Bienvenido Mister Marshall (1953)

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Director:

Luis García Berlanga

Writers:

Juan Antonio Bardem (story) and
Luis García Berlanga (story) ...

Release Date:

4 April 1953 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

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.

Awards:

5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

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

Also Known As:

¡Bienvenido, Mister Marshall! (poster title)
Bienvenido Mr. Marshall (Spain) (alternative spelling)
Welcome Mr. Marshall
Benvenuto Mr. Marshall! (Italy) [it]
Bienvenue, Monsieur Marshall (France) [fr]
Kalos irthate, mister Marshall (Greece) [el]
Tervetuloa, Mr. Marshall (Finland) [fi]
Uns kommt das alles spanisch vor (West Germany) (reissue title) [de]
Välkommen, mr Marshall (Sweden) [sv]
Willkommen, Mr. Marshall (West Germany) [de]
Witaj nam, Mr. Marshall (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

95 min | Spain:78 min (cut version)

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Spain:13 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Unión Industrial Cinematográfica (UNINCI)

Trivia:

Voted fifth best Spanish film by professionals and critics in 1996 Spanish cinema centenary.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in ¡Que vienen los socialistas! (1982)

Soundtrack:

Tío páseme el río

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.