Republican Spain - films

Subject: Republican Spain - films
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 14 Dec 13 - 02:51 PM

There are a number of Mudcat threads on songs of the Spanish Civil War, but a recent DVD release containing 2 Republican propaganda
films prompts this thread.

The best known of the films is THE SPANISH EARTH - notable for
direction by Joris Ivens, score by Marc Blitzstein, and narration
bu Orson Welles OR Ernest Hemingway (2 versions). The film
has been available on DVD from a number of sources, at least one
features both sound tracks, user selectable.

The two recently available short films are:
SPANISH ABC (1938) 20min Education in Republican Spain
BEHIND THE SPANISH LINES 20min Spanish refugee children in UK

Both are included as 'extras' in the UK release of the British
version of GASLIGHT (1940, Thorold Dickinson; with Anton Walbrook
and Diana Wynyard)
British Film Institute BFIB1168 DVD and BLU-RAY.

NOTE: these disks are REGION 2 and ZONE B encoded, so if you are
outside Europe, you need to have a multi region player.

What other films of the Republic are available? Thanks.

Best wishes, Thomas.

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Dec 13 - 11:41 AM

Worth a look
http://comeheretome.com/2013/12/06/even-the-olives-are-bleeding-1976-documentary/

Can anybody remind me?
Many years ago I read a remarkable book of essays by a Canadian doctor (Norman ... ?) in which he described volunteers queuing up to donate blood following the bombing of Madrid
It also includes a chapter on the Chinese Long March.
Can't remember the title but I would love to re-read it.
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 15 Dec 13 - 01:56 PM

There's the more recent "The Good Fight: The Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War."

Also, not documentaries but interesting feature films that depict life during the war: Ken Loach's "Land and Freedom" and Hollywood's "Hemingway & Gellhorn."

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 16 Dec 13 - 11:36 AM

YouTube hyas a lot of videos about the Spanish Civil War including THE SPANISH EARTH Here is a link
THE SPANISH EARTH
THE GOOD FIGHT is also on Youtube spread over twelve videos Here is a link to video number one
THE GOOD FIGHT

Jim, I think the man who developed blood transfusion during the Spanish Civil War was Norman Bethune. YouTube has a number of videos about him Here is a link from which they can be reached
Norman Bethune

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 16 Dec 13 - 12:01 PM

Thanks Geoff - the very man.
The book was 'The Scalpel and the Sword' - still available, I'm delighted to find.

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 16 Dec 13 - 02:42 PM

Thanks Jim & Geoff.

Are there additional films made DURING the civil war which are
available ??

There seem to be a great many films which use the war as a backdrop.
I saw DEVIL'S BACKBONE some years back but didn't feel a strong
importance of that particular war... What do others think?

Another film which I thought had a strong emotional impact AND raised
many questions was LA GUERRE EST FINIE (Alain Resnais, 1966). I don't
see it listed in some of the lists of Spanish Civil War related films - did partisans have issues with it?

Best wishes, Thomas.

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 10 Feb 14 - 06:56 PM

another recent UK DVD release, peripheral to Spain:

THE MAN FROM MOROCCO (1945, Associated British. Anton Walbrook,
Margaretta Scott)
"...a dispirited band of volunteers from the International Brigades
seeks refuge in France. But on reaching the frontier the band is
disarmed, and all are detained as political prisoners. Then come
instructions from Vichy that all fit prisoners are to be sent to
Morocco to work on the Sahara railway for the Germans. However, one
man manages to escape to London with vital information vital for the Allies."

Region 2, requires multi-region player outside Europe.

Best wishes, Thomas.

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: Bainbo
Date: 11 Feb 14 - 03:59 PM

For an impression of how family life was lived during the Civil War, away from the politics and the front line, try Las Bicicletas Son Para El Verano

It's a family drama, set in Madrid, and shows how thw war affected ordinary people. As in most conflicts, I suspect, life goes on, and people try to cope, because they have no alternative.

