Verano azul
Verano azul is a Spanish television drama series directed by Antonio Mercero. It was first broadcast on La Primera Cadena of Televisión Española from October 11, 1981 to February 14, 1982.
The series tells the adventures of a group of youngsters between the ages of 9 and 17, while on summer vacation in a small coastal town on the Spanish Mediterranean Costa del Sol.
With 19 episodes, it drew up to 20 million viewers in Spain and has been re-run several times since then. It was also broadcast in Latin America, Portugal, France, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Poland and Czechoslovakia.
Characters
- Chanquete, a sailor who lives in La Dorada 1ª, a fishing boat set up as a house on land near a cliff. He was born in 1924.
- Julia is a lonely painter on vacation in the town. In the chapter "The Rainbow Smile" the reason for her loneliness is revealed. She was born in 1948.
- Pancho García is from the town and works as a delivery man for a grocery store run by his uncles, with whom he lives. He is the character with the most personality in the gang, that is because his parents died. He was born in 1965.
- Javi is the leader of the gang. Proud, haughty and independent, he often clashes with his father, a defender of a strong hand and old values. He was born in 1967.
- Bea, Tito's sister, is the beautiful official of the group, whose love Javi and Pancho dispute throughout the series. She was born in 1967.
- Desi, an inseparable friend of Bea and the daughter of separated parents, which at the time was a novelty: such a scandal is a common comment among the other boys' parents. She was born in 1967.
- Tito, brother of Bea and is the smallest of the gang. Piranha's partner in arms. He was born in 1973.
- Piraña, his name is Manuel, but they call him Piraña because of his passion for eating, bordering on voracity. He is witty and cultured, and Tito's comrade-in-arms. He was born in 1972.
- Quique, is Javi's best friend, located between the two older boys and the two younger ones, he is a somewhat blurred character. We know he even has a sister, but he wasn't part of the gang. He was born in 1968.
- Agustín is the father of Bea and Tito, calm and always open to dialogue with his children.
- Carmen is the mother of Bea and Tito.
- Javier is Javi's father, an authoritarian who cares a lot about business.
- Luisa is Javi's mother.
- Jorge is Desi's father. He only appears in one chapter, "The Visitor".
- Pilar is Desi's mother, who is separated from Jorge, her husband. In the series Farmacia de guardia, also directed by Antonio Mercero, these two actors are the protagonists and they are divorced.
- Cosme is Piranha's father.
- Nati is the mother of Piraña.
- Enrique is Quique's father.
- Mercedes is Quique's mother.
- Frasco is the owner of the bar where Chanquete usually goes to play dominoes and drink slugs. He is also one of his best friends. In one of the chapters he comes to use force, shotgun in hand, when he believes Chanquete has been killed.
- Buzo is one of Chanquete's friends. He is characterized by his constant sadness and his weary resignation.
- Epifanio is the mayor of the town. He almost always smokes Havana cigars.
- Don José is the town doctor.
- Mari Luz is Desi's aunt, who lives with her sister Pilar and her niece. She can't stand her brother-in-law.
- Floro is a municipal police officer.
- Barrilete is another municipal police officer, immensely plump and good-natured.
- Hospital Director is the Director of the hospital where Chanquete is admitted.
- Carmen Martínez Sierra as a woman in a beach.
Production