Post by dale on Dec 24, 2007 14:26:30 GMT -5
Not a subject for everyone, admittedly, but some interesting trivia here.
1. The Tyrone Power version of Blood & Sand was not filmed in Spain, but in Mexico and in Hollywood. The bullfighting scenes took place in the old El Toreo bullring in Mexico City. The Tyrone Power standin was a top Mexican matador, Fermin Espinosa "Armillita" and I met him in the 1970s when he came to Nogales with hsi sons, who were bullfighters themselves. Arnmillita actually did look a little like Power.
2. The bullfight music played in the above film is a dead giveaway that the bullfighting scenes are shot in Mexico and not Spain, as these are Mexican songs being played (Canero, Armillita and Novillero)
3. Vicente Blasco Ibanez, who wrote the book, intended to write an anti-bullfighting novel, but the book had reverse effect and actuially made bullfighting more of a curiousity world wide.
4. Juan Gallardo, the star matador of the film and book, is a composite made up of several bullfighters. The way he dies is based ont he real life fatal goring of Espartero in Madrid, the shooting at the bull's head was actually based on a matador named Lagartijo (thiough a footnote in the original book mistakenly attributes this to Frascuelo, his rival). Lagartijo had an extremely difficult time with oen bull and for some reason had the dead beast's head mouiunted. Later, in retirement, he would come home drunk and hit it with his cane.) There was never really any Juan Gallardo killed in the ring. An Antonio Gallardo died in mexico from a goring in the chest, but thios was long after the book was written and a picador named Manuel Gallardo died in Valencia long before the book was written.
5. V B Ibanez was a member of the Masons and when Franco took power in Spain he banned the fraternity, there being tremendous friction between the Masons and the Catholic church at the time. He actually ordered the masonic emblem of the square and compass chiseled off the stones of various Spanish celebrities. Now, over 30 years after Franco's death, the lodges has come back and the masonic lodge in Valencia, where Ibanez was from, now carries his name. Logia Masonica Vicente Blasco Ibanez.
6. Natalio Curro, the fat/dishonest bullfight critic, does not exist in the book, but the part played by Laird Cregard (spelling) stole the show in the Power version of the movie. On the set. rumors spread the Laird was gay, which he evidently was not. In a huff, he gathered the cast around and feigning anger said "There has been a rumor started that I am queer. I want you all to know...I AM!" After shock value wore off, people realized it was a joke, or at elast I think it was.
7. Some of the footage of Armillita in the blue and gold costume where he fights in the ring also makes it into the film The Snows Of Kilamanjaro.
1. The Tyrone Power version of Blood & Sand was not filmed in Spain, but in Mexico and in Hollywood. The bullfighting scenes took place in the old El Toreo bullring in Mexico City. The Tyrone Power standin was a top Mexican matador, Fermin Espinosa "Armillita" and I met him in the 1970s when he came to Nogales with hsi sons, who were bullfighters themselves. Arnmillita actually did look a little like Power.
2. The bullfight music played in the above film is a dead giveaway that the bullfighting scenes are shot in Mexico and not Spain, as these are Mexican songs being played (Canero, Armillita and Novillero)
3. Vicente Blasco Ibanez, who wrote the book, intended to write an anti-bullfighting novel, but the book had reverse effect and actuially made bullfighting more of a curiousity world wide.
4. Juan Gallardo, the star matador of the film and book, is a composite made up of several bullfighters. The way he dies is based ont he real life fatal goring of Espartero in Madrid, the shooting at the bull's head was actually based on a matador named Lagartijo (thiough a footnote in the original book mistakenly attributes this to Frascuelo, his rival). Lagartijo had an extremely difficult time with oen bull and for some reason had the dead beast's head mouiunted. Later, in retirement, he would come home drunk and hit it with his cane.) There was never really any Juan Gallardo killed in the ring. An Antonio Gallardo died in mexico from a goring in the chest, but thios was long after the book was written and a picador named Manuel Gallardo died in Valencia long before the book was written.
5. V B Ibanez was a member of the Masons and when Franco took power in Spain he banned the fraternity, there being tremendous friction between the Masons and the Catholic church at the time. He actually ordered the masonic emblem of the square and compass chiseled off the stones of various Spanish celebrities. Now, over 30 years after Franco's death, the lodges has come back and the masonic lodge in Valencia, where Ibanez was from, now carries his name. Logia Masonica Vicente Blasco Ibanez.
6. Natalio Curro, the fat/dishonest bullfight critic, does not exist in the book, but the part played by Laird Cregard (spelling) stole the show in the Power version of the movie. On the set. rumors spread the Laird was gay, which he evidently was not. In a huff, he gathered the cast around and feigning anger said "There has been a rumor started that I am queer. I want you all to know...I AM!" After shock value wore off, people realized it was a joke, or at elast I think it was.
7. Some of the footage of Armillita in the blue and gold costume where he fights in the ring also makes it into the film The Snows Of Kilamanjaro.