Death of a Cyclist (1955)

A couple having an affair strike a bicyclist with their car and do not offer aid out of fear of their relationship being exposed.

Director:

Juan Antonio Bardem (as J.A. Bardem)

Writers:

Juan Antonio Bardem (as J.A. Bardem), Luis Fernando de Igoa (original story) (as L.F. de Igoa)

Stars:

Lucia Bosè, Alberto Closas, Bruna Corrà

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lucia Bosè	...	María José de Castro (as Lucia Bose)
Alberto Closas	...	Juan Fernández Soler
Bruna Corrà	...	Matilde Luque Carvajal (as Bruna Corra)
Carlos Casaravilla	...	Rafael Sandoval
Otello Toso	...	Miguel Castro
Alicia Romay	...	Carmina
Julia Delgado Caro	...	Doña Maria
Matilde Muñoz Sampedro	...	Vecina del ciclista
Mercedes Albert	...	Cristina
José Sepúlveda	...	Comisario (as Jose Sepulveda)
José Prada	...	Decano (as Jose Prada)
Fernando Sancho	...	Guardia de tráfico
Manuel Alexandre	...	Otro ciclista
Jacinto San Emeterio	...	Joaquín
Manuel Arbó	...	Padre Iturrioz (as Manuel Arbo)

Storyline

Juan is an academic, his career stalled, teaching at the university because of his brother-in-law's prestige. María José is a socialite, married to wealth, bored but attached to her comforts. The two are lovers. On an isolated country road, their car strikes a cyclist; fearing exposure, they leave him to die. Distracted, Juan unjustly fails a student. Rafa, a bitter savant in their social circle, hints that he knows something, and he threatens to expose them to María José's husband, Miguel. Miguel's pride may be the lovers' best hope. Then Juan proposes a solution.

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Plot Keywords:

adultery | road accident | bicycle | accident | title spoken by character | 

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Taglines:

introducing Alberto Cloas and Lucia Bose, a haunting beauty.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #427.

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Goofs

In the scene immediately after the wedding the shadow of a cameraman is visible on the back of Juan's coat as he enters the slum where the cyclist lived.

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Quotes

Miguel Castro: The other day, someone told me a very interesting story. The story of a happy marriage that went downhill.
María José de Castro: Why?
Miguel Castro: The woman tricked the man.
María José de Castro: Oh really? How original.
Miguel Castro: Let me finish. The woman tricked the man. They were both good people, especially the woman. And he had a lot of money.
María José de Castro: So what did the husband do, kill his wife?
Miguel Castro: No, even better. He left her. Without a penny, suddenly she lost her entire life. Even everyday life, lost. And nobody wanted to give her a hand. Do you like it?
María José de Castro: The story? It's ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Peter and Little Red Riding Hood (1958)

User Reviews

Maybe it was good 65 years ago

I saw this movie when it just appeared in the movie theaters. Remembering the deep impression it made on me, I decided to watch it again now. It started very well, but somewhere in the middle it lost the air and became simplistic and predictable, although the beautiful Lucia Bose continued to draw the attention. But the rest of the actors were absolutely unbelievable, especially when the great Spanish lover started to feed us with social cliches and trivialities. At that moment the whole thrill gone. It could've been much better, if the thriller was concentrating on the criminal story rather than the anti-bourgeois propaganda.

Details

Country:

Spain Italy

Language:

Spanish English

Release Date:

7 September 1955 (France)

Also Known As:

Death of a Cyclist

Filming Locations:

Estudios Chamartín, Madrid, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Guión Producciones Cinematográficas, Suevia Films - Cesáreo González, Trionfalcine

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1