The Barefoot Contessa (1954)
The world's most beautiful animal!
The Barefoot Contessa tagline
In short: Wall Street mogul Kirk Edwards decides to venture into film production, and enlists the help of a director, a publicist and a stroppy Italian beauty. He soon discovers that in the long run people are even more difficult to manipulate than the money markets.
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A strong cast and consistently intriguing characters turn this acidic look at the movie-making business into a great film. What could have been stock characters are memorably fleshed out by Edmond O'Brien (kow-towing publicist Oscar Muldoon), Humphrey Bogart (down-on-his-luck alcoholic director Harry Dawes), Ava Gardner (starlet-to-be Maria Vargas) and Warren Stevens (producer Kirk Edwards). O'Brien won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
I loved the interaction between Edwards and his employees. Harry Dawes is washed-up, world-weary and cynical, and not at all awed by Edwards and his money. He sees clearly. Since he knows that standing on his dignity and principles will simply cost him his much needed job, he does what he is told. Or appears to - it is clear that there is a limit to what he is prepared to do to another for the sake of making films. The glib O'Brien, ever-perspiring, and ever at Edwards's beck and call, is all obedience and subservience; he prostitutes himself for his job and will try and find a way to profit from any event and situation.
The scene in the restaurant where we first meet Maria is a fine example of the game Edwards likes to play, and the extent to which he controls each of the others. O'Brien seems to have no will of his own, but it is Harry Dawes's common sense which makes him relent and obey when ordered to fetch Maria to the table. He can either give in or lose his job, it's that simple. Maria Vargas is different. From the moment that Edwards sends for her she attempts to control her own destiny. She refuses to come to the table until she has made her point, until she can meet Edwards on her own terms. Having set the stage herself, she starts a career as Hollywood's latest sensation.
For a cast and crew overview and relevant links go to the next page.
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