Tommy the Toreador

After thanks from the producers to the people of Andalusia fade from the screen, a montage of festival images are seen. Facing Plaza Ejército Español in Seville, Andalusia. To the left stands Plaza de España which appears in ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and ‘Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones’.

Stock shots from the mid 1950s includes this view looking north-west over Prado de San Sebastián with the Universidad de Sevilla in the distance. The Moorish Bell Tower of the Cathedral is visible to the top right.

Howard Morgan provides this ground level shot of Prado San Sebastian at the western end looking east. He acknowledges that the screen capture was from the other end of the Prado. (RL)

A repeat of Capture 2. (RL)

Howard sends this shot of the one building remaining from the top left hand of the Capture. (RL)

Footage from 1955 shows the Portada de la Feria at Prado de San Sebastián before the story moves on to the studio quayside where Tommy Tomkins is doing his laundry on the deck of the Patricia.

Tommy is left alone aboard the freighter as the Captain and crew go ashore to enjoy the city's nightlife. Plaza Ejército Español with Plaza de España in the left background.

Being given a briefcase containing orders from the shipping office, Tommy Tomkins (Tommy Steele) gets caught up in the festivities on his way to find the Captain. A studio set to help the story along.

Tommy leaves the dancing behind and goes in search of the Captain. Plaza de las Cruces at the junction of Calle Cruces and Calla Doncellas in Seville 41004.

I thought I recognised this small square, we stayed at the hotel in the left background! (PW)

After Antonio Parilla (Virgilio Teixeira) falls onto Tommy from a balcony whilst escaping an angry Husband, the two board a waiting coach. Plaza de los Refinadores, just along Calle Mariscal from Plaza de las Cruces.

Just nipped back after nine years to get this one. (PW)

The Coach Driver is asked to take the pair to Café del Toro where Tommy discovers that Parilla is a respected bullfighter. Plaza de los Refinadores, Seville.

Steve Randall found that cars have replaced horse power.

Jumping onto a lorry containing a bull, Tommy and English dancer Amanda escape from the café during a raid by Inspector Quintero and his officers in which Parilla is arrested. Looking north eastward on Plaza de los Refinadores in Seville.

Taken from street level by Steve Randall.

Driven by bullfighting impresario Cadena and his associate Paco, the lorry heads out of the city.

The journey continues into the night as the Patricia leaves port.

Morning dawns and the two passengers awake. Camino Retama in Alcalá de Guadaíra to the east of Seville.

The camera pans to follow the lorry as it enters the town. Puente de Jesús Nazareno crossing the Guadaíra River in Alcalá de Guadaíra with the tower of the Church of Santiago el Mayor to the extreme right.

The lorry is steered onto a hotel car park. the Hotel Oromana on Calle de Oromana in Alcalá de Guadaíra, Andalusia.

Turó Cadena (Sidney James) and Paco (Bernard Cribbins) head towards the building for breakfast.

Amanda (Janet Munro) and Tommy make their way down from the roof of the lorry. Outside Hotel Oromana in Alcalá de Guadaíra.

Whilst Amanda and Tommy eat a breakfast that they can't afford, the Waiter tells them about the forthcoming celebrations.

Bulls are driven through the streets to the plaza as young men jump into their path to prove how brave they are.

Without paying their bill, Tommy and Amanda run from the hotel chased by Inspector Quintero (José Nieto) who has recognised them from the previous evening. Hotel Oromana on Calle de Oromana, Alcalá de Guadaíra.

In the town's plaza, women dance to a band as their men fight bulls.

The Inspector follows Tommy into the plaza. Facing Calle José Lafita from Plaza el Duque, Alcalá de Guadaíra.

The audience call "olé" as the menfolk attempt to subdue the bulls. Church of Santiago el Mayor in the background.

When one of the Matadors falls, Amanda is shocked to see Tommy climb into the arena to escape his pursuer. The tower belongs to the Church of Santiago el Mayor.

After diverting a charging bull and saving the Matador, Tommy is held high and carried from the arena as Amanda and the Inspector look on.

The Inspector attempts to arrest Tommy. Plaza el Duque, Alcalá de Guadaíra.

