Majorca pays tribute to Sara Montiel

Palma.—Montiel, the first Spanish actress to conquer Hollywood and acted opposite many of the very best leading men during her career on both sides of the Atlantic and in South America as well, had a close connection to Majorca through her third and last husband, journalist and businessman Pepe Tous.

And yesterday, Rotger, on behalf of the Majorcan public, expressed his sadness at her death but also thanked her for having spread the good name of the island round the world. “She also did a great deal for the world of art and culture on the island,” Rotger said.
Rafael Bosch, the Balearic Minister for Education and Culture also expressed his condolences on behalf of the Balearic people. “She was much more than a great actress, she was a star and full of charisma on and off the screen. And, without doubt, many people here in the Balearics enjoyed a special relationship with her. “She was one of our neighbours for many years and was always very generous. We have been all extremely saddened by the news,” he added.
Montiel was born in Campo de Criptana in the region of Castile–La Mancha in 1928 as María Antonia Abad. After her unprecedented international hit in Juan de Orduña's El Último Cuplé in 1957, Montiel achieved the status of mega-star in Europe and Latin America. She was the first woman to distill sex openly in Spanish cinema at a time when even a low cut dress was not acceptable.

Montiel was the most commercially successful Spanish actress during the mid-20th century in much of the world. Montiel's film Varietes was banned in Beijing in 1973. Her films El Último Cuple and La Violetera netted the highest gross revenues ever recorded for films made in the Spanish speaking movie industry during the 1950s and 1960s. She also played the role of Antonia, the niece of Don Quixote, in the 1947 Spanish film version of Cervantes's great novel.

Hollywood came calling afterwards, and she was introduced to United States moviegoers in the film Vera Cruz (1954) co-starring with Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster. She also starred with Rod Steiger and Charles Bronson.