Fieras sin jaula

Not sure if this film evens answers to my own personal definitions of being a Giallo, but for sure it's a typically vile and sinister early 70s exploitation product like only the Italians could make them!

The sensationally beautiful Rosalba Neri ("Lady Frankenstein", "The French Sex Murders") stars as what you'd refer to as the ultimate gold-digger gal. She, Alexa, is determined to marry a rich old man, and doesn't waste any time as she easily seduces her college friend's wealthy father Ronald Marvelling, who's a widower and a frequently traveling business tycoon. Alexa also doesn't have the decency - or the patience - to wait for him to die and collect the inheritance, but promptly begins a steaming love-affair with the hunky Pietro. Unfortunately, but not entirely unpredictably, Ronald didn't get so rich and powerful because he's a weak and pitiable victim. He finds out about his young wife's adultery and prepares for a deadly trap in their little love nest. Ronald kills himself (or dies from a heart-attack, that wasn't very clear) in front of the couple, and promptly the bedroom turns into a hermetically sealed and inescapable tomb.

The original (for 1971, at least) premise, the absorbing narrative structure (through non-chronological flashbacks), and the convincing performances of both Rosalba Neri & Curd Jürgens are enough reasons for me to label "Two Males for Alexa" as a worthwhile cult flick. I do regret not being able to find a fully uncut version, though. In the barely 80 minutes version I watched, there isn't a single nude sequence (which is simply impossible in a Rosalba Neri film) and the already limited number of action footage is missing as well. Can't say for sure if "Two Males for Alexa" formed the inspiration, but similar plots featured more recently in other (modest) cult movies like "Alexandra's Project", "Gerald's Game", and "Till Death".

This Spanish/Italian co-production deals with a young girl : Rosalba Neri-mother of actress Francesca Neri- marries the rich father of one of her best friends : Emma Cohen . However, soon finds herself in love with a playboy: Juan Luis Galiardo . The elderly husband : Curd Jurgens to be aware of the treason , and he then will seek for retribution.

An acceptable thriller