A soldier (Gila) from the tank regiment needs a permit to go to his village to meet his newborn son and his wife (Licia Calderón who married Jesús Puente , here playing a sergeant intructor). He is not going to find it easy at all, provoking absurd situations starring the legendary humorist Miguel Gila.
Nice Spanish film, to the greater glory of Gila, one of the best comedians that Spain has produced, but who was not very successful in the cinema, something that, seeing this great work of his, is strange. ¨El hombre que viajaba despacito or the man who traveled slowly" forms with the previous "Fulano y Mengano" and the later " El hombre con el paraguas blanco or The man with the white umbrella" the humanist and poetic-comic triptych that determines an interlude in the career of the solid director Joaquín Luis Romero Marchent, inserted in his very notorious and commendable specialization in the western genre. Absolute starring is Gila as a soldier who attempts to get out of compulsory military service to go to his hometown to visit his newborn baby, easier said than done . It is an estimable film , somewhat irregular in rhythm but with attractive moments in terms of fun. Scenes like the theoretical exam in the military, or the two card games, one in a village bar and the other on the train, will be remembered for a lifetime for their agreeable comedy. All of this is helped by the professional direction of Joaquín Luis Romero Marchent, who shows us a unique character, with a special idiosyncrasy that makes him be adored without remedy; however , resulting in uneven comedy with its ups and downs
Pleasant presence of the 'cream of the cream' Spanish interpreters at the time. In fact , the main entertainment turns out to be guessing which notorious supporting actor will appear next, which includes the following : Licia Calderón , Julio Riscal , Roberto Camardiel , Francisco Bernal , Tota Alba , José Sepulveda , Xan das Bolas , José Prada , Jesús Guzmán , Rafael Albaicín , Manuel Zarzo , Ángel Álvarez , Carmen Porcel , Rufino Inglés , Rafael Hernández and Carlos Romero Marchent who often plays films of his brothers Rafael and Joaquin Romero Marchent .
Very good black and white photography by Godofredo Pacheco , along with atmospheric musical score by famous Jesus Franco or Tio Jess . The motion picture was middlingly directed and in traditional style by Joaquin Luis Romero Marchent (1921-2012) . Joaquin's direction is regularly crafted , here he's more cynical and humorous and less inclined toward violence and packing social habits . Marchent is an expert writer and director of good Western . Marchent films would set a new bold standard for on-screen Almeria Westerns and establish him as one of the most influential Spanish directors of the Paella/Spaghetti sub-genre and quickly became the more prolific filmmakers in the genre . His first film was ¨El Coyote¨ and the sequel titled ¨Revenge of Coyote¨ shot in Mexico . After that , he filmed ¨The shadow of Zorro¨ and ¨Revenge of Zorro¨. He went go directing Western as ¨ Riding to death ¨ , ¨Adventures in the West¨ , ¨Three good men¨, ¨Sabor Venganza ¨ , ¨Fedra West¨ and the most popular and violent ¨Condenados a Vivir¨ . Plus , he wrote for his brother Rafael Romero Marchent the following Westerns : ¨Manos Torpes¨, ¨Ocaso Un Pistolero¨ and ¨Garringo¨ and his greatest hit was "Cut-Throats Nine" or ¨Condenados a Vivir¨ that brought an entirely new level of stylization with the genre , this ultra-violent masterpiece not only signaled a move toward an even grittier and more nihilistic brand of Western . In this enjoyable but non-notable flick there's too much silly incidents , amusing comedy and enough excitement . Rating : 5.5/10 , acceptable and passable , it has some entertaining moments . Only for Gila fans and Joaquín Luis Romero Marchent completists .
