Historical and acceptable film dealing with jealousy , passions , treason and political intrigues . This is the historic tale with a politic fight behind , concerning a deep love story who transformed Juana , Queen of Spain , into Juana "The mad" , the nutty queen . Juana (Aurora Bautista) is married off by her pious parents , the two famous Catholic kings : intelligent Fernando of Aragon and sensible Isabella of Castille , to ally Spain , united by their marriage, to the Burgundian and other Habsburg heritage of archduke Maximilian and Maria's son Philip (Fernando Rey , who many years later , he would star French Connection) . As in 1496, Juana De Castilla, daughter of the Catholic Kings, travels to Flandes to marry the Archduke Felipe De Austria, known as 'El Hermoso' or The Handsome . When they meet, it's love at first sight, for her all-consuming , for him one of many happy bed partnerships as she later figures out . Juana becomes queen of Spain when her mother and her older brothers die in 1504 . As early deaths in her family soon make Juana Isabella's heir , but Ferdinand suggests she inherited her grandmother's craziness and supports Philip's ambition to govern instead , which take place the politic intrigues in the kingdom and then multiple drama is inevitable . Combined with Philip's relentless infidelity , which includes a gorgeous Moorish woman named Aldara (Sara Montiel, one of the Spanish-speaking world's biggest stars) , and other lovers as the things go awry when Juana uncovers his treason . Some nobles (Manuel Luna , Eduardo Fajardo , Jesus Tordesillas) support Philip's ambition to rule instead , which becomes the stakes of political maneuvering in the Cortes ; while the queen is helped by an Almirante (Juan Espantaleon) and by Captain Alvar (Jorge Mistral) , the latter a young officer under orders of Gonzalo Fernandez De Cordoba , ¨El Gran Capitan¨ who had achieved in Italy notorious battles as Ceriñola and Garillano . As mental health Juana starts getting worse and Felipe makes the Burgos Court , nobility-dominated parliament , declare the incurable insanity of Juana and confines her in the monastery of Las Huelgas, proclaiming himself as the king . Finally , Juana is locked at a convent in the city of Tordesillas , Valladolid .
¨Locura De Amor¨ deals with Juana "The mad" , concerning a peculiar story of love , lies and jealousy with a political confrontation behind . This interesting as well as intimate story is a passionate retelling and a touching drama . Carlos Blanco writes the script along with the prestigious Jose Maria Peman , based on a story by Manuel Tamayo Baus and being filmed in usual style of the forties and in stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the historical issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . Average acting by main star , Aurora Bautista , she gives an excessively theatrical acting . Nice main cast as well as support cast : Manuel Luna , Jesus Tordesillas , Juan Espantaleon , Felix Fernandez , Conrado San Martin , all of them play similarly to stage actors ; as the influence of the theater in players results to be extreme and embarrassing . Original and evocative music by Juan Quintero , Juan De Orduña's ordinary . The settings are passable though mostly made in ¨Carton-Piedra (stone)¨ as well as matte-painting . The palaces and castles are a right manner to show the life style of those days along with the gowns , royal activities , aristocracy , the Middle Age way of life and mentality of those days . Adequate clothing , costumes and set design , including the actual castle of the Mota . Mediocre cinematography in black and white by Jose F. Aguayo , he carries out a photography with juicy atmosphere , but a perfect remastering being necessary because of the copy of the film is worn-out . Cameraman Jose Aguayo is deemed to be one of the best classic Spanish photographers with a long and prestigious artistic career .
The motion picture was lavishly produced by CIFESA , the most known production company during Francoist period , that often financed these false but breathtaking historical spectacles . Being regularly directed by Juan De Orduña in his particular style . Orduña debuting on camera in 1924 with "The House of Troy , and forming his own company shortly thereafter . Although Juan de Orduña is best known for his work in director, not be neglected juvenile stage actor. With director Florian Rey formed the production company "Goya Films" . He adapted to cinema famous novels such as Zalacaín El Aventurero , Cañas Y Barro , El Frente De Los Suspiros , Nobleza Baturra , Lola Se Va a Los Huertos , being especially known for his historical renditions such as Teresa De Jesus , Alba De América , La Leona De Castilla , Agustina De Aragón and Locura De Amor . His most successful picture was El Ultimo Cuple with Sara Montiel .
Other retelling about this known story based on the play by Manuel Tamayo Y Baus are the followings : A silent version (1909) by Ricardo Baños ; a comical rendition titled ¨Juana La Loca De Vez En Cuando¨ by Jose Ramon Larraz with Lola Flores as Reina Isabel I 'La Católica' , Beatriz Elorrieta as Infanta Doña Juana De Castilla , Jaime Morey as Felipe 'El Hermoso' , Manolo Gómez Bur as Cardenal Cisneros and Quique Camoiras as Fray Tomás Torquemada and ¨Juana La Loca¨(2001) by Vicente Aranda in which Pilar Lopez De Ayala won several awards , giving a powerful and portentous interpretation as Juana , Daniele Liotti as Felipe , Rosana Pastor , Giuliano Gemma , Roberto Álvarez and Eloy Azorín.
