This one concerns the tragic rise and fall of Juan Gallardo (Christopher Rydell of short career , son of notorious filmmaker Mark Rydell) and the women he loved , inside and outside of the bullfighters ring . This yarn talks about a sender labourer who wishes to achieve a big hit as a matador . Along the way he finds distresses , penury , great successes and a Femme Fatale . In spite of opposition his mother (Margarita Cahorra) Juan wants to be Torero and escapes with his friend Chiripa (Antonio Flores) who dies by a ¨Cornada¨ or goring . He meets the attractive aristocrat Doña Sol (Sharon Stone) , half Spanish, half American , but he marries his bride Carmen (Ana Torrent) . Juan on the verge of super-stardom risks it all when he falls under the spell of a seductive woman , forsaking his first love . Later on , bullfighter Gallardo celebrates triumphs but leaves his wife and falls for his lover , Doña Sol , turning from the faithful Carmen who nevertheless stands by her man , as he continues to face real danger in the bullring. He , then , risks and destroys his one opportunity for fame when Doña Sol lets him down.
Spectacular film plenty of drama , passion , bullfighting , a triangular love story and eroticism . Written by prestigious Rafael Azcona and Ricardo Franco , the latter being the original director to shoot this film , though he was turned down . The film gives a real description about ¨Bullfighting art¨ with a veritable explosion of color and spectacle , as the bull is released into the ring , where he is tested for ferocity by the matador and Banderilleros with the magenta and gold Capote . Uneven film with average acting and including strong love scenes . As Christopher Rydell gives a mediocre performance as the matador becomes famous and then falls for a socialite and he is torn between two woman . Passable acting by Sharon Stone , two years earlier becoming famous with ¨Basic instinct¨ (92) by Paul Verhoeven , here she delivers enough sexiness and seductiveness , and of course a so-so interpretation . Support cast is pretty good , such as : Simón Andreu as brother-in-law , Guillermo Montesinos , Margarita Calahorra , Albert Vidal , Antonio Flores , José Luis Vilallonga , Daniel Martin , Luis Barboo , Tony Fuentes , José Maria Caffarel , and Aldo Sambrell . Well produced by José Frade to pay tribute his fifty film , as he financed this his last and ordinary remake , in which stands out the erotic scenes . The motion picture was regularly directed by Javier Elorrieta . It obtained success at the Spanish box office , though no abroad , and being panned by the reviewers .
The homonymous novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez , about illiterate Juan Gallardo who rises meteorically to fame and fortune in the bullfight arena only to sow the seeds of his own fall , has been adapted several times : 1916 silent first rendition by the same author Vicente Blasco assisted by cinema pioneer Ricardo Baños . 1922 recounting by Fred Niblo with Rudolph Valentino , Nina Naldi , this film made Rodolfo a star who catapulted him to stardom . A silent comical parody title ¨Bull and sand¨ (1924) by Mack Sennett . 1942 by Robert Mamoulian with Tyrone Power , Linda Darnell , Anthony Quinn and standing out Rita Hayworth , primarily for her dancing and acting ; this film is considered to be the best one , including the new brilliant Technicolor technique . This hit led to a Mexican Parody ¨Ni Sangre Ni Arena¨ by Alejandro Casona with Cantinflas . These films are interesting for people who actually enjoy the 'art of bullfighting' .
