I retired to Spain some three years ago, indeed to Andalusia where this movie is set and recently asked our native Spanish neighbours to recommend a classic old Spanish-made film to watch and this was their reply. I'm only at an early stage of learning the language and so had to rely on some obviously dubious English subtitles with my viewing but nonetheless I found the movie to be an absolute delight.
It's the post-war era and a sleepy little mountain village gets ideas above its station when it hears that it will receive a visit from American dignitaries, no doubt desperate to rain Marshall Plan dollars down on the townsfolk and transform their peasant lives. Whipped into a fervour by their rasping-voiced old mayor who has commandeered as an expert on all things American the services of a visiting impresario who once stayed in Boston (!), it's not long before the whole village goes ga-ga for Uncle Sam, the town borrowing money to transform the place and its citizens into a bustling destination sure to make the Yankees want to stay a while and to charm those dollars from Mr Marshall's ample wallet.
Unsurprisingly, things don't quite go according to plan, but not before many amusing episodes happen along the way. The film pokes gentle fun at the not-always-understanding but sometimes aroused villagers but ends up as a celebration of family and small-town life, whilst pointing out that money can't buy you happiness.
Obviously, this is Franco-era Spain and one can't be sure how much the film is adhering to the censorship of the day in promoting the traditional, If obviously arduous and low-paid Spanish way of life and attacking, if lightly, American consumerism but I prefer instead to take the film's universal message of being thankful for what you have.
Fast-paced, with a droll commentary, containing a wonderfully quirky prologue, a funny pro-America song, spoof dream-sequences and many other genuinely amusing lines culminating in an apt "as you were" conclusion, I was surprised at its modernity and enjoyed it thoroughly. I note that the film is contemporary with the Ealing Comedies of the United Kingdom and for those hesitant to watch a vintage Spanish language black and white feature, think "The Titfield Thunderbolt" or "Whisky Galore" to get an idea of the sly, observational and very amusing humour at work here in this gentle but winning comedy with an occasional kick.
It's the post-war era and a sleepy little mountain village gets ideas above its station when it hears that it will receive a visit from American dignitaries, no doubt desperate to rain Marshall Plan dollars down on the townsfolk and transform their peasant lives. Whipped into a fervour by their rasping-voiced old mayor who has commandeered as an expert on all things American the services of a visiting impresario who once stayed in Boston (!), it's not long before the whole village goes ga-ga for Uncle Sam, the town borrowing money to transform the place and its citizens into a bustling destination sure to make the Yankees want to stay a while and to charm those dollars from Mr Marshall's ample wallet.
Unsurprisingly, things don't quite go according to plan, but not before many amusing episodes happen along the way. The film pokes gentle fun at the not-always-understanding but sometimes aroused villagers but ends up as a celebration of family and small-town life, whilst pointing out that money can't buy you happiness.
Obviously, this is Franco-era Spain and one can't be sure how much the film is adhering to the censorship of the day in promoting the traditional, If obviously arduous and low-paid Spanish way of life and attacking, if lightly, American consumerism but I prefer instead to take the film's universal message of being thankful for what you have.
Fast-paced, with a droll commentary, containing a wonderfully quirky prologue, a funny pro-America song, spoof dream-sequences and many other genuinely amusing lines culminating in an apt "as you were" conclusion, I was surprised at its modernity and enjoyed it thoroughly. I note that the film is contemporary with the Ealing Comedies of the United Kingdom and for those hesitant to watch a vintage Spanish language black and white feature, think "The Titfield Thunderbolt" or "Whisky Galore" to get an idea of the sly, observational and very amusing humour at work here in this gentle but winning comedy with an occasional kick.