El barbero de Sevilla (1938)

Pierre-Augustin de Beaumarchais wrote The Barber of Seville, or The Useless Precaution, in 1772, but because of difficulties with the censors, he did not get it staged until 1775. The play was not a success when it premiered at the Comédie-Française, so Beaumarchais revised it, removing the scenes and dialogue he had found audiences considered boring. In this four-act version, the play achieved international success. The Barber of Seville is notable for giving the roguish barber Figaro as much prominence as Count Almaviva, and more than the other aristocratic characters—a novelty at the time. It also offers a clear critique of certain vices of the clergy of the period, all with a fresh comic touch supported by lively dialogue. Today, the story is better known through the opera adaptation, The Barber of Seville, which premiered in 1816. It features music by Gioachino Rossini, some of whose compositions have become part of the universal cultural canon. The theoretical prominence of Raquel Rodrigo was overshadowed by the presence of Estrellita Castro. Perojo himself wrote the adapted screenplay, and Antonio Quintero is credited as the author of the dialogue. The screenplay expands the story to make it less theatrical. Thus, the action begins in Madrid, showing Count Almaviva’s womanizing nature and recounting the beginning of his relationship with Rosina. This prologue was filmed in a style uncommon in Spanish cinema of the period, with lavish palaces, elegant dances, and a thrilling sword fight. It also gives Figaro a larger role and, above all, introduces a new character to showcase Estrellita Castro. The womanizing Count Almaviva meets Rosina in Madrid, and they are attracted to each other. Rosina’s guardian, Bartolo, who hopes to marry her so he can continue managing her fortune, takes her to Seville to keep the lovers apart. The count follows them there, and Susana follows him. She is his former lover, and her husband has begun proceedings to annul their marriage. Almaviva enlists the help of Figaro, an ingenious barber from Seville, who in turn is aided by a beautiful gypsy. Meanwhile, Bartolo bribes Don Basilio, a corrupt clergyman, to expedite his marriage to Rosina. After several incidents, Almaviva and Rosina marry, and Figaro persuades Bartolo not to contest the marriage. The guardian eventually marries Susana, and Figaro marries the gypsy.