The Little Colonel (Spanish: El pequeño coronel) is a 1960 Spanish historical musical film directed by Antonio del Amo and starring Joselito (Joselito Alvear), Carlos Larrañaga (Don Eduardo) and María Mahor (Teresa).
Joselito, the only son of a Spanish noble gone to the Americas, lives peacefully with his servants and tutors in his estate near Seville. But when his father dies he ends up under the care of his evil uncle Don Martín, who aspires to fortune and higher social status, and who eventually tries to kill him. With the help of Don Eduardo, one of his father's officers, Teresa, his fiancée, and a rag-tag band of bandits, the Cucú band, Joselito discovers the truth about Don Martín and fights to regain his rightful place.
This works contains examples of:
- Abusive Parents: Or in this case, abusive guardian.
- A Child Shall Lead Them: Joselito becomes the leader of the bandits.
- Affably Evil: Don Martín.
- Artistic License – History: The supposedly late 18th century constumes are not exactly accurate.
- Bad People Abuse Animals: Don Martín's defining character moment is beating Lucero, Joselito's white horse.
- Bandit Clan: Both the evil bandits and the Cucú band.
- Black-and-White Morality: The obviously good guys are good and the obviously bad guys are bad, no questions. There is a minor subversion when Vinagre, one of the good bandits, seemingly betrays the gang, but it is later revealed that it was Joselito's plan all along.
- Bratty Half-Pint: Joselito, the master of the house, does not hesitate to talk back to his tutors or even to shoot at servants to prank them.
- Child Prodigy: Joselito, in-universe as well as in real life.
- Classical Music Is Boring: Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtsmusik is sung by Joselito as flamenco, and he prefers to sing with gypsy musicians.
- Con Man: Don Martín.
- Educational Song: Se conoce al caballero teaches manners and gives out life advice to the viewers.
- Evil Minions: The evil bandits are this to Don Martín.
- Evil Uncle: Don Martín, apparently.
- Folk Music: Flamenco and pop-flamenco are the main styles of Joselito's songs.
- Grief Song: Caballito lucero.
- Hated by All: The entire staff hates Don Martín.
- Heartwarming Orphan: A staple of Joselito movies, and this one is no exception. His mother is already dead at the beginning of the film, and his father dies at war not long after.
- Lonely Rich Kid: Underplayed, but Joselito has no friends his age, and his only friends are his household servants.
- Rock Me, Amadeus!: Mozart's music features in the soundtrack.
- The Runaway: Joselito runs away from home and into the Andalusian countryside.
- Triumphant Reprise: Early-movie La banda del cucú turns into El pequeño coronel for the finale.
- Snooping Little Kid: Joselito overhears the bad guys' plan.
- Wise Beyond Their Years: Joselito proves to be this, as he takes care of the bandits and is the mastermind of the good guys' plan to reveal Don Martín as an impostor.
