Also Directed by Javier Setó
Also released as Valley of the Swords, this lugubrious US/Spanish co-production features the usual mid-1960s "tax shelter" international cast. Broderick Crawford plays a despotic 10th century Spanish king who, in cahoots with the invading Moors, has banished handsome Castilian nobleman Spartaco Santoni. With the surreptitious aid of Crawford's daughter Teresa Velasquez, Santoni assembles an army to march against the Moors. In keeping with the 13th century epic poem from which this film was derived ("El Poema de Fernan Gonzales") Santoni's path is smoothed by the celestial intervention of patron saints Milan and Santiago. Among the big names picking up a few tax-free dollars in The Castilian are Cesar Romero, Linda Darnell, Alida Valli and Fernando Rey.
The film begins when a stranger arrives in town. He takes quickly to his former mistress, Denise, who is happily married to John, and has an affair with his identiske twin brother Peter. They plan together to drive John crazy. After unsuccessful attempts to blackmail the couple receive the stranger, Gert, to help them with their evil plan.
Two adventurers without economic resources create an amateur theater company and want to succeed, posing as aristocrats. The project aims to fill the theater with their performances and, thus, to satisfy their debts.
Pablo is in love with Dominique, whom he wants to marry. The girl leads them to a cemetery, where she convinces Pablo that should either of them die, the other will return and help them prepare for the afterlife. She leaves Madrid on a vacation in Bretagna, and dies en route. Pablo receives a call the next day. It is Dominique.
Some urchins simulate an accident and steal a wallet. To their surprise, it turns out to be that of the famous footballer Alfredo Di Stefano, popularly known as "La Saeta Rubia". Driven by the admiration for their idol, the urchins decide to return it. At this time, Di Stefano and his wife establish a great friendship with the guys and project together the creation of the football team "Saeta".
A collection of five episodes dealing with aging women.
