The Brave Bulls *** (1951, Mel Ferrer, Miroslava, Anthony Quinn) – Classic Movie Review 6353

Director Robert Rossen’s intriguing 1951 made-in-Mexico romantic bullfight drama stars Mel Ferrer as matador Luis Bello, who is knee deep in devastating troubles.

First he loses his confidence in the bull ring, after he nearly dies of his injuries because of a bull. But his manager Raul Fuentes (Anthony Quinn) pushes him to stay on as a matador.

[Spoiler alert] Then Luis falls for Raul’s girlfriend Linda de Calderon (Miroslava [Sternova]). And then he loses both Linda and Raul in a car crash. But then he decides he has to appear in the ring one more time to support the debut there of his kid brother Pepe (Eugene Iglesias).

Though neither Ferrer nor the story based on the novel by Tom Lea is quite compulsive enough, director Rossen and ace cinematographers James Wong Howe and Floyd Crosby keep the movie atmospheric, sweaty and dangerous. Also Quinn is at his best, and it is all backed up by a superb production.

Also in the cast are José Torvay, Charlita, Jose Luis Vasquez, Alfonso Alvirez, Alfredo Aguilar, Felipe Mota, Pepe Lopez, Jose Meza, Francisco Balderas, Vicente Cârdenas, Manuel Orozco, Estive Domînguez, Siviano Sânchez, Francisco Reiguera, Eduardo Arozamena, Luis Cornoa and Esther Laquin.

It is written by John Bright, scored by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and designed by Cary Odell.

Rossen offered the part of Raul to Marlon Brando, who said: ‘Offer the role to Anthony Quinn. He wants to be me, anyway.’  They played in Viva Zapata! (1952) together.

Texas artist Tom Lea also wrote the source novel for The Wonderful Country (1959).

Miroslava (1925–1955).

Prague-born Miroslava committed suicide by poison, apparently because of being deceived in love, on 9 March 1955, aged 30, just after making her greatest triumph, The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6353

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