Duende y misterio del flamenco (1952) - Edgar Neville - Documental - Musical - Flamenco

Recorrido documental sobre el mundo del flamenco, un arte que Neville siempre admiró y del que se declaró fiel seguidor. Con la voz en off de Fernando Rey, se narra la historia de dicho género musical mediante diversas escenificaciones donde se aprende a diferenciar tipos de flamenco: soleares, tarantos, seguiriyas, bulerías, tonás, tangos, alegrías y fandangos. Se estrenó en España el 15 de diciembre de 1952, y en ella aparecen artistas consagrados como el bailarín Antonio, de reconocida fama internacional y Pilar López y su ballet español.

Actualmente es considerada la mejor película realizada sobre el flamenco, y en su época cosechó excelentes críticas además de una Mención especial en el Festival de Cannes.

Sinopsis
Destacable obra folclórica, que se sitúa a caballo entre el documental y la ficción. Se trata de recorrido completo por todos los palos del cante grande y del cante chico andaluz así como de su influencia en el resto de España.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044574/

Año: 1952

País: España

Dirección: Edgar Neville

Guión: Edgar Neville

Música
Enrique Granados

Fotografía: Heinrich Gärtner

Documental,Musical,Flamenco

Title changed to "Flamenco" when it was first released in the USA in 1954, this is a program of Spanish songs and dances with the emphasis on "flamenco" or gypsy contributions. The USA version has an English narrative written by Walter Terry, the dance critic of the "New York Herald Tribune" newspaper. Heading the cast are Antonio (I), Pilar Lopez and Maria Luz, three of Spain's foremost dancers of the time, accompanied by members of the Ballet Espanol. Filmed in Cinefotocolor in which orange and blue dominated, a combination that should appeal to the fans of Auburn University athletic teams. Distributed in the USA by Martin J. Lewis.

Quintaessential Dance film features brilliant and frenetic choreography and embellished thanks to its chromatic aesthetic and a high-caliber Flamenco score , adding sensual re-creations , rural and urban sightseeing and other social manners . Enjoyable film very moving in its style with a superb Flamenco soundtrack and unique photography style , though being really necesary a perfect remastering because of the film copy is washed-out . At the same time , watching several Spanish locations , showing a real sightseeing of the marvellous cities and villages . The dazzling and devastating dancing set new standards for this splendid and wildly successful fim. An Andalusian musical movie of the late Fifities , being essentially a ballet , that's why it is musically riveting , it is almost , also, perfect and laced with glimmer cinematograph in Cinefotocolor by Heinrich Gärtner as Enrique Guerner . Heading the glorious cast are the mythical dancer Antonio , the veteran Pilar Lopez and the young Maria Luz Galicia , three of Spain's foremost dancers at the time , along with gypsy dancers , and other contributions as the members of the Ballet Espanol . All of them dancing fabulous Flamenco music , Bulerias , Seguidillas , Boleros de Panaderos , Sonatas composed by Father Antonio Soler, Intermedio from the opera Pepita Jimenez composed by Isaac Albeniz , Spanish dance number 11 composed by Enrique Granados and many others . Special mention for the fascinating dances performed by Antonio on attractive background location , in El Escorial and Ronda Bridge , the latter he plays an impressive Martinete at the end.

The motion picture was competently written and directed by Edgar Neville and narrated by the known actor Fernando Rey . Director Edgar Neville , Count of Berlanga de Duero , was considered to be one of the best filmmakers in the Francoist time . He was a notorious playwright , screenwriter and director , Edgar opted for a humor not politically compromised , which he cultivated in all the artistic genres : theatrical stage , poetry, novels, cinema, painting and others . From their privileged position he criticized without harshness the customs of the bourgeoisie at that time , in which Neville belonged himself as well as the kitsch and the absurd manners . Together with Tono, Antonio Mingote and Mihura, he wrote for the humor magazine La Codorniz , successor to the weekly La Ametralladora, which Mihura published in San Sebastián. Neville stood out above all as a good filmmaker . ¨La vida en un hilo¨ or ¨Life in a thread¨ was a great success both, the public and critic . It was first conceived as a film and later it was turned into a musical comedy by his son Santiago . It is a smiling reflection on the mechanisms of chance, as well as a plot against the bourgeoisie , being understood as a disease of the soul , against corniness and narrow-mindedness disguised as common sense . The play ¨El baile¨, which ran for seven years on stage , it was also a big hit , and reviewing social habits, as well . It is about a loving trio that triumphs over time and generations . Adapted to the cinema, it was distinguished for its agile and brilliant dialogues , in which tenderness and nonsense alternate here and there . Edgar directed a large number of films , some of them written along with his sweetheart actress Conchita Montes , who usually played too. In Edgar Neville's prestigious cinematic work stand out the following movies : La torre de los siete jorobados 1944 , La vida en un hilo 1945 , El crimen de la calle de Bordadores 1946 ,El traje de luces 1946 , Nada 1947 , El marqués de Salamanca 1948 , El último caballo 1950 , La ironía del dinero 1955 , El baile 1957 , Mi calle 1959 . He also made documentary , such as : La Ciudad Universitaria , Juventudes de España , Cante Jondo, and this Duende y Misterio del Flamenco, among others . Rating : 8/10. Above average . Essential and indispensable watching for Flamenco aficionados.