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Reviews
Esmeralda (1970)
Unforgettable!
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.
¿Dónde vas, Alfonso XII? (1959)
A true love story (no Cinderella here)
This is a re-telling of a 19th century royal romance. Alfonso was the Crown Prince of Spain, Mercedes was a French-Spanish princess and his cousin. They fall in love -though teenagers, this is not puppy love, their love is real and deep; their connection is powerful and unforgettable. Will they marry, despite strong opposition from his mother, the queen? Will they live gloriously happy ever after? Mercedes is buried in the Almudena Cathedral of Madrid, where the current Crown Prince of Spain and his wife were recently married. This love story still lives on in the hearts of Spaniards and romantics everywhere. A must see!
Leonela (1983)
One of the best "novelas" ever!
Forget the remake - this is the real McCoy. Mayra Alejandra and Carlos Olivier are spellbinding in "Leonela"! Leonela is a virgin who gets raped by a drunk at the eve of her wedding. Her fiancé drops her, as do most of her friends - but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and Leonela's spirit triumphs as she becomes one of the best attorneys in town, though her heart hardens... Meanwhile, a humble and repentant Pedro Luis goes to law school in prison as he pays his debt to society. Many years later, Leonela and Pedro Luis face each other - he still loves her, but will she open her heart to him? And where is the child of rape she gave up for adoption?
Edward & Mrs. Simpson (1978)
Great dramatization of the story!
Highly recommended for lovers of history and/or biography. The actors were carefully chosen to resemble the real characters, same goes for the locations. I've read many books regarding the love story between Edward and Mrs. Simpson - this comes very close to what really happened. I do believe Edward fell madly, totally in love with Mrs. Simpson. She returned his love but in a lesser degree. Regardless, theirs was the wedding of the century because how often does a monarch give up his throne for the woman he loves? It's ironic how Prince Charles has followed in the footsteps of his great-uncle, but it looks like he will get to reign with the woman he loves by his side. That's life.