Bullfighter and the Lady (1951)

Director:

Budd Boetticher

Writers:

Budd Boetticher (story)
James Edward Grant (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 April 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

The Most DANGEROUS Game On Earth ! (original one-sheet poster)

Plot:

Johnny Regan, a U.S. citizen, goes to Mexico and takes up bullfighting as a lark, hoping to impress a Mexican beauty...

Plot Keywords:

Matador | Mexico | Bullfighting | Policia | Tradition

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

Robert Stack	...	Johnny Regan
Joy Page	...	Anita de la Vega
Gilbert Roland	...	Manolo Estrada
Virginia Grey	...	Lisbeth Flood
John Hubbard	...	Barney Flood
Katy Jurado	...	Chelo Estrada
Antonio Gomez	...	Antonio Gómez
Ismael Pérez	...	Panchito
Rodolfo Acosta	...	Juan
Ruben Padilla	...	Dr. Sierra
Darío Ramírez	...	Pepe Mora
Luis Briones	...	Himself, Torero
Luís Castro	...	Himself, Torero
Ricardo Torres 'Bombita'	...	Himself, Torero (archive footage)
Alfonso Ramírez Calesero	...	Himself, Torero

Also Known As:

Torero (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

87 min | USA:124 min (restored version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #15066) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company:

Republic Pictures

Trivia:

The scenes of Robert Stack showing Gilbert Roland how to skeet shoot parallel true life. In collage Stack was not interested in team sports, so he took up skeet shooting. In 1935, he came in 2nd in the National Skeet Shooting Championship (held in Cleveland), and in 1936 his 5-man team broke the standing record at the National Skeet Championships (held in St. Louis). In 1937, Robert Stack was the U.S. 20-gauge champion skeet marksman, and held the record for more than 350 consecutive hits. He also served as a gunnery officer in the U.S. Navy for more than three years during World War II and among other decorations, was awarded the 'Expert Rifle Ribbon', and 'Expert Pistol Ribbon'.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Cielo Andaluz

Good on the Corrida

I was surprised by this one. It is an excellent introduction to La Fiesta Brava, showing, for example, many versions of the Veronica as performed by the best Mexican matadors of the late 40s. Luis Procuna, Alfredo Leal, Silverio Perez and the great Carlos Arruza are absentees. Stack, apparently, mastered enough of the technique to perform ably with a heifer -- and that itself is not easy. The background of the corrida -- particularly the tienta (or testing) -- is well documented and the vast Plaza Mexico appears with dramatic effect -- both filled and totally empty. Some of the b/w sequences in the bullring are breathtaking. The problem with the film is Stack's character, who behaves very badly very consistently and really does not seem to learn from his vivid errors. Furthermore, he makes no effort to master even the rudiments of Spanish. Otherwise, the film is compelling. I also recommend the Azteca film of about the same period, "Torero," a documentary about Luis Procuna, starring Procuna. He does not need a stand-in. As an introduction to bullfighting that does not show much of the picing or the actual kill, I recommend "Bullfighter/Lady."