The Moment of Truth (1965)

The rise and fall of a famous torero, Miguelin, inside and outside of the bullfighters ring.

Director:

Francesco Rosi

Writers:

Pedro Beltrán (screenplay), Pedro Beltrán (story)

Stars:

Miguel Mateo 'Miguelín', José Gómez Sevillano, Pedro Basauri 'Pedrucho'

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Miguel Mateo 'Miguelín'	...	Miguel Romero 'Miguelín'
José Gómez Sevillano	...	Impresario
Pedro Basauri 'Pedrucho'	...	Self
Linda Christian	...	Linda, American woman
Luque Gago	...	La cuadrilla del matador #1
Salvador Mateo	...	La cuadrilla del matador #2
Manuel Ruiz Serrana	...	La cuadrilla del matador #3
Francisco Caño	...	La cuadrilla del matador #4
José Rodríguez Matia	...	La cuadrilla del matador #5
Manolo Pérez Moratilla	...	La cuadrilla del matador #6
José Vizcaino	...	La cuadrilla del matador #7
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Curro Carmona
Gregorio Sánchez

Storyline

The rise and fall of a famous torero, Miguelin, inside and outside of the bullfighters ring.

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Plot Keywords:

mexican actress playing american character | bullfight | bullfighting | bullfighter | procession | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #595.

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Connections

Referenced in Marxist Poetry: The Making of 'The Battle of Algiers' (2004)

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Soundtracks

El Porompompero
Words by José Antonio Ochaíta & Xandro Valerio
Music by Juan Solano (as Juan Solano Pedrero)
Performed by Manolo Escobar

User Reviews

They shoot bulls don't they?

This is not a movie about bull fighting .This is a movie which depicts bygone days ,when Spain was under a dictatorship and if you did not want to starve ,you had two possibilities: either become a bull fighter-remember this line :" who was Manuel Benitez before he became El Cordobes?/He was like us,he was starving" or a flamenco singer (The most famous was Joselito Jimenez ).Miguel,a peasant ,leaves the impoverished country for the broader horizons of the town like many others .But poverty awaits on them all,and he realizes he's working for nothing.Then he tries to become El Cordobes .It's the rise and fall of a bull fighter in the sixties,but once again,even if the bullfights are well filmed (if you like this kind of show,personally,I don't) the main thing is the depiction of Spanish life at a time when Western Europa's economy was expanding rapidly,leaving-temporarily- Spain and Portugal by the wayside .The best scene which perhaps sums up the whole movie is Miguel's return in his old home ,when his brand new car belts along the road across the fields where animal traction remains.

Even if Miguel became a rich man ,he would never be part of the folks on the hill;during the party,these posh people have not the slightest idea of the risks their "idol" has to take.

That a Spanish director would have been allowed to film such a subject was unthinkable ;it's one of Italian Francesco Rosi's most overlooked movies along with "Uomo Contro" .People generally know much better such movies as "Salavatore Giuliano" "Il Caso Mattei" "Cadaveri Eccelenti" or " Cristo Si E Fermato A Eboli" .His admirers could do worse than give a chance to "Il Momento Della Verità".

Rosi does not forget the prominent part played by religion .The movie begins and ends with this procession during The Holy week with its hooded penitents .The people seem imprisoned in these celebrations which frame the movie like safeguards.The main character does not appear in the first ten minutes .A short scene shows the bull fighter praying Virgin Mary before his last Corrida.

Details

Country:

Italy Spain

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

3 March 1965 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Moment of Truth

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

As Films Producción, Federiz

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1