Teoría y práctica del cine "nacional" en la guerra civil española

Abstract

The insurgent army of the Spanish extreme right took advantage of the power of cinema, just like
other European leaders did in the 20Th centuiy. Between 1936 and 1939 (and during the whole
regime as well) Spanish screens were spread with nationalist visual propaganda in order to shape the
course of public opinion and to implant the ideology of the Falangist Movement in the citizens. General
Franco, his confidants and even his relatives exercised tight control over film politics, giving preference to
short films, documentaries and newsreels. In this essay we examine the theoretical and industrial
background of the incipient francoist film politics during the Civil War and we highlight some of the
most important products of this effort , briefly touching upon a few relevant international matters, such
as the anti-Franco movement of Hollywood or the German and Italian support.