''Esa pareja feliz'' (translation: ''That Happy Couple'') is a Spanish comedy film co-written and co-directed by

Juan Antonio Bardem Juan Antonio Bardem Muñoz (2 June 1922 – 30 October 2002) was a Spanish film director and screenwriter, born in Madrid. Bardem was best known for '' Muerte de un ciclista'' (1955) which won the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1955 Cannes Film Festiv ...

and

Luis García Berlanga Luis García-Berlanga Martí Medal of Merit in Labour, MMT (12 June 1921 – 13 November 2010) was a Spanish film director and screenwriter. Acclaimed as a pioneer of modern Spanish cinema, his films are marked by social satire and acerbic criti ...

. It was their feature film debut and is considered a criticism of the consumerist desire that was beginning to appear in Spain. The film was made in 1951, but not released until 1953.

Plot

Good-for-nothing, Juan marries Carmen to begin suffering what he thinks her and their friends' scorn at his proven inability to make a living, until he's lured to an apparent sound business that will for sure make them rich.

Cast

Fernando Fernán Gómez Fernando Fernández Gómez (28 August 1921 – 21 November 2007), better known as Fernando Fernán Gómez, was a Spanish actor, screenwriter, film director, theater director, novelist, and playwright. Prolific and outstanding in all these fiel ...

as Juan Granados Muñoz *

Elvira Quintillá Elvira Quintillá (19 September 1928 – 27 December 2013) was a Spanish actress, whose career spanned over six decades. Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Quintillá began her acting career in 1941, appearing on stage. She married actor José Mar ...

as Carmen González Fuentes *Félix Fernández as Rafa *José Luis Ozores as Luis *Fernando Aguirre as Organizador *Manuel Arbó as Esteban *

Carmen Sánchez Carmen Sánchez (21 April 1898 – 20 November 1985) was a Spanish producer, dancer, and actress. She started her career as dancer and singer of zarzuela at very young age. At age 20, she finished working on copla or chotis and was featured in f ...

as Dueña del salón de té *

Matilde Muñoz Sampedro Matilde Muñoz Sampedro (2 March 1900 – 14 April 1969) was a Spanish film actress whose career stretched from the 1940s through the 1960s. Biography Muñoz was married to actor Rafael Bardem and the couple had two children: Juan Antonio and ...

as Amparo *Antonio García Quijada as Manolo *Antonio Garisa as Florentino *José Franco as Tenor *Alady as Técnico *

Rafael Bardem Rafael Bardem Solé (10 January 1889 – 6 November 1972) was a Spanish film and stage actor whose career stretched from the 1940s through the 1960s. He was the husband of Matilde Muñoz Sampedro; the father of Juan Antonio Bardem and Pilar Ba ...

as Don Julián, el Comisario *

Rafael Alonso Rafael Alonso Ochoa (5 July 1920 – 24 October 1998) was a Spanish actor. He appeared in more than 120 films and television shows between 1951 and 1998. He died on 24 October 1998 at the age of 78 from cancer and he was cremated at Cemente ...

as Gerente Seguros 'La Víspera' *José Orjas *Francisco Bernal *

Lola Gaos Dolores Gaos González-Pola (2 December 1921, in Valencia – 4 July 1993, in Madrid), better known as Lola Gaos, was a Spanish film, television and theatre actress. Famous with her works with Luis Buñuel but specially the film '' Furtivos'' ...

as Reina en Rodaje *

Matías Prats Cañete Matías Prats Cañete MML (4 December 1913 – 8 September 2004) was a Spanish radio and television journalist. He was best known for his sports narrations and for being the narrator of the No-Do during part of the franquism period. He is fa ...

as Locutor Deportivo (voice) *

José Luis López Vázquez José Luis López Vázquez de la Torre Medal of Merit in Labour, MMT (11 March 1922 – 2 November 2009) was a Spanish actor, comedian, costume designer, scenic designer, and assistant director whose career spanned nearly seven decades. He was ...

as Dependiente

Awards

;

Círculo de Escritores Cinematográficos The Círculo de Escritores Cinematográficos (CEC), known as "Cinema Writers Circle" in English, is a private nonprofit organization supporting cinema and filmmakers in Spain. It awards the annual CEC Awards, commonly known as Premios CEC. His ...

References

External links

* 1951 comedy films 1951 films 1950s Spanish-language films Spanish black-and-white films Films set in Madrid Films directed by Luis García Berlanga Films directed by Juan Antonio Bardem Spanish comedy films 1953 comedy films 1953 films 1950s Spanish films Spanish-language comedy films {{1950s-comedy-film-stub