Summary: Documentary narrating the story of the Spanish Civil War and its effect on modern Spain.
Description: This documentary begins with Madrid in the early years of the century still governed by a monarchy that was the "focus for all the traditional forces of Spanish power". Discontent over this produced de Ravira's dictatorship 1923-9. Alfonso XIII's abdication of 1931 cleared the path for a period of liberal, republican democracy. As this regime became increasingly despised so street violence spread. There is some good film material from this period. The major events of the 1936-9 Civil War are dealt with, including the capture of Seville in 1936, the battles for Toledo and Madrid, the bombing of Guernica, German, Italian and Russian involvement, the final Republican Offensive of 1938. There is interesting film of life inside Republican Madrid and the refugee flight into France in the winter of 1938/9. Some of the more superficial consequences of the Civil War are mentioned, also Spain's isolation in the 1940s and rapprochement with the West in the 1950s and 60s. "Out of catastrophe Franco has brought concrete". No credits are given as to where all the film material for this documentary came from.
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:
Object_Number:MGH 725
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:
Production Date:1970
Production Country: GB
Production Details: BBC Television (Production company)
Denny, Therese (Production individual)
Colina, James (Production individual)
McWatt, John (Production individual)
Morcom, Stanley (Production individual)
Morris, James19081989War artist record: Second World War
1944 Independent submissions to the War Artists Advisory Committee
1945, 1946 Specially employed by the War Artists Advisory Committee on a salaried or equivalent basis, for successive periods and over a number of years. Hon Lieut, RNVR. (Production individual)
Bogarde, Dirk (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: Spain (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 2
Footage: 2265 ft; Running time: 55 mins
