Notes on Spanish Cinema History

Key Figures in Spanish Cinema

• Pablito Calvo and Joselito:
  • Male child superstars of the 1950s, significant impact on the cinema with films such as Marcelino pan y vino and El pequeño ruiseñor.
  • Emergence of female counterparts like Marisol, Rocío Durcal, and Ana Belén in the 1960s.

Evolution of Spanish Cinema in the 1950s

• Continuity and Genre Exploitation:
  • The 1950s saw the continued popularity of genres from the previous decade.
• Neo-realism Influence:
  • Influenced by Italian neo-realism, Spanish films began adopting a more realistic aesthetic, exemplified by Saura's Los golfos (1959), which dealt with juvenile delinquency.
• Increased Foreign Involvement:
  • Spain became a preferred location for Hollywood productions, e.g., Alexander the Great (1956), Spartacus (1960), El Cid (1962).
• Censorship and Controversy:
  • Buñuel's Viridiana (1960/61) caused scandal after winning the Palme d'Or at Cannes, leading to its prohibition in Spain due to allegations of blasphemy.