A SPANISH AFFAIR

US, 1958, 93 minutes, Colour.
Richard Kiley, Carmen Sevilla.
Directed by Donald Siegel and Luis Marquina.

A Spanish Affair is a small-budget entertainment of the late '50s. It is not exactly gripping entertainment for contemporary audiences. The plot is basic: an American architect comes to Spain, falls in love with his interpreter, travels the countryside with her to persuade businessmen to accept his architectural plans, is pursued by her gypsy lover and there is a final confrontation before a happy ending. There is a lot of attractive colour photography of Madrid, Barcelona and other cities, as well as the Spanish countryside. Many Spanish rituals and customs are presented, from bull-training to city dances in Barcelona.

The film is of historic interest because of its direction by Donald Siegel. Siegel had made a number of brisk thrillers in the early '50s and had just made the classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers. He was to move on to such films as The Line-Up?, Edge of Eternity, Hell is for Heroes, before moving into bigger budget and greater reputation with The Killers and then his Clint Eastwood films in the '70s.

This film, however, is very routine material and does not suggest the style of other Siegel films. It would seem that he and star, singer Richard Kiley, were enjoying the opportunity for working in Spain. There is an atmospheric musical score by Daniele Amfitheatrof.

A postscript and curious note on the career of Siegel.