Don Mendo, Marquess of Cabra, gallant and dashing knight of medieval Castilian, is also a virtuous mandoline player and a specialist in climbing towers. But he has a bad run, all played and all lost at seven-thirty (card game), and lost his honor playing in his latest escalation of love to the apartment of his beloved and beautiful Magdalena. Don Nuño Manso de Jarama, father of Magdalena, has pledged the hand of his daughter to the Duke of Toro, and surprises Don Mendo in the room of Magdalena. To save the honor of his beloved one, Don Mendo says that no love has led him to the Tower, but he has climbed to steal. Magdalena is clean of all suspicion, and he is condemned to die buried in the castle wall. The Marquess of Moncada and other noble gentlemen, all friends of Don Mendo, facilitate his escape.
Writing
Fernán Gómez's script is a linguistic obstacle course of puns and anachronisms.
Acting
Fernando Fernán Gómez plays Don Mendo with desperate, sweaty charisma.
Production
Shoestring medieval sets that somehow add to the deliberate artificiality.
Director
Fernando Fernán Gómez
Fernando Fernán Gómez
Don Mendo Salazar - Marqués de Cabra
Paloma Valdés
Magdalena
Juanjo Menéndez
Don Pero Collado, Duque de Toro
Antonio Garisa
El Rey, Alfonso VII
Joaquín Roa
Don Nuño Manso de Jarama
Lina Canalejas
La Reina, Berenguela
María Luisa Ponte
Doña Ramírez
José Vivó
Marqués de la Moncada
Paula Martel
Azofaifa
Lola Cardona
Marquesa de Tarrasa
Naima Lamcharki
Rezaida
Francisco Camoiras
Clodulfo
Xan das Bolas
Alí
Julio Goróstegui
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Fernán Gómez adapted this from Pedro Muñoz Seca's 1918 play, the most performed Spanish-language play ever—think Spamalot but actually respected.
The film's frantic pace deliberately mirrors the original theatrical 'esperpento' style, where tragedy and grotesque comedy collide—Fernán Gógz was essentially making a 1961 TikTok before TikTok existed.
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