Expert: Jim Kason - 8/7/2008

Question
I would like any information you can give me on a religious movie entitled, "The Miracle of Marcellino".  Specifically, what year it was made, the actor's names and the plotline.  I have been told that it is sometimes shown on EWTN.  Thank you for this amazing service!  Anita

Answer
Hello Anita,

The film, "The Miracle of Marcellino" is a VCI Entertainment film from 1955 in B&W.  ( I
believe it was remade in 1991, but it's probably the 1955 version you want.)

Directed by Ladislao Vajda,  it starred  Rafael Rivelles, Antonio Vico, Juan Calvo, Jose Mario Dano and Frenando Rey.  It was a grand prize winner at the Cannes Fil Festival  (under its
original title, "Marcellino Pan Y Vino".

The story line is as follows:

A tiny boy was left on steps of a monastery where monks lived. The monks who found him  looked for his parents, but found out they had passed away, so they decided to keep and take care of the little infant.  The child grew, and by 6 years of age, was causing mischief in the monastery;  the monks were quite disturbed by this.  One day one of the monks  told the boy not to go into the attic because there was a "big man"  up there, which awoke  fear in the boy.
Playing outside, a scorpion bit the boy, and after the monks  found him, he developed a  fever, during which he dreamed of the staircase  to the attic.   When he was a bit better,  he decided to climb it,  and when he got to the top, he saw what one of the monks described as the " big man".  Marcellino looked at him and decided that he looked hungry. So the next few days the boy was taking bread and wine from the kitchen to the attic to give to the man.  It was actually a statue-and as the boy  brought the bread, he saw the nails come out of the hands,  taking the bread.   Later the little boy  brought a chair and asked if the man could sit and eat with him, which he did.
Later one of the monks saw that  bread and wine was missing from the kithen several days'in a row, so he told his superior.   The superior told him to follow the boy the next time he went into the attic, which  he did.
What he saw was a miracle:.....the man,  who was the crucified Jesus-had come down from the cross to sit and eat with Marcellino telling the boy that from now on his name would be "Marcellino Pan Y Vino"
Jesus also thanked him for feeding Him and told him He wanted to reward him.  When Jesus asked him what  he most desired from his heart,  the little boy  answered,  "I would like to see my mother",.....and there, he died in Jesus' arms to join his mother.
This movie is based on a true story, it took place in the 1600s. The original movie was done is spanish, and then in Italian.

I believe this film is available on DVD or vhs at :   www.amazon .com

Hope this is of help to you.
Jim K.