The first comprehensive scholarly study of Spanish erotic cinema, this book covers a significant part of the history of Spanish film, from the 1920s until the present day. Starting with a study of the kiss in silent films, the volume explores homoerotic narratives in the crusade films of the 1940s, the commodification of bodies in the late Franco period, and the so-called destape (literally 'undressing') period that followed the abolition of censorship during the democratic transition.

Reclaiming the importance of Spanish erotic cinema as a genre in itself, a range of international scholars demonstrate how the explicit depiction of sex can be a useful tool to illuminate current and historic social issues including ageism, colonialism, domestic violence, immigration, nationalisms, or women and LGBT rights. Covering a wide range of cinematic genres, including comedy, horror and melodrama, this book provides an innovative and provocative overview of Spanish cinema history and society in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

'Through detailed analyses and a wide diversity of theoretical angles, this book provides a rigorous re-examination of the presence and progression of erotic cinema in Spain, acknowledging and celebrating its political and commercial impact in society. It is likely to become an indispensable reference for the study of Spanish cinema.' Isolina Ballesteros, Baruch College and Graduate Center of CUNY The first comprehensive scholarly study of Spanish erotic cinema, this book covers a significant part of the history of Spanish film, from the 1920s until the present day. Starting with a study of the kiss in silent films, the volume explores many contrasting periods and styles, including the homoerotic 'crusade films' of the 1940s, the commodification of bodies in the late Franco period and the so-called destape (literally 'undressing') period that followed the abolition of censorship in the 1970s. Reclaiming the importance of Spanish erotic cinema as a genre in itself, a range of international scholars demonstrate how the explicit depiction of sex can be a useful tool to illuminate current and historic social issues including ageism, colonialism, domestic violence, immigration, nationalisms, and women and LGBT rights. Covering a wide range of genres, including comedy, horror and melodrama, this book provides an innovative and provocative overview of Spanish cinema history and society in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Santiago Fouz-Hernández is Reader in Hispanic Studies at Durham University. Cover image: Isabel Pisano in Bilbao (dir. Bigas Luna, 1978). Video Mercury Films, S.A.U., 2013 Cover design: Christian Mieves and Stuart Dalziel [EUP logo] edinburghuniversitypress.com ISBN 978-1-4744-0047-3 Barcode