The Cuenca Crime

This is a shocking and showy film by Pilar Miró , also the producer , she made it in 1979 , it was scripted by Lola Salvador Maldonado , who also narrates the facts in a book published with the same name . The movie was initially banned in Spain and the director subjected to military martial courts . It happens on 21 August 1910, in the small town of Osa de la Vega, in the province of Cuenca , Jose Maria Grimaldos (Guillermo Montesinos) , known as «El Cepa», is seen on the road to the nearby village of Tresjuncos and then disappears . His family and mother (Mary Carrillo) fears foul play and reports it to the Guardia Civil (rural police) his disappearance and accusing two countrymen . In the subsequent judicial investigation the family and others express their suspicions that two men , Gregorio Valero (Daniel Dicenta) and Leon Sanchez (José Manuel Cervino) had killed him for his money . This first case was closed by a judge (Nicolás Dueñas) in September 1911 with no convictions . In 1913 a new , stiff and overzealous judge named Isasa (Héctor Alterio) arrives . Influenced by the local conservative congressman (a despot representative well played by Fernando Rey) , Judge Isasa decides to reopen the case . The two suspects are arrested by the Guardia Civil and under torture, confess to having killed the man and destroyed the body . The district attorney asks for the death penalty for both . Finally , on 25 May 1918 a popular jury convicted the two men of murder and they are sentenced to 18 years in prison . After serving eleven years, they are released under a general pardon on 20 February 1924 . Two years later, in early 1926 , it is discovered by chance that the reputed victim, Grimaldos, «El Cepa», was alive and had been living in a nearby town . The ugly truth is thus revealed and the innocence of the convicted men becomes evident . With many legal difficulties, the case is reopened and eventually reached the Supreme Court, where the convictions were overturned .

Based on actual facts , writer Ramón J. Sender, wrote the novel ¨The Place of a Man¨ in 1939 and later , in 1979, Pilar Miro directed the movie based on the story , while screenwriter Maldonado published her book . The movie contains intense drama , thrills , chills , brutal tortures and portentous interpretations . It is an attack against torture with scenes being depicted in great detail and crudity , though it results to be shocking and excessive , displaying a detailed exploitation violence . It is understood that the crime in the title is committed by the Guardia Civil in torturing the suspects . The meticulous and brutality description of tortures causes the U.C.D. (Union Centro Democratico ) government scares itself and then puts the film under military authority , being censored and kidnapped for long time and subsequently , Pilar Miró is judged by a military court , originating a great impact , including protests , strikes and manifestations . Being only movie prohibited from the democracy's foundation and elimination censorship (1977) . Finally , it is premiered in 1981 and under the restrictive anagram ¨S¨, created for erotic and super-violent pictures . As only in August 1981 was the film allowed to be shown in Spain where it was a box office hit . Main cast is pretty good and support cast is frankly excellent , such as Amparo Soler Lear , Francisco Casares , Eduardo Calvo , José Vivó , Mercedes Sampietro , Félix Rotaeta , Francisco Merino , Francisco Guijar , Guillermo Montesinos and many others . Colorful and appropriate cinematography by prestigious cameraman Hans Burmann . Evocative and rustic musical score by Anton Garcia Abril .

This stagy motion picture entitled The Crime of Cuenca was professionally directed by Pilar Miro , though resulted to be some violent and shocking . In 1982 Pilar was designated General Director of Cinema and from 1986 to 1989 was Directora General De RTVE . She was an expert filmmaker of Television chapters and occasionally for cinema . At the beginning she collaborates in Manuel Summers' screenplays , such as ¨Niña De Luto¨and ¨Juego De Oca¨. Her fetish actress , and alter-ego , was Mercedes San Prieto , whom directed in ¨Gary Cooper Que Estas En Los Cielos¨ and ¨Pajaro De Felicidad¨ , among others . Her film debut was ¨La Petición¨ , getting some successes such as ¨Hablamos Esta Noche¨ , ¨The dog in the manger¨ or ¨El Perro del Hortelano¨, ¨Beltenebros¨ , ¨The bird of happiness¨ , ¨Werther¨ , ¨Tu Nombre Envenena Mis Sueños¨ based on Joaquin Leguina novel and especially this ¨The Cuenca crime¨ . This one resulted to be a hit smash and got a lot of money at the Spanish box office , thanks to good cast , adequate set production and enjoyable atmosphere . Rating : Acceptable and passable .