The question of immediacy in the distribution of messages through the visual channels tends to arouse the deep concern of the authorities. The prevent the circulation of ideas that are contrary to the nation's interest, restrictive measures are taken through official channels. The purpose of this paper is to examine the importance of the ministerial guidelines that affected the free translation and distribution of films during Franco's dictatorship in Spain (1939-1975). The mandatory use of the native language (Spanish) under the pressure of politics and ideology not only had an effect on the particular film translation strategy of the period but also continues to determine the preference of the movie audience in Spanish for dubbing.