El fantasma del convento

The Phantom of the Convent
The Phantom of the Convent
	Original Spanish theatrical release poster
Directed by	Fernando de Fuentes
Written by	Fernando de Fuentes; Jorge Pezet; Juan Bustillo Oro
Produced by	Jorge Pezet
Starring	Marta Roel; Carlos Villatoro; Enrique del Campo; Paco Martinez; Jose Rocha; Victorio Blanco
Cinematography	Ross Fisher
Edited by	Fernando de Fuentes
Music by	Max Urban
Production; company	Producciones FESA (Films Exchange)
Distributed by	Rayo Films (Argentina); Cinexport Distributing (United States)
Running time	85 minutes
Country	Mexico
Language	Spanish

El fantasma del convento (lit. The Ghost of the Convent; American release title: The Phantom of the Convent) is a 1934 Mexican horror film directed by Fernando de Fuentes, who also co-wrote and edited the film.

Plot

Cristina (Marta Roel), the wife of Eduardo (Carlos Villatoro), tries to seduce their friend, Alfonso (Enrique del Campo). One night, they lose their way and are guided by a mysterious stranger to an eerie monastery.

Over a meal, the old Father Superior (Paco Martinez) tells them the story of a monk who seduced a friend's wife: when he died, the monk could not find peace in death and returned to his cursed cell. Alfonso, about to give in to Cristina's advances, finds the fateful cell and enters it. The sinful monk's mummified corpse gestures towards a book dripping with blood.

When the cadaver of Eduardo appears to him as well, Alfonso sinks into a delirium. When he wakes, the trio find out that the monastery has been a ruin for many years and the crypt with the mummified monk has become a tourist attraction. During a final meal in the spectral setting, Cristina accuses Alfonso of cowardice.

Cast

Enrique del Campo as Alfonso
Marta Roel as Cristina
Carlos Villatoro as Eduardo
Paco Martínez as Padre Prior
Victorio Blanco as Monje

Production

El fantasma del convento was co written and produced by Jorge Pezet and directed by Fernando de Fuentes. Development and production for the film began in 1933. Following the success of La Lorona which was based on the legendary spirit of the same name, and was co-written by director Fuentes, the filmmakers quickly decided to follow-up with the film's success with another horror film. The idea for the film came from producer Jorge Pezet. Pezet had recently developed a fascination with the desiccated mummies displayed in Mexico's Museo de El Carmen. Determined to use them for a film, Pezet, along with director Fuentes, and Juan Bustillo Oro developed a screenplay that featured three young adults who are forced to spend the night at a monastery only to discover that their hosts were members of the undead.^[1] Filming took place on location in a Teotzotlan monastery.^[2]

Reception

On his website Fantastic Movie Musings and Ramblings, Dave Sindelar called it "one of the best of the Mexican horror movies", praising its striking imagery and use of sound.^[3]

References

^ Jonathan Rigby (2011). Studies in Terror: Landmarks of Horror Cinema. Signum Books. pp. 50–51. ISBN 978-0-9566534-4-4. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
^ Steven Jay Schneider (2003). Fear Without Frontiers: Horror Cinema Across the Globe. FAB. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-903254-15-8. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
^ Sindelar, Dave. "El fantasma del convento (1934)". FantasticMovieMusings.com. Dave Sindelar. Retrieved 4 April 2018.

External links

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[Rigby2011-1] Jonathan Rigby (2011). Studies in Terror: Landmarks of Horror Cinema. Signum Books. pp. 50–51. ISBN 978-0-9566534-4-4. Retrieved 31 May 2018.

[Schneider2003-2] Steven Jay Schneider (2003). Fear Without Frontiers: Horror Cinema Across the Globe. FAB. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-903254-15-8. Retrieved 31 May 2018.

[sindelar08-3] Sindelar, Dave. "El fantasma del convento (1934)". FantasticMovieMusings.com. Dave Sindelar. Retrieved 4 April 2018.

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