Historical and acceptable film dealing with kingdoms , passions , sibling/parents confrontations , treason and political intrigues . This is an impressive historic tale , concerning battles , love stories , faith , miracles and religion . Elizabeth (Maruchi Fresno) , daughter of Peter III of Aragon (Fernando Fernández De Cordoba) married King of Portugal , Dionis (Antonio Vilar) , she showed an early enthusiasm for her faith . She said the full Divine Office daily , fasted and did other penance , as well as attended twice-daily choral Masses . She had two children : a daughter named Constance, who married King Ferdinand IV of Castile ; a son Afonso , (Fernando Rey) who later became King Afonso IV of Portugal and her husband Dionis had some bastard sons (Virgilio Texeira, among others) . Then , there took place several troubled issues by social struggles and court intrigue . Elizabeth would serve as intermediary between her husband and legitimate son Afonso against bastards , during the Civil War between 1322 and 1324 . The Infante greatly resented the King , whom he accused of favoring the king's illegitimate son, Afonso Sanches . Repulsed to Alenquer, which supported the Infante , Denis was prevented from killing his son through the intervention of the Queen . As legend holds , she mounted on a mule , positioned herself between both opposing armies on the field in order to prevent the combat .
Classic Spanish movie about the historical love story between Dionis of Portugal and Queen Isabel in which takes place the politic intrigues in the kingdom and then multiple drama is inevitable with a political confrontation behind . This interesting as well as intimate story is a passionate retelling and a touching drama . Average acting by main stars , Fresno and Vilar , who offer an excessively theatrical acting . Maruchi Fresno gives a weak acting as a virtuous Spanish princess becomes Queen of Portugal . Very good support cast : Juan Espantaleon , Rafael Luis Calvo , Maria Asquerino , Virgilio Texeira , José Franco , all of them play similarly to stage actors ; as the influence of the theater in players results to be extreme and embarrassing . The settings are decent though mostly made in ¨Carton-Piedra (stone)¨ as well as matte-painting . Atmospheric cinematography in black and white by two great cameramen Alfredo Fraile and Manuel Berenguer . These cameramen are deemed to be two of the best classic Spanish photographers with a long and prestigious artistic career .
The motion picture was lavishly produced by Suevia Films /Cesareo Gonzalez that along with Cifesa were the most known production companies during Francoist period , that often financed these false but breathtaking historical spectacles . The yarn was professionally directed by veteran Rafael Gil . Being filmed in usual style of the forties and in stylistic scholarship , without leaving a trace the historical issues , in terms of dramatic and narrative excitement . Rafael was one of the best filmmakers from Spanish cinema , directing several classic movies such as ¨Don Quijote De La Mancha¨ , ¨El Clavo¨ , ¨La Fe¨ , ¨La Señora De Fatima¨, ¨La Reina Santa¨ , ¨La Guerra De Dios¨ , ¨El Beso De Judas¨ , among others .
Based on historical facts about Elizabeth -Isabel- of Portugal venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church . Her marriage to King Denis of Portugal (a poet and statesman, was known as the Farmer King) was arranged in 1281 when she was 10 years old , receiving some towns as part of her dowry. It was only in 1288 that the wedding was celebrated, when Denis was 26 years old, while Elizabeth was 17 . Religious fervor was common in her family , as she could count several members of her family who were already venerated as saints . Elizabeth quietly pursued the regular religious practices of her youth and was devoted to the poor and sick . Naturally , such a life was a reproach to many around her and caused ill will in some quarters . Eventually, her prayer and patience succeeded in converting her husband, who had been leading a sinful life . She negotiates a truce between the king's and his son's factions ; and performs a miracle , by changing bread into roses , to appease the king's ire , as he had forbidden her to distribute bread to the poor peasants . Peace returned in 1324, once the illegitimate son was sent into exile , and the Infante swore loyalty to the king After her husband's death, she enters a convent, resting her crown at the tomb of Santiago, in Compostela . After Denis' death in 1325, Elizabeth retired to the monastery of the Poor Clare nuns, now known as the Monastery in Coimbra . Devoting the rest of her life to the poor and sick in obscurity During the great famine in 1293, she donated flour from her cellars to the starving in Coimbra, but was also known for modest in her dress, humble in conversation, habit to provide lodging for pilgrims, and was a benefactor of various hospitals and of religious projects . Elizabeth took an active interest in Portuguese politics and was a decisive conciliator during the negotiations concerning the Treaty of Alcañices, signed by Denis and Sancho IV of Castile in 1297 (which fixed the borders between the two countries). In 1304, the Queen and Denis returned to Spain to arbitrate between Fernando IV of Castile and James II of Aragon, brother of Elizabeth .She was called to act once more as a peacemaker in 1336, when Afonso IV marched his troops against King Alfonso XI of Castile, to whom he had married his daughter Maria, and who had neglected and ill-treated her. In spite of age and weakness, the Queen-dowager insisted on hurrying to Estremoz, where the two kings' armies were drawn up.
