Für ihn verkauf' ich mich

This is a comparatively obscure entry in the Luis Bunuel canon and although the whole is less than the sum of its parts, this never less than intriguing director has given us a combination of pot boiler and seering political statement.

The mercurial and charismatic Gérard Philippe plays a man whose idealistic principles cause incalculable damage and the poignancy of his well-meaning but tragic character is enhanced by a visibly ailing actor who was to die of liver cancer four months after filming was completed.

It must be said that the 'fever' of the title doesn't really amount to much as the anticipated mutiny by the prisoners takes place off screen but of course the temperature is guaranteed to rise and the pulse to quicken whenever the force of nature that is Maria Félix is on the premises. The film's most effective scene, for this viewer at any rate, is that in which her apparent submission to Jean Servais is in fact a triumph of dominance. Servais is a splendid villain and as always, his soulful expression evinces our sympathy no matter how nefarious the character he is playing.

Bunuel was not especially fond of this film and evidently regretted not having provided Philippe with a more worthy swansong. During the filming Bunuel happened to ask his leading man: "Why did you agree to make this film?" When Philippe said: "I don't know. And you?" the director replied: "I don't know either."