Don Quixote de la Mancha (1947 film)
Encyclopedia
Don Quixote de la Mancha (orig. Spanish title Don Quijote de la Mancha) is the first sound film
version in Spanish of the great classic novel by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. It was directed and adapted by Rafael Gil
and released in 1947. A huge undertaking for Spanish cinema in its day, it was the longest film version of the novel up to that time (over two hours), and very likely the most faithful, reverently following the book in its dialogue and order of episodes, unlike G.W. Pabst's 1933 version
and the later Russian film version, which scrambled up the order of the adventures as many film versions do. Characters such as Cardenio, Dorotea, and Don Fernando, which are usually omitted because their respective subplots have little to do with the main body of the novel, were kept in this film.
The film, which starred Rafael Rivelles
as Don Quixote and Juan Calvo as Sancho Panza, featured a young Fernando Rey
as Sanson Carrasco and popular Spanish actress Sara Montiel
as Antonia, Quixote's niece. The music for the film was composed by Ernesto Halffter
, and the movie was shot on location in La Mancha
and other Spanish regions.
It did not fare as well in the United States, where it opened in 1949, as it had in Spain. In its American runs, it was whittled down to a more customary length of 107 minutes.
Sound film
A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades would pass before sound motion pictures were made commercially...
version in Spanish of the great classic novel by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. It was directed and adapted by Rafael Gil
Rafael Gil
Rafael Gil was a Spanish film director and screenwriter.- Filmography :*El hombre que se quiso matar .*Huella de luz. . –script too-*Viaje sin destino...
and released in 1947. A huge undertaking for Spanish cinema in its day, it was the longest film version of the novel up to that time (over two hours), and very likely the most faithful, reverently following the book in its dialogue and order of episodes, unlike G.W. Pabst's 1933 version
Adventures of Don Quixote (film)
Adventures of Don Quixote is the English title of a film adaptation of the classic Miguel de Cervantes novel, directed by Georg Wilhelm Pabst, starring the famous operatic bass Feodor Chaliapin. Although the film stars Chaliapin, it is not an opera; however, he does sing three songs in it. It is...
and the later Russian film version, which scrambled up the order of the adventures as many film versions do. Characters such as Cardenio, Dorotea, and Don Fernando, which are usually omitted because their respective subplots have little to do with the main body of the novel, were kept in this film.
The film, which starred Rafael Rivelles
Rafael Rivelles
Rafael Rivelles was a Spanish actor born in El Cabañal, a small town in the province of Valencia, Spain. Son of play actor José Rivelles and play actress Amparo Guillén, he was the father of famous Spanish star Amparo Rivelles.In the 30's, with the advent of talking films, he went to Hollywood to...
as Don Quixote and Juan Calvo as Sancho Panza, featured a young Fernando Rey
Fernando Rey
Fernando Casado Arambillet , best known as Fernando Rey, was a Spanish film, theatre, and TV actor, who worked in both Europe and the United States...
as Sanson Carrasco and popular Spanish actress Sara Montiel
Sara Montiel
Sara Montiel is a Spanish singer, and actress. She is still a much-loved and internationally known name in the Spanish-speaking movie and music industries....
as Antonia, Quixote's niece. The music for the film was composed by Ernesto Halffter
Ernesto Halffter
Ernesto Halffter Escriche was a Spanish composer and conductor. He was the brother of Rodolfo Halffter....
, and the movie was shot on location in La Mancha
La Mancha
La Mancha is a natural and historical region or greater comarca located on an arid, fertile, elevated plateau of central Spain, south of Madrid, stretching between the Montes de Toledo and the western spurs of the Serrania de Cuenca. It is bounded on the south by the Sierra Morena and on the north...
and other Spanish regions.
It did not fare as well in the United States, where it opened in 1949, as it had in Spain. In its American runs, it was whittled down to a more customary length of 107 minutes.