Set during the Spanish Civil War, Genina’s film celebrates the 70-day defence of the Alcazar fortress in Toledo by Nationalist troops under the command of General Moscardo. It is an example of a documentario romanzato or “fictional documentary”, a combination of historical facts with elements of romanticised fiction.Read More »
Gueule d’Amour
Made partly while Grémillon was working at the Ufa Studios in Berlin, this film features the young Jean Gabin as a foreign-legion Casanova – the “lady killer” Lucien Bourrache – who meets his match in the mysterious seductress Madeleine (Mireille Balin). The sizzling electricity between Gabin and Balin made Gueule d’amour a rare popular success for the director.Read More »