliant artist, life is a party to be strained if you are not invited.

"El gran Vázquez ", tells the adventures and misadventures of a cute and great rascal, alternately comic moments of his life (the scams that made with unusual ease) with other really pathetic (as we see in some unsavory places). At Madrid illustrator masterfully interpreted and contained by Santiago Segura way he plays very good in his character, achieving one of his best performances. Segura is the main protagonist (shown in 99% of the frames) and has the difficult task of achieving a scoundrel you liked, and even get you to move in the most tragic and hard for those who spend his character.

Segura is well accompanied by the excellent work performed by two good actors of Spanish cinema, Álex Angulo and Enrique Villar, not to mention the interesting Mercè Llorens. They are three high-level actors.

Nice comedy that begins slowly vanished dive into a story, and raw (why not) anxious. With a few strokes of humor that serve as respite, the film stands on its own with a good script, with a stunning performance of Santiago Segura undervalued and a good characterization of Francisco Ibáñez.

The film does not decline at any time and always want to know what the next occurrence of this hustler. In short, a highly recommendable film, which contains fun and reveals the life of one of the best Spanish comic artists.