The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz
by Luis Bu?uel
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VHS Tape Cover Information
Actor: Ariadna Welter, Ernesto Alonso, Eva Calvo, Miroslava Stern, Rita MacedoDirector: Luis Bu?uel
Cinematographer: Agust?n Jim?nez
Writer: Luis Bu?uel
Editor: Jorge Bustos
Producer: Alfonso Pati?o G?mez
Producer: Roberto Figueroa
Writer: Eduardo Ugarte
Writer: Rodolfo Usigli
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Subtitled); Spanish (Original Language), Analog
Format: Black & White, Color, NTSC, Subtitled
Running Time: 89 minutes
Release Date: 1998-11-11
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Publisher: Water Bearer Films
Studio: Water Bearer Films
VHS Movie Reviews of The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz
Movie Review: Not all that glitters in Bu?uel is gold
Summary: 1 Stars
Adapted from a mediocre novel by Mexican playwright Rodolfo Usigli (gladly the only one he wrote) "Ensayo de un Crimen" gathers several of the worst cinematographic moments issued from such an uneven filmmaker as Luis Bu?uel. Its many clumsy aspects are generously distributed on all areas of its making: there is not a single actor that can deliver his/her lines without sounding like your average end-of-semester college play. The scenery and decor are elementary and full of anachronisms. To mention just one, in the initial flashback Archibaldo (as a young child) is playing in the 20's with a Lionel train from the 40-50's! Bu?uel's directing job is plainly bad, even if he tries to embellish it with a couple of his famous "oniric" sequences that just don't work here.
Maybe the worst part of all is the script. There's not a single line that doesn't sound corny and forced. Here's to those who watched the film with the benefit of translated subtitles or dubbed into a foreign language: I envy you. In Spanish, the dialogs are plainly awful.
However, the most remarkable feature is the enormous amount of praise this unholy stinker has received during its 50 years of existence! Undoubtedly this shows that to most moviegoers and critics -moviegoers of the Summa cum Laude species, I guess- suppose that the sole name of a famous filmmaker must mean you're watching a work of art.
To this I must add that practically none of the movies that Bu?uel filmed during his stay in Mexico is a true masterpiece. Even the celebrated "Los Olvidados" is sadly marred by an unabashed pamphlet scene extolling the social merits of the Juvenile Delinquent re-adaptation centers issued from the government of President C?rdenas. Maybe Bu?uel considered necessary giving a little lick to the hand that was feeding him at the moment...
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