Fedra West

If you are wondering why this was titled Fedra West, it's a not so subtle reference to Phaedra of Greek myth. Wife of Theseus (Clash of the Titans), she fell in love with Hippolytus, son of Theseus. When Theseus found out, it wasn't a happy ending for anyone involved. In this version, filmed in lovely Almeria in Spain, James Philbrook is Don Ramon, a wealthy landowner, Simon Andreu is his son Stuart, and Norma Bengell is Fedra, Don Ramon's wife, who loves his son.

It's a heavy, plot-ridden story without much room for the typical spaghetti situations. The music by Piero Piccioni is among the best the genre has to offer. Philbrook has gravitas and is good in the role, Andreu is adequate, and Bengell is just wrong for the role of Fedra. You just cannot understand why she inspires such passion in either man.

It's okay, but hardly the genre's finest moment. Romeo and Juliet fared much better in THE FURY OF JOHNNY KID. For hardcore fans of SWs only.