Dated but agreeable criminal Fantastique including intrigue , mayhem, musical numbers with songs at the time and social habits from Madrid . It is set in 19th-century Madrid a young man called Basilio Beltrán (Antonio Casal) plays roulette . A strange oldman , one-eyed Don Robinsón de Mantua (Félix de Pomés) helps him by pointing with his walking stick the next number on which the ball will fall , as the starring is the only one able to see him . The invisible man results to be the ghost of an archaeologist and asks Basilio to care his niece named Isabel (Isabel de Pomes) from a band of hunchbacks . On a dark night the niece is kidnapped by a sinister person (Guillermo Marin) , then Beltrán sets out in rescue and defend her .
A mysterious and suspenseful fantasy with intrigue , brief hilarious touches and short in terror . Entertaining and enjoyable criminal movie with fantastic elements containing thrills , suspense , twists and turns . ¨La Torre de Los Siete Jorobados¨(1944) based on a novel by Emilio Carrere , belongs to Edgar Neville trilogy about criiminal intrigues set in an old Madrid , along with ¨Martes De Carnaval¨(1945) and ¨El crimen de la calle Bordadores¨(1946) , all of them written by himself . This intriguing film reflects the traditional Madrid of the late nineteenth century , without missing the typical popular theatrical scenes , Cabaret , Musical Revista and the traditional dances, with specific references to the chotis . Here stands out the impressive settings of the famous Tower and the underground as well as the atmospheric photography in black and and white by Henri Barreyre and Andrés Pérez Cubero , but as cinematography as sound , being really necessary a perfect remastering because the film copy is worn-out . Main and support cast are acceptable , playing some usual actors of the 40s , such as : Antonio Casal , Félix de Pomés, Isabel de Pomes , Guillermo Marin , Antonio Riquelme , Julia Lajos , José Franco as Napoleon , among others . Filming and locations took place in Madrid and Ciudad Lineal studios . As Edgar Neville shot in various Madrid streets : Puerta del Sol, Plaza de la Cebada , and Castizos quarters , among them .
The motion picture was competently written and directed by Edgar Neville . It won some prizes such as Cinema Writers Circle Awards , and Prize of the National Syndicate of Spectacle . Director Edgar Neville , Count of Berlanga de Duero , 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 genres : theatrical stage , poetry, novels, cinema, painting and others . From their privileged positions 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 habits . 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 with 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 cornyness and against narrow-mindedness disguised as common sense . The play ¨El baile¨, which ran for seven years on stage , it was also a great hit . It is about a loving trio that triumphs over time and generations . Adapted to the cinema, it was distinguished by its agile and brilliant dialogues , in which tenderness and nonsense alternate here and there . Edgar directed a number of films , some of them written along with his sweetheart actress Conchita Montes , standing 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 , Duende y Misterio del Flamenco, Cante Jondo, among others .
