El Greco (1966)

EL GRECO tackles the life of the famous artist who spent most of his life in Toledo, Spain and whose paintings are marked by his unique style of portraying church figures and the common man. But this film is a weak attempt that lacks substance in telling the painter's story which, for dramatic conflict, involves his brush with the Spanish Inquisition and eventual dismissal of the charges, which changed his life forever.

MEL FERRER is admirable in the title role, the costumes and sets filmed in Madrid are sumptuous and some of the supporting roles are well played, especially RENZO GIOVAMPIETRO as Brother Felix (who sounds an awful lot like Leo Genn in "Quo Vadis"). But the final scenes with Elk Greco immersing himself in the world of the common man and the insane, are a mishmash and end the film on a weak note. The choral work is effective but becomes almost too obtrusive before the film is over.

Hopefully, some day someone will do a film on "El Greco" that is as substantial as the earlier Hollywood film on "Rembrandt" and the Van Gough treatment in "Lust for Life". But EL GRECO is flawed by a weak script and slow pacing under the direction of Luciano Salce.

Not recommended.