(1952)3Craig ButlerConsidered by many to be one of the best Spanish films ever made, Bienvenido Mr. Marshall resonates more deeply with people familiar with the culture that produced it, which inevitably lessens it impact with viewers outside of Spain. That said, there's also more than enough to entertain even people who couldn't even figure out on which continent Spain can be found. The basic premise -- that a village recreates itself in the image of what it thinks visiting dignitaries want to see, so that they may better qualify for hoped-for foreign funds -- offers plenty of can't-miss comic opportunities, and writer/director Luis Garcua Berlanga and co-writer Juan Antonio Bardem take full advantage of them. The screenplay is very well structured, with each sequence playing off each other to create the desired snowball effect, and with characters sketched in with just enough loving detail to make their foibles resonate that much stronger with the audience. The cast is well-near perfect throughout, and Manuel Berenguer's expert camerawork adds immeasurably to the film's success. Marshall is welcome, indeed, especially among viewers looking for a charming comedy that they haven't come across before.
