This is a little budget flick with a very good main and support cast . In concerns the adventures and misfortunes a of Ferdinand (Juán Ribó) to penetrate into Castille territory to meet his cousin Elizabeth (Isabel Martin) , here as a disinherited farmer with whom he falls in love . How he saves her from her enemies who attempt to take away the throne of Castille from Elizabeth. How Ferdinand wins battles against the Castilean enemies, Marquis of Villena , and king Enrique IV . This costumer movie is based on facts , these are the following ones : When Isabel's father , John II of Castile , died ; Isabel's half-brother ascended to the throne as Henry IV (José Maria Rodero). When the King's wife , Joan of Portugal , was about to give birth to their daughter Joanna La Beltraneja , Isabella and her brother Alfonso were summoned to Segovia court to come under the direct supervision of the King . The noblemen, anxious for power , confronted King Henry , demanding that his younger half brother Infante Alfonso be named his successor . The nobles , now in control of Alfonso and claiming that he was the true heir, clashed with Henry's forces in Olmedo ; however , Alfonso died early and allegedly poisoned . Then , the nobles asked Isabella to take his place as champion of the rebellion . Isabella preferred a negotiated settlement to continuing the war . She met with Henry and, at Toros de Guisando, they reached a covenant : the war would stop , Henry would name Isabella his heir-presumptive instead of Joanna, and Isabella would not marry without Henry's consent but he would not be able to force her to marry against her will . Then , Diego Pacheco , the Marquis of Villena (Carlos Ballesteros) , and his followers maintained that Joanna , daughter of Henry IV, was the rightful queen . Shortly after the Marquis made his claim , a longtime supporter of Isabella , the Archbishop of Toledo left court to plot with his great-nephew the Marquis . The Archbishop and Marquis made plans to have the Infanta Joanna marry her uncle ; subsequently King Alfonso V of Portugal invades Castile to claim the throne for themselves . In May 1475, Alfonso and his army crossed into Spain and a long and bloody war for the Castilian succession then took place , such as : battle of Toro , Albuera and the decisive naval Battle of Guinea . It ended with a Castilian victory on land and a Portuguese victory on the sea . The four separate peace treaties signed at Alcáçovas (1479) reflected that result : Portugal gave up the throne of Castile in favour of Isabella in exchange for a very favourable share of the Atlantic territories disputed with Castile . Later on , Isabella had married Ferdinad of Aragon in 1469 , as their marriage became the basis for the political unification of Spain under their grandson , Holy Roman Emperor Charles V . This meant that the two powerful kingdoms of Castile and Aragon would now stand united . This well-known monarchs governed in domains where the sun never set . Free from inter-Christian war which had helped Granada survive , the kings carried out its conquest . The Granada War was a series of military campaigns between 1482 and 1492 .
This film recreates freely the historical facts about Isabel I of Castilla (Maribel Martin) , Fernando II of Aragon (Juán Ribó) and other characters as Marquis of Villena , Enrique IV , as well as essential happenings : Spain unification . The picture is filled with those lights and shadows , gathers such very important known events recreated in the artistic frames , characterized and inspired by the ideas of a new Spain . Although the story focuses on the famous romance -set in 1400's middle age Spain- between the ones how would later get married and become Elizabeth, Queen of Castille and Ferdinand, King of Aragon. As a couple, the "Catholic Kings" who eventually united the kingdoms into one that became known as Spain. The film to historical , artistic and cultural memory of an era , with a look back to the past , offering us a mediocre adaptation on important facts . This Espada Negra is an medium/low budget flick with a pretty good cast , though really wasted . Isabel Martin gives a middling character as stubborn and intelligent Isabel , she is well photographed throughout , though she dosen't make good use her big opportunity to really shine . And Juán Ribó is regular as astute and womanizer Fernando II who defends his heroine by using his magic and black sword . The support cast is frankly good , plenty of familiar faces such as José María Rodero as Enrique IV de Castilla who delivers an annoying and lousy acting in spite of considering to be one of the best stage players, Carlos Ballesteros as Marqués de Villena , José Bódalo as Alfonso Carrillo de Acuña, Arzobispo de Toledo , José Calvo , Miguel Narros , Terele Pávez , Josep Maria Pou , Simon Arriaga , Jose Manuel Martin , Yolanda Ríos , José Canalejas ,Francisco Merino , José Riesgo and several others .
The motion picture was regularly directed by Francisco Rovira Beleta , he was a splendid director and writer , especially known for Los Tarantos (1963), El Amor Brujo (1967) and Los Atracadores (1962). At his beginnings Rovira collaborated with the powerful production company CIFESA as assistant director to Luis Lucía and Juan Orduña . His film debut was ¨Doce Horas De Vida¨(1948) , and went on ¨39 Cartas Amor¨ and ¨Luna De Sangre¨ based on Fernan Caballero novel . His best movies were the prestigious neo-realist trilogy formed by ¨Hay Un Camino a La Derecha¨, ¨Expreso Andalucia¨ about the famous train robbery and this ¨Los Atracadores¨ (61) . His greatest successes were ¨Tarantos¨(1963) about Alfredo Mañas story and ¨Amor Brujo¨ based on Manuel De Falla music , both of them had nomination to American Academy Award . Subsequently , he directed some flops as ¨La Dama De Alba¨ about Alejandro Casona , ¨La Larga Agonía De Peces Fuera de Agua¨ realized in ¨Escuela Barcelona¨ style and ¨No Encontré Rosas Para Mi Madre¨ . Later on , Francisco made the historical production ¨La Espada Negra¨ (76) about R.R.C.C. and his last one was a Noir Film titled ¨Crónica Sentimental En Rojo¨ .