A dismayed Tommy looks down at Inspector Quintero before Amanda calls out that he's not a policeman but a tax inspector. In front of Cruz Roja Española on Plaza el Duque.

The Inspector is carried away by the crowd.

Still held high, Tommy is taken back to the hotel where, after a song, he's coerced by Cadena into accepting a bullfighting job to replace Parilla. Plaza el Duque with Calle José Lafita in the centre background.

A bus passes Cadena's lorry as Tommy and Amanda are carried towards Algeciras where the new Toreador is to make his debut. In the distance stands Castillo de Alcalá de Guadaíra near Seville in Andalusia.

As they get to know each other on top of the lorry, Amanda and Tommy make plans to get her back to England through Gibraltar.

While posters are put up advertising Tommy's appearance in Algeciras, bulls are herded at a nearby ranch bulls.

Some of the bulls are herded into pens before Tommy enters the arena to face a tame one named Pedro as promised by Cadena.

After the practice session the bull is led away and a Toy Seller enters the arena.

Children gather around the Seller and Tommy buys each of them a black bull except for one little Girl who receives a white one . . . cue song.

# Once upon a time there was a little white bull, Very sad, because he was a little white bull, All the black bulls called him a coward, Just 'cause he was white, Only black bulls go to the bullring Only black bulls fight . . .

# When he asked his mama if a little white bull, Ever had a chance of turning black, His mama said, you silly little bull, You're a pretty little bull, You're my little bull, So please don't ask me why, little bull, You just ain't black!

After Parilla is granted bail, he and his manager Lopez drive through the streets with a wild bull to replace Pedro.

In the shadows, Lopez watches as Tommy and two youngsters are driven from the bullring. Paseo de Cristóbal Colón, Seville with the fence enclosing the Bull Ring.

Steve Randall revisited the location 63 years later.

Lopez (Ferdy Mane) turns to call the truck containing the wild bull forward. with Calle Antonia Díaz in the right background.

The coach takes Tommy and the two children from the bullring towards their home.

Tommy takes the Boy and Girl into the courtyard where they live.

Returning to Amanda, Tommy serenades her before the two begin to dance.

The pair walk together as Tommy tells Amanda that she'll be on her way home the following day.

With music floating in the air, the two begin to say goodbye as Amanda tells Tommy that she's worried about the next day's bullfight.

Spectators gather for the forthcoming event. The frontage of Plaza de toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla.

From ground level by Andrew Price.

The camera tilts down to find crowds entering the bull ring. The main entrance to the Bull Ring seen from Paseo de Cristóbal Colón.

Howard even managed to have a car strategically placed for this shot of the Bull Ring entrance. (RL)

The audience wait in anticipation. This is the 12,000 capacity bullring in Seville, Spain.

It may not be quite the right angle but I didn't realise the picture would ever be used on ReelStreets.

Lopez is told by Parilla that Tommy is his friend as the two speed towards the bullring at Algeciras.

Tommy is put off when he sees the surgeons in the basement of the bullring as Anabel arrives to see the spectacle. Looking onto Paseo de Cristóbal Colón from the gateway of Plaza de toros.

There was a smaller gathering around the gates as Andrew Price took his shot.

Tommy dons his 'traje de luces' while Lopez and Parilla are held up by donkeys carrying hay.

Watched by his shipmates who have come to see the show, Tommy enters the bull ring.

The matadors, picadores and banderilleros bow to the Royal Box. Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza, Seville.

Andrew Price focuses on the Royal Box.

After watching Tommy spectacularly fend off the charging bull, Amanda runs towards the exit from the arena when the toreador is hurt.

Cadena and Inspector Quintero look on as Amanda embraces Tommy when she discovers that it's not him that has been injured.

Appearing from the bullring, Tommy's Captain (Noel Purcell) shouts to his former crew member that he is a deserter.

Andrew Price provides this up to date view.

As the spectators applaud Tommy, Parilla arrives to encourage them back into the arena while Inspector Quintero makes his apologies to the seaman. Plaza de toros on Paseo de Cristóbal Colón i Seville, Andalusia.

The same background building and pillars captured by Andrew Price.