Paco Rabal's film, missing for decades in Spain, found in France

A Spanish historian has located a long-lost film featuring actor Paco Rabal in France, nearly six decades after its production. The movie, La otra mujer (1964), was discovered in the catalog of French producer Gaumont, according to historian Pedro Francisco Sánchez, who made the find while researching local history in the Murcia region. The discovery coincides with the 100th anniversary of Rabal’s birth, marking a significant moment in the celebration of the actor's legacy. The film was shot in Madrid, Carboneras in Almería, and Águilas in Murcia, where Rabal was born. However, Sánchez explained that there were no copies available in Spain, nor did the film appear in archives or registries. It was a co-production between Spain and France, filmed in French, directed by François Villiers, and based on the novel Soy la otra mujer by Luisa María Linares. The cast included notable actors such as Annie Girardot, Richard Johnson, Alida Valli, Hella Petri, Ana Mariscal, and Sancho Gracia. Sánchez became aware of the film’s existence through local newspapers Línea and La Verdad, which he consulted while preparing his book Águilas, un plató de cine (2017). He noted that despite his efforts, there were no further references to the film within Spain. His curiosity was piqued because Rabal had only filmed two movies in Águilas, El beso de Judas (1953), and La otra mujer was missing from both the regional film archive and the local association Milana Bonita, dedicated to preserving memories of Rabal. Family members of the actor also had no information about the film, with one relative stating it had been shot elsewhere. Despite the lack of information, Sánchez continued his research and eventually found the film in Gaumont’s catalog. He requested several copies, which arrived in DVD format in mid-July. One copy has already been donated to the library in Águilas, and another is set to be delivered to the Regional Film Archive of Murcia. The film holds historical value, particularly for the town of Calabardina, where it captures scenes of the coastal area before modernization, including traditional fishing methods using almadraba nets. Sánchez highlights the significance of La otra mujer in Rabal’s career, noting that it was produced during a peak period of his international success. At this time, Rabal had appeared in films such as Nazarín (1958), Viridiana (1961), and El eclipse (1962). This phase of his career, spanning Italy, Mexico, and Argentina, was interrupted by a traffic accident that left him with facial scars. Initially feared to have ended his acting career, these injuries instead gave him a more rugged appearance, enabling a new stage of mature acting that solidified his reputation. The rediscovery of La otra mujer adds to ongoing cultural celebrations honoring Rabal’s contributions to cinema, especially in the Murcia region. As the centenary of his birth unfolds, the film serves as a tangible link to a pivotal chapter in the life and work of one of Spain’s most iconic actors.