Checking out El caballero de la noche

Is it worth your time?

Honestly? Probably not, unless you’re really into the history of early Spanish cinema. If you enjoy stage plays where everyone projects their voice to the back row of a theater, you might get a kick out of it. But if you’re looking for something that actually moves, you’ll probably hate it. It’s definitely not for the modern crowd.

Watching this felt like sitting through a long, formal dinner where nobody is allowed to relax. The performances are incredibly stiff. Manuel París is trying so hard to be the lead, but it all feels a bit hollow.

There’s this one scene where a conversation drags on for what feels like an eternity. You can see the actors waiting for their turn to speak, just staring at the wall behind the camera. It’s awkward, but in a way that’s actually kinda fascinating if you like seeing the seams of a production.

Old vibes

It’s got that weird, grainy texture that makes you want to squint. Sometimes the lighting is so flat it looks like they filmed the whole thing in a garage with one big lamp. Not exactly a masterpiece of cinematography, if we’re being honest.

I couldn't help but compare it to other stuff from that era. It doesn't have the grit of The Tragedy of Love, that’s for sure. It’s just... there. Like a piece of furniture you don't really use but don't want to throw away.

• The dialogue is way too formal.
• The sets look like they might tip over if someone sneezes.
• Mona Maris is doing her best to carry the scene, bless her.
• The music is weirdly loud whenever someone is sad.

I kept waiting for something to snap, for someone to drop the act and just be a human being. It never really happens. It reminds me a bit of the stuffy energy in The Life Mask, though maybe even a bit more detached. 🎭

I spent half the time wondering what the catering table looked like on this set. Did they have good coffee? Probably not. The whole thing feels like it was made on a shoestring budget while someone was yelling instructions off-screen.

If you're bored on a rainy Sunday and you've run out of everything else, maybe give it a spin. Otherwise, you aren't missing much. It's just a reminder that not everything from the past is a lost gem. Some of it is just... filler.