Having lunch in a gloomy little Argüelles restaurant yesterday when Elena revealed that she is from Guadalix de la Sierra, which is where Bienvenido Mister Marshall was filmed (under the name Villar del Río; very little, apparently, was changed in the town for the film). Elena also revealed, brightening the day up at a single stroke, that members of her family were extras – “the little schoolboy with his finger in his mouth is my uncle!”. So I know someone whose uncle is in Bienvenido Mister Marshall: my life has not been entirely wasted after all. Bienvenido Mister Marshall is the classic, bittersweet Luis Berlanga comedy, based on the Marshall Plan (U.S. assistance for post-World War II reconstruction of Europe) which was released slightly over 50 years ago, on 4th April, 1953, and which broke the mould for Spanish cinema under Franco. It is one of the great Spanish films, and quite possibly the Spanish comedy, featuring a memorable performance by Pepe Isbert. Berlanga himself, incidentally, does not believe it’s his finest film. All together, now: "Americanos/, vienen a España/ guapos y sanos/, viva el tronío/ de ese gran pueblo/ con poderío,/ Olé Virginia, /y Michigan/ y viva Texas que no está mal,/ os recibimos/ americanos/ con alegría/ Olé mi madre/ olé mi suegra y/ olé mi tía…”

And while we're here, two deeply satisfying panoramic views, one natural, one man-made (Quicktime is needed to see them): the view from the top of Mount Everest, and the Mosque of Córdoba.
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