Seeing Spain

Magnicidios Poe

January 2017 •Spanish

The sarcastic account of the assassination of five Spanish politicians between 1870 and 1973 is mixed with the narration of five short stories by Edgar Allan Poe illustrated by five skillful pencil artists. A documentary, a video essay, a collage, a provocative experiment where various pop culture figures and icons perform unexpected cameos. The macabre joke of a jester. Never more.

Champagne Safari

January 1954 •English

Travelogue/documentary follows newly married Rita Hayworth and Prince Aly Khan on their honeymoon trip through exotic locales.

Bienvenido Mr. Heston

November 2016 •Spanish

Spain, 1961. Life in the small village of Torrelobatón, in the province of Valladolid, was turned upside down when the cinematic magic circus of a future Hollywood blockbuster, produced by Samuel Bronston, the rogue mogul of his own film empire, came to town: its inhabitants became participants and witnesses of the shooting of “El Cid,” a film directed by Anthony Mann, starring mythical actors Charlton Heston and Sophia Loren. Those days, legends came alive.

Inverosímil Jardiel Poncela

December 2014 •Spanish

The Spanish author Enrique Jardiel Poncela (1901-1952) was one of the best comedy writers of all time, a novelist and newspaper columnist, misunderstood, even censored, both by the Second Republic government and Francoism, an outsider ahead of his time; also a filmmaker and screenwriter in Hollywood, architect of a revolutionary theatrical building and scenographer, cartoonist and illustrator. An implausible genius.

So I Sleepwalk in Broad Daylight

January 1994 •German

In Garcia Lorca's mother tongue, death is a woman: "la muerte". Daniel slips into the role of "death as a female" and speaks before a video camera on the life and death of the famous Spanish poet. Then the story begins.

El precio de la risa

September 2017 •Spanish

The life of Paco Martínez Soria (1902-1982), one of the most famous and beloved Spanish actors, both on stage and screen; a comedian, a theatrical producer, an idol for the masses. A celebration of the uncommon gift of making people laugh.

Storm

November 2021 •Spanish

No es una crisis

October 2013 •English

No es una crisis delves into a European capital experiencing crisis and resistance: Madrid, where the Internet user explores the double experiment that Spain has become today-- economic liberalism and new social, economic, and political practices driven by the citizens.

Italy's in Season

January 1967 •English

This short film presents a look at Italy's popular tourist spots.

Serene Siam

May 1937 •English

This travelogue begins at Bangkok's rail depot, a center of Indo-Chinese commerce. Next the narrator talks about Buddhism as the camera shows us some of Bangkok's many temples. Then, the narrator introduces us to the importance of traditional dance, with emphasis on the way that delicate wrist movements tell stories. It's on to the system of waterways in Bangkok, where more than 1,000,000 people live or conduct commerce. We take a ride down the Menam River, the country's most important commercial and social road. From our boat, we pass Wat Arun and other colorful signs of life typical in serene Siam.

Glimpses of Peru

September 1937 •English

This Traveltalk series short brings us to Lima, Peru where we see a modern city.

Chile, Land of Charm

October 1937 •English

This documentary short features Chile's history, culture, and customs.

Rocky Mountain Grandeur

June 1937 •English

This Traveltalk short visits Rocky Mountain National Park and a nearby dude ranch in Colorado.

Copenhagen

November 1937 •English

This Traveltalk series short visits Copenhagen.

Amalfi Way

January 1955 •English

This short film takes a look at the sights, sounds, and customs along Italy's Amalfi Coast.

Season in Tyrol

June 1969 •English

A short look at various seasonal activities offered in the Tyrol region of Austria.

Ruins of Delhi

April 1910 •English

Attractive travelogue filmed in and around Delhi's Qutb complex.

Villenour (French India: Territory of Pondicherry)

February 1914 •

Gorgeously dreamlike colour images of (then) French India – present-day Puducherry.

Las locuras de don Quijote

October 2006 •Spanish

An epic journey through Don Quixote's troubled mind, from which five paths to the unknown are opened: to reason, to freedom, to love, to friendship, to adventure; although only three destinations await at the end of an imaginary and audacious existence: the narrative of the adventurous life of Cervantes; the survival of a legendary novel in these heathen times, when the one-armed gentleman is nothing but dust and bones; the memory of the living, writers and scholars, where both the tormented captive and the insane hero, are immortals beings and will be forever.

Cavalcade of San Francisco

September 1940 •English

This Traveltalk series short celebrates San Francisco, past and present.