Film fans: How Spain’s Castilla y Leon became the location for some of the greatest movies ever
FILM buffs should head to Castilla y Leon this summer for a series of talks about how the region became the chosen location for some
Sitges: the Hollywood Catalan
SITGES is one of those towns that invite you to make films and, in fact, stars such as Errol Flynn have filmed there. On 22
Richard Lester, with a Little Help from his Friends
Although he is probably best known for A Hard Day’s Night and his contribution to the Superman films, Richard Lester made seven movies in Spain,
Sir Alec Guinness in Spain
The TV film Monsignor Quixote was Alec Guinness’s last Spanish movie, and the only one in fact about Spain. Monsignor Quixote is a novel by
Movies Made in Spain Quiz
If like me you like history and the cinema, and you love Spain, you might like to try this little quiz. To check if your
Dead Famous in Silver Screen Spain
Spain is truly the European Hollywood, with over 900 English language films shot here over the years, many of them epics such as Doctor Zhivago,
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Stephen Spielberg was influenced as a student by David Lean, who directed most of ‘Doctor Zhivago’ and a great part of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ in
San Sebastian: Bombs and Eggs. 22nd-23rd July
San Sebastian wasn’t originally on our agenda, but we were tired of the meseta heat and treated ourselves to a bit of Cantabrian coast with
The Last Day: 24th July
In Remember Me (2019) Bruce Dern fakes Alzheimer’s to get into a residence where an old flame is suffering the real thing. Filming took place
Oliver’s Army (and Patton’s Too) 21st July Urbasa
Urbasa is an open, green space in the north of Navarre, where many film makers have taken advantage of the lush greenery and the abundance
The Good, the Bad and the Thelma July 20th
Finally we realised an old ambition, to visit the Sad Hill cemetery, where the final shoot-out takes place in The Good, the Bad and the
19th July Ampudia and El Cid (1961)
In the Samuel Bronston epic El Cid fights for a Spain in which Moors and Christians can fight (sorry live) together in harmony. In reality
ASTURIAS, My Country: 14-17th July
The church of Niembro has been used for many Spanish films and two English language films, and its location on the ría (a tidal river)
Cantabria Can: 13th July
As I was saying, the owner of the hotel in Las Fraguas gave us some good information, and the next day we went in search
The Others (2001): Us and Them July 12th
It’s not unusual that a film by one of Spain’s top directors, Alejandro Almenábar, should be filmed in Spain; what is unusual is that it
July 11th: Stewart Granger and Serious Sausage
Fine Gold (1989) is a strange film, and one aimed at showcasing Rioja wine more than anything else, although it does include a 74 year
July 10th: The King and I
I’m not especially hostile to monarchy per se, but when King Felipe VI’s visit to Haro coincided with mine, it was inevitable that if either
July 9th: Terminator Versus Bambi
Today was a white line day; hundreds of kilometres on the road and not much to show for it, unless you consider killing a baby
Thelma and Louise on the road (finally!) 8th July 2020
Thelma arrived at an unusually deserted Alicante airport and we were off on the road to Cuenca for the first day of our odyssey, promoting
A Tale of Two Pueblos
“During my 40 years in Spain, I have always found that the best thing about this country are its villages (pueblos) and its people (pueblo).
Doctor Zhivago: from Siberia to Soria
Arnold Schwarzenegger first came to our attention as Conan the Barbarian, a film made in 1981 in various parts of Spain. Decades later Arnold returned
Gaudí in the Cinema
When is a castle not a castle? When it’s a park, obviously! Barcelona doesn’t exactly spring to mind as the setting for The Castle of
A Spanish Tale of Two Hepburns (on the road again with Thelma)
Two mythical maidens have made movies in Spain, and they both went by the name of Hepburn, although they were unrelated. Katherine Hepburn, who out-acted
Back to the Future: Relocation
They say that history has a way of repeating itself, and film locations certainly prove the point. One of the films that had a big
HOLLYWOOD ADORES THE PARADORS
I have stayed at four Paradors so far, never as a paying guest but always invited to give a conference. However, I suspect that on
Silver Screen Spain Road Trip, July 2020
In July 2020 Thelma and I will undertake our second road trip, leaving Valencia on the 9th and visiting a number of important cinema locations.