Cinema, children and Don Quixote's shadow (1916): thrillers, milesian fables and apologues

Abstract

On April 28, 1916, the little known writer Alejandro Larrubiera (born in Madrid) published in El Liberal newspaper an article about cinema and children’s audience. Cinema was then gaining social and cultural popularity. Larrubiera wondered if the kind of plots employed in cinema, usually fabulous, was suitable for children. Although he did not mention Cervantes and other Golden Age writers, his reflections are the continuation of a longstanding literary controversy. Larrubiera’s article is key to get to know the poetics and sociology of early cinema in Spain.