Die barfüßige Gräfin (1954)
18KDie barfüßige Gräfin: Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. With Humphrey Bogart, Ava Gardner, Edmond O’Brien, Marius Goring. This is the life of a Hollywood movie star named Maria, as told by writer/director Harry et al, from being discovered in Madrid, Spain, until her funeral in Italy.
“The film begins in Spain where a totally obnoxious and evil rich producer (Warren Stevens) has come to offer a talented Spanish lady (Ava Gardner) a film contract. His entourage includes an alcoholic director who is on the wagon (Humphrey Bogart) and a fast-talking idiot PR man (Edmund Ou0026#39;Brien). Ms. Gardner makes it big in Hollywood, but seems bored with it all and spends much of the rest of the movie running from herself until a very tragic conclusion.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAside from a few clichés here and there, this is a pretty good film and has a pretty cynical view of stardom. However, I also felt pretty annoyed at times during the picture because most of the characters in the film are amazingly wealthy and/or famous and they spend all their time whining about how bored they are!! This is exactly the sort of film that gives Communist revolutionaries the incentive to destroy the u0026#39;decadent Capitalistsu0026#39;! The character Ava Gardner played was on top of the world but also spent much of the film in a depressed stupor and the rich guys around her were ALL selfish louts. In fact, the only decent person in the entire film was Bogart.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhile very watchable, the film is highly reminiscent of the Godard film, CONTEMPT, as well as THE SUN ALSO RISES (also starring Gardner). Itu0026#39;s almost like the producers of the these other two films teased apart THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA and broke it into two films.”
