Welcome Mr. Marshall! (1953)

After finding out that North American people are visiting the Spanish villages, the citizens of Villar del Río start preparing themselves to welcome them when they arrive.

Director:

Luis García Berlanga (as Luis G. Berlanga)

Writers:

Juan Antonio Bardem (story) (as J.A. Bardem), Luis García Berlanga (story) (as L.G. Berlanga)

Stars:

Lolita Sevilla, Manolo Morán, José Isbert

4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lolita Sevilla	...	Carmen Vargas
Manolo Morán	...	Manolo
José Isbert	...	Don Pablo, el alcalde
Alberto Romea	...	Don Luis, el caballero
Elvira Quintillá	...	Señorita Eloísa, la maestra
Luis Pérez de León	...	Don Cosme, el cura
Félix Fernández	...	Don Emiliano, el médico
Fernando Aguirre	...	Geronimo - el secretario
Joaquín Roa	...	Julían - el pregonero
Nicolás D. Perchicot	...	Boticario (as Nicolás Perchicot)
José Franco	...	Delegado general
Rafael Alonso	...	Enviado
José María Rodríguez	...	José
Elisa Méndez	...	Doña Raquel
Matilde López Roldán	...	Doña Matilde

Storyline

The little village of Villar del Río is awaiting the song performance of Carmen Vargas, 'The Great Andalusian Star'. The quiet village is governed by a deaf, naughty and good-natured Mayor, who's only seeking the way to give life to the place. By the same time good news comes to the village: the arrival of North American high personalities that will give economical aid to the nation city by city, village by village. The Mayor doesn't know what to do to welcome them. Carmen Vargas's agent throws surprising initiatives, moving all the village people just to prepare a better reception for the foreigners. His idea is to disguise all the farmers as Andalusians and add colour to every street with typical decorations. All of them start to work, and also to dream and think about what they're going to request the Americans, who will come with lots of dollars. The day of the arrival everybody at Villar del Río is in the streets, from the Mayor to the newborn child...

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Plot Keywords:

mayor | american | dream | flamenco | stereotype | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish Latin English

Release Date:

4 April 1953 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Welcome Mr. Marshall!

Filming Locations:

C.E.A., Ciudad Lineal, Madrid, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Unión Industrial Cinematográfica (UNINCI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min (censored)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the film was presented at the Cannes Film Festival, the production company had the idea of distributing $1 bills with the images of José Isbert and Lolita Sevilla in place of George Washington.

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Goofs

When Juan runs to the tractor during the dream sequence, the plywood resting over the back of the tractor falls to the ground. When Juan and his family board the tractor, the plywood is back against the back of the tractor and it falls again.

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Connections

Featured in El sueño de la maestra (2002)

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Soundtracks

De Sevilla al Canadá
Music by Juan Solano (as Maestro Solano)
Lyrics by José Antonio Ochaíta and Xandro Valerio
Performed by Lolita Sevilla

User Reviews

witty while full of commentary

This film is an excellent and witty portrayal of Franco's post-war Spain. There are many hidden agendas and underlying stereotypes of both the American and Spanish people. The more you watch the movie, the more one-liners you catch. The order in which the camera bounces from person to person always has a meaning. This style of exposition is unique and refreshing. The dream sequence contains many of the stereotypes held by the Spanish towards the American people. The people of the village change their town into what they think the Americans want to see, even though they have the wrong idea about them. The best part is all this content is delivered in a comedic fashion, which lets you enjoy the underlying commentary.