Emilio Sanz de Soto–Lyons was born on October 6, 1924 in Málaga, Spain, and he died on November 23, 2007 in Madrid. Although born in Málaga, Emilio Sanz de Soto was one of the great leaders of the cultural life of Tangier during the 1950s, 60s and 70s. He was a film historian and art critic, and he wrote numerous articles in magazines and newspapers. Although he studied law, did not go into the legal profession, devoting his life to art, especially the cinema, and working with filmmakers such as Luis Bunuel and Carlos Saura.
Emilio Sanz de Soto was one of the most relevant and cultured Tangerine figures, funny and witty, and a living encyclopedia of film, the arts and literature. His many friends in Tánger included Paul Bowles, Jane Bowles (who he adored), Truman Capote, William Burroughs, Tennessee Williams, Ángel Vázquez (Molina), the artists Francis Bacon and Ahmed Yacoubi, the British photographer Cecil Beaton, Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Taylor, Errol Flynn, Orson Welles, Carmen Laforet, José Hernandez, Gore Vidal, José Carleton, Edouard Roditti, Paul Runyan and a host of other characters in the legendary city. He was also a theater commentator and critic ("cahiers du cinema") for the magazine Triunfo, and a professor at Universidades Americanas. Among the films that Emilio Sanz de Soto participated in are: Dulces horas (1982); La Madriguera (1969); Peppermint Frappé (1967); Stress-Es Tres-Tres (1968), and Llanto por un bandido (1964).