Bullfighter and the Lady
| Bullfighter and the Lady | |
|---|---|
 Movie poster. | |
| Directed by | Budd Boetticher |
| Written by | Budd Boetticher Ray Nazarro (story) James Edward Grant (screenplay) |
| Produced by | Budd Boetticher John Wayne |
| Starring | Robert Stack Joy Page Gilbert Roland |
| Cinematography | Jack Draper |
| Edited by | Richard L. Van Enger |
| Music by | Victor Young |
| Distributed by | Republic Pictures |
Release dates | April 26, 1951 (US) |
Running time | 87/124 mins. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Bullfighter and the Lady is a 1951 drama film directed and written by Budd Boetticher. Filmed on location in Mexico, the film focused on the realities of the dangerous sport of bullfighting. During production, one stunt man died. Boetticher, who had experience in bullfighting, used a semidocumentary approach in filming the sport and the lives of matadors.
Plot
Chuck Regan (Robert Stack), a young American film producer travels to Mexico, where he takes up bullfighting to impress a local beauty, Anita de la Vega (Joy Page). Manolo Estrada (Gilbert Roland), an aging matador, reluctantly agrees to teach the brash, self-centered Regan.
Cast
- Robert Stack as John "Chuck" Regan
- Joy Page as Anita de la Vega
- Gilbert Roland as Manolo Estrada
- Virginia Grey as Lisbeth Flood
- John Hubbard as Barney Flood
- Katy Jurado as Chelo Estrada
- Ismael Pérez as Panchito
- Rodolfo Acosta as Juan
- Ruben Padilla as Dr. Sierra
- Darío Ramírez as Pepe Mora
Reception
Bullfighter earned Boetticher his only Academy Award nomination, for Best Story, which he shared with co-writer Ray Nazarro. Together with Seven Men from Now, Boetticher regarded Bullfighter as one of "the two best films I ever made." [1]
Like many of Boetticher's films, Bullfighter has not been released on DVD. With the release of the restored Seven Men from Now in 2005, Bullfighter may find release soon.
Alternate Versions
For the film's American theatrical release, Bullfighter was cut to 87 minutes in order to share a double bill. The UCLA Film Archive recently restored the film to its full 124 minute length. [2]