Pedro Almodovar's latest film, Volver, stars Penelope Cruz

Classics such as All About My Mother and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown will be shown in 50 cities to raise interest in the director's work.

Several of the films have not been seen in the US since their original release.

Volver won several prizes at the Cannes film festival this year, including a collective best actress award for the female cast, led by Penelope Cruz.

Almodovar, 54, is one of Spain's most celebrated film directors.

Oscar voters have honoured him twice, naming All About My Mother best foreign film in 2000, and Talk To Her best original screenplay two years later.

Early career

Pedro Almodovar has directed 15 feature films

Almodovar was born in the town of Calzada de Calatrava in 1951.

He moved to Madrid at the age of 16, working in a flea market while he saved to buy a Super 8 camera.

In the 1970s he made several short films, mainly sex comedies, as well as writing the fictional diary of a porn star and singing in a rock group.

Almodovar's first full-length feature was 1980's Pepi, Luci, Bom, but he did not make an impact on the international scene until 1988's colourful farce Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown.

He is often described as a "women's director" because many of his films have revolved around strong, sympathetic female characters.

The films being re-released include Matador, Law of Desire, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and All About My Mother.