Remembering Ricardo Blasco

Ricardo Blasco Laguna was born on April 30, 1921 in Valencia, Spain. Blasco was a writer and poet and made his debut as a script reader for Cifesa. After working for a time as an assistant to Luis Lucia in film dubbing during the early 1950s he started writing film scripts for the Spanish Film Union. His first job as an assistant director was on 1949's "The Duchess of Benameji" under Lucia. He co-directed his first film in 1954 with "Noches andaluzas" a Spanish, French co-production with Maurice Cloche. Blasco first solo attempt at directing was for "Amor bajo cero" (1960). He would go on to direct over a dozen films and be the assistant director on more two dozen films while writing screenplays for nine films. He was active in the film industry from 1949 until the late 1960s. During this time he directed three Euro-westerns: "Gunfight at Red Sands" (1963) starring Richard Harrison, for which he also wrote the script. "The 3 Swords of Zorro" (1963) starring Guy Stockwell and "Behind the Mask of Zorro" (1966) starring Tony Russel. Blasco retired in Madrid where he passed away in 1994. Today we remember Ricardo Blasco on what would have been his 90^th birthday.