A wealthy son , Ernesto de Acedo (Rafael Duran) , of a shipping company owner is platonically enamored of a theatre actress , Teresa Labisbal (Ana Mariscal) , whom he's watching everyday at stage . After death his father in an anarchist explosion , Ernesto trusts his business to testament executer Julio Villamil (Jose Maria Lado) . Meanwhile , he's invited to live at his house , but Julio's married his old lover Teresa . Along the way , Ernesto who is a good musician composes a symphonic poem titled El Gran Galeoto based on the episode of Paolo and Francesca in The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri . Things go wrong when the Madrid population begins gossiping the marriage and their young guest.
An enjoyable Spanish film with intense drama , intrigue , passion , tragic events and thrilling final duel . As the Galeoto is the badness , envy and intolerance of a selfish and cruel society .Classic Spaniard movie about a twisted love story and then multiple drama is inevitable with a fencing confrontation at the end . This interesting as well as intimate story is a passionate retelling and a touching drama . Average acting by main stars , Rafael Duran , Ana Mariscal , who offer an excessively theatrical acting alonf with Jose Maria Lado . Very good support cast with plenty of familar faces : Juan Espantaleon , Fernando Sancho, Antonio Riquelme , Valeriano Andrés , Xan das Bolas , Manuel Arbó ,Rafael Bardem, Francisco Bernal , Raúl Cancio , Jose Prada , Maria Luisa Ponte , Helga Line , Fernando Fernández de Córdoba , all of them play similarly to stage actors ; as the influence of the theater in players results to be extreme and embarrassing . The settings are decent though mostly made in ¨Carton-Piedra (stone)¨ . Atmospheric cinematography in black and white by two great cameramen : Heinrich Gärtner in outdoors as Enrique Guerner and Michel Kelber . These cameramen are deemed to be two of the best classic Spanish photographers - though foreign origin- with a long and prestigious artistic career . Adding an evocative and adequate musical score by Manuel Parada
Motion picture was lavishly produced by Intercontinental Films that along with Suevia Films /Cesareo Gonzalez and Cifesa were the most known production companies during Francoist period , that often financed these false but breathtaking historical spectacles . The yarn was professionally directed by veteran Rafael Gil . 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 . Rafael was one of the best filmmakers from Spanish cinema , directing several classic movies , such as : ¨Don Quijote De La Mancha¨ , ¨El Clavo¨ , ¨La Fe¨ , ¨La Señora De Fatima¨, ¨La Reina Santa¨ , ¨La Guerra De Dios¨ , ¨El Beso De Judas¨ ,¨Aventuras de Juan Lucas¨ , ¨Eloísa está debajo de un almendro¨, ¨Tierra Sedienta¨, ¨La Prodiga¨, ¨Huella de luz¨, ¨Viaje sin destino¨, ¨Teatro Apolo¨, among others . Rating : 6.5/10 . Agreeable drama for Spanish cinema aficionados.
