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The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz

Play trailer Poster for The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz 1955 1h 31m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
The wealthy Archibaldo (Ernesto Alonso) is a potential serial killer. This might be the result of a childhood incident: his governess (Leonor Llausás) caught him trying on some of his mother's clothes and scolded him. He wished the governess dead, and she was immediately killed by a stray bullet from a revolution raging outside the window. Conflating violent death with sexual desire, the adult Archibaldo plots to murder numerous women, but his elaborate schemes are constantly thwarted.
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The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz

Critics Reviews

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Basil Wright Sight & Sound 03/18/2020
This is what makes Archibaldo so fascinating. It expresses one simple story idea. It goes straight ahead, sequence by sequence, and it never loiters or takes a wrong turning. Go to Full Review Richard Brody The New Yorker 06/30/2014
Against a background of revolution and restoration, Catholic mysteries and aristocratic manners, Buuel unfolds, in images akin to Freudian X-rays ... Go to Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times 05/09/2005
5/5
Though it's 22 years late in arriving, The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz is the only new movie in town about which I can say that it mustn't be missed. Go to Full Review Jas Keimig The Stranger (Seattle, WA) 12/08/2021
The fantasy murder sequences are disconcertingly surreal. Go to Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion 12/16/2013
The central work of Buuel's career, a midpoint between the early savagery and the later urbanity Go to Full Review Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) 09/10/2008
4/5
Perhaps the lightest and most purely playful film of Buuel's career. It's an oddly charming black comedy dressed up as a kind of thriller. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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S R @ScottR 04/03/2023 I saw this since it had good reviews and was on HBO's TCM list. This movie was unusual and interesting. It was almost half baked in conception, but it still manages to make you think. Was it as good as a psychological Hitchcock? Not quite, but it was still unique and praiseworthy, despite its inconsistencies. See more 12/27/2019 Luis Buñuel dando càtreda de como hacer un buen film. See more 05/13/2018 Buñuel celebra, sin restricciones, con humor e inclusive introspección, un relato sumamente profundo y analítico de la represión del verdadero impulso primitivo del humano que anhela el acto criminal, con el carisma y detalle que solo su dirección pueden ofrecer, complementada con un espectacular e interpretativo guion, que convierten este drama criminal en un festín psicológico, superado, únicamente, por la magnífica y deleitante presencia de Ernesto Alonso como el peculiar protagónico. See more 04/15/2016 Rasúrese usted con máquina, Señor de la Cruz See more 08/19/2015 M-F 8.4 [Luis Buñuel] [Mx] See more 11/01/2012 Excelente film de Luis Buñuel!! Humor negro, un thriller, con un final inesperado. Excelente interpretación del Sr. Ernesto Alonso (qepd) See more Read all reviews
The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz

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Cast & Crew

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Luis Buñuel

Director

Ernesto Alonso

Archibaldo de la Cruz

Miroslava

Lavinia

Rita Macedo

Patricia Terrazas

Carlos Martínez Baena

Priest

Leonor Llausás

The Governess

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The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz

The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz (1955) The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz (1955) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The wealthy Archibaldo (Ernesto Alonso) is a potential serial killer. This might be the result of a childhood incident: his governess (Leonor Llausás) caught him trying on some of his mother's clothes and scolded him. He wished the governess dead, and she was immediately killed by a stray bullet from a revolution raging outside the window. Conflating violent death with sexual desire, the adult Archibaldo plots to murder numerous women, but his elaborate schemes are constantly thwarted.
Director
Luis Buñuel
Producer
Alfonso Patiño Gómez
Screenwriter
Luis Buñuel, Eduardo Ugarte, Rodolfo Usigli
Distributor
Water Bearer Films, Dan Talbot, New Yorker Films
Production Co
Alianza Cinematográfica Española
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
Spanish
Release Date (Theaters)
May 19, 1955, Original
Runtime
1h 31m
Sound Mix
Mono
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