Interesting and thought-provoking look about youthful delinquency in Barcelona from the 60s . It tells how three young people form a band called ¨Los Corteses¨ . These three young misfits from Barcelona who end up being robbers are the followings : Pierre Brice as Vidal , alias El Señorito , Julián Mateos as Carmelo Barrachina 'Compadre' and Manuel Gil as Ramón Orea Bellido 'Chico' , whose sister Isabel -Agnès Spaak- falls for the gang leader . The protagonists decide to live edgily and to live a life of crime and risks , robbing Apothekes and shops . The way of crime is an uneasy way for them : a labourer (Manuel Gil) and a waif (Julián Mateos) without a job or benefit are induced by 'el Señorito', (Pierre Brice) the son of a rich lawyer . Together they form a band who execute crimes and misdemeanors to escape the poverty and also as part of the street life or as a real vital trauma . As they get together and to be agreed to proceed some greatest robbing . As the young street-criminals in Barcelona embark on a series of thefts to raise enough money . But then things go wrong .
Based on a novel written by Tomás Salvador and shot in realist style , the picture is divided into three parts: 'Restlessness', 'Violence' and 'Death'. This is a slow , overlong and dramatic story and one of several movies dealing with youth delinquency in Spain during the late 50s , and early 60s , they represented a time and a way of life in the history of Spain . Its style is pretty much urban and realistic as well in the atmosphere as in the fresh dialog . In ¨The robbers¨ we watch the day-by-day of a group of delinquents committing crimes , however filmmaker got to make a both lyric and documentary-style flick . A great look at young life and friendship in the isolated side let the story flow efficiently and being realized in realistic style . Director Francisco Rovira Beleta gives a pretty nice filmmaking and attempting to explain the hard motivations , violent evolution and defeat of the motley trio . The director creates a sort of Spanish Neo-Realism by tackling the juvenile delinquency in the Barcelona streets from a social view point . Filmed in atmospheric black and white , in and around Barcelona , with some great locations , the characters choose to live dangerously rather than work in deadend jobs . It is made with a clear intention of social , political criticism and research of realism , culminating in an outstanding ending scene that raised quite controversial : a strong , deadly execution to ¨Garrote Vil¨ . In fact , it had serious problems with the Francoist censorship , but it still maintains its importance and provoking feeling . As usual , the French co-producer added some erotic scenes that happen in Barcelona ¨Diagonal¨ . It includes an atmospheric and appropriate photography in juicy atmosphere by cameraman Aurelio G. Larraya . Furthermore , an evocative and adequate musical score by Federico Tudó .
The motion picture was compellingly directed by Francisco Rovira Beleta , he was a splendid director and writer , especially known for Los Tarantos (1963), El Amor Brujo (1967) and Los Atracadores (1962). At his beginnings Rovira collaborated with the powerful production company CIFESA as assistant director to Luis Lucía and Juan Orduña . His film debut was ¨Doce Horas De Vida¨(1948) , and went on ¨39 Cartas Amor¨ and ¨Luna De Sangre¨ based on Fernan Caballero novel . His best movies were the prestigious neo-realist trilogy formed by ¨Hay Un Camino a La Derecha¨, ¨Expreso Andalucia¨ about the famous train robbery and this ¨Los Atracadores¨ (61) . His greatest successes were ¨Tarantos¨(1963) about Alfredo Mañas story and ¨Amor Brujo¨ based on Manuel De Falla music , both of them had nomination to American Academy Award . Subsequently , he directed some flops as ¨La Dama De Alba¨ about Alejandro Casona , ¨La Larga Agonía De Peces Fuera de Agua¨ realized in ¨Escuela Barcelona¨ style and ¨No Encontré Rosas Para Mi Madre¨ . Later on , Francisco made the historical production ¨La Espada Negra¨ (76) about R.R.C.C. and his last one was a Noir Film titled ¨Crónica Sentimental En Rojo¨ .
