Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1963
To Die in Madrid
Buy To Die in Madrid now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'To Die in Madrid' is a 1963 French documentary film about the Spanish Civil War, directed by Frdric Rossif. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Background
In 1936, the Popular Front won the elections in Spain and thus provoked a rise in discontent on the part of the right: monarchists, fascists, conservatives and others nostalgic for the pre-republic, for "eternal, Catholic and imperial Spain", attempted to overthrow the current government in Madrid with a putsch that took place on 17 and 18 July 1936. Although it failed, this coup d'tat was the trigger for a bloody civil war that Frdric Rossif documents in 'To Die in Madrid'.
Production and release
The film is a formidable piece of archival research on the Spanish Civil War, drawing on documents from the Soviet Union, the United States, France, Germany and Spain. Rossif is not a historian, but he teaches us the essential fact that the war was won thanks to the massive support of the Germans and Italians.France Observateur, 18 avril 1963 The commentary is by Madeleine Chapsal, for the most part said by Jean Vilar and Suzanne Flon. The music is by Maurice Jarre. The producer is Nicole Stphane.
This film was not easy to make and was much attacked at its release by both the extreme right and the extreme left. The French government, in order to please the Spanish dictator Franco, delayed the release of the film for more than a month and asked to cut some scenes. According to Nicole Stphane's testimony in 2006, the Spanish government asked for twenty-five cuts and the French censors finally made six.
Cast
* John Gielgud as Narrator (voice)
* Irene Worth as Co-Narrator
* Suzanne Flon as Rcitante / Narrator (French version) (voice)
* Roger Mollien as Rcitant / Narrator (French version) (voice)
* Germaine Montero as Rcitante / Narrator (French version) (voice)
* Pierre Vaneck as Rcitant / Narrator (French version) (voice)
* Jean Vilar as Rcitant / Narrator (French version) (voice)
Awards
* Prix Jean-Vigo (1963)
* Prix du Chevalier de la Barre (1963)
*BAFTA Award for Best Documentary (1968)
* Nomination: Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature (1966)
References
Buy To Die in Madrid now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1963