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 01:47 PM

I see only a Spanish DVD (no English subtitles) DVD of Las Bicicletas.. ??
Anyone know where to get one with English subtitles???
Thanks! Thomas.

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: Mark Ross
Date: 12 Feb 14 - 05:48 PM

LAND & FREEDOM. Ken Loach. Ayoung Englishman goes to Spain the fight with the Loyalist militia. Great film!

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 05 Dec 14 - 04:50 PM

There is COLOR film made during the Spanish civil war photographed by RUSSELL PALMER - a pro-Franco view. Edited and released by Palmer
as "DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH" circa 1940, shortly before his death.
ALBA website (Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archive) mentions this film: http://www.albavolunteer.org/2011/11/pro-franco-propaganda-in-the-us-russell-palmer/
It was available on DVD in the UK, issued 2006 by DD Home Entertainment D23876. The disc contained as "extras" a 52 minute
worn print of THE SPANISH EARTH and 20minutes of Palmer silent film with inter-title narrative.

Concerning THE SPANISH EARTH - mentioned above, the DVD release
which has BOTH the HEMINGWAY and ORSON WELLES narration was released
by SLINGSHOT, apparently no longer available.
There is a 5-dvd collection of Joris Ivens films which contains SPANISH EARTH. DOES ANYONE KINW if that release contains the Orson Wells narration, or only the Hemingway version?????
The titles for Spanish Earth indicate it was distributed by PROMETHEUS PICTURES, 1600 Broadway, NY. This address was was honeycombed office building, but also the home of TIMELY and GENERAL Record companies, and REEVES SOUND. Anyone know something of
PROMETHEUS PICTURES ???
Thanks!
Best wishes, Thomas.

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: Mark Ross
Date: 06 Dec 14 - 02:14 AM

PAN'S LABYRINTH directed by Guillermo Del Toro. and of course FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS, based on the Hemingway novel.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 06 Dec 14 - 05:56 AM

¡Ay Carmela! - a 1990 film directed by Carlos Saura, based on a play by José Sanchís Sinisterra, about a trio of travelling performers, and featuring a song by the same name which uses a much older folk tune.

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 06 Dec 14 - 06:10 AM

There are lots of versions of the song on YouTube. Here is one:
¡Ay Carmela!

Subject: RE: Republican Spain - films
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 20 Apr 15 - 06:25 PM

a couple more Spanish civil war related films on DVD:


ESPOIR-Sierra de Teruel
filmed in 1938, released 1945
written/directed by Andre MALRAUX
Les Documents Cinematagraphiques-Collection Classique EDV 347
DVD 2003 UPC 3 760024 550147
Region 0, PAL DVD.


CAROL's JOURNEY (2002)
D: Imanol Uribe
Film Movement Year 2 Film 2 DVD 2006

"Spanish director Imanol Uribe examines social upheaval as it relates to a young prepubescent's life in his 2002 coming-of-age tale Carol's Journey. Twelve-year-old Carol (Clara Lago) is accompanying her mother Aurora (Maria Barranco) to Spain to visit her mother's native village as the Civil War is tearing the nation apart. Carol's life is an emotional roller coaster, as her American-born father -- with whom she is extremely close -- has been away for quite some time, serving as a pilot in the International Brigades. Furthermore, Aurora recently received a terminal diagnosis for the illness she has been battling and could die at any moment. As Carol struggles with these issues as well as the acceptance of the new environment she has been cast into, she gains perspective from her gentle grandfather Amalio (Alvaro de Luna) and the village teacher Maruja (Rosa Maria Sarda), as well as an unexpected first love with local boy Tomiche (Juan Jose Ballesta). Adapted from Angel Garcia Roldan's novel A boca de noche, Carol's Journey was an official selection to the 2002 Montreal World Film Festival. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Berlin International Film Festival, Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain, Goya Awards, Montreal World Film Festival, ...Carol's Journey ( El Viaje De Carol ) "


Best wishes, Thomas.