National Heritage

1981 1h 52m ES

👍

7.1

SOLID

★7.1TMDB · 28

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After the death of General Franco, the Leguineche family leaves their estate of Los Tejadillos, where they have remained for decades in voluntary exile, with the purpose of returning to Madrid to actively participate in the social events of the aristocracy and to get closer to the closest circle of the Spanish monarch. The obsession of the old marquis is centered on getting in touch with the most illustrious surnames, to ascend socially and to resume the pomp and courtly life that his family lost a long time ago. To this end, he decides to move into an old palace he owns, located in the center of the capital, but not before overcoming the difficulties posed by his wife, who deeply hates both her husband and her son. To regain control of the palace, the Marquis of Leguineche tries to handicap his wife, arguing an incurable mental illness, and then undertake a reform of the place in order to adapt it to aristocratic life.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Agustín González
Padre Calvo
Luis Escobar
Marqués de Leguineche
Luis Ciges
Segundo
José Luis López Vázquez
Luis José
Amparo Soler Leal
Chus
Alfredo Mayo
Nacho
José Lifante
Goyo
Mary Santpere
Condesa

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Luis García Berlanga
Writers: Luis García Berlanga, Rafael Azcona
Languages: Spanish
Countries: Spain

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 7

ERA

Did you know

45 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 7

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "The National Shotgun Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Luis García Berlanga, shot by Carlos Suárez. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 7

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor José Luis Matesanz shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 7

CAST

Did you know

Agustín González and Luis Escobar and Luis Ciges carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 7

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0082888 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 7

WILD

Did you know

Only 28 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Luis García Berlanga directs. Carlos Suárez behind the camera. José Luis Matesanz cuts. Produced in Spain. Dialogue in Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

145 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Part of the "The National Shotgun Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Luis García Berlanga, shot by Carlos Suárez. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Editor José Luis Matesanz shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Agustín González and Luis Escobar and Luis Ciges carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt0082888 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Only 28 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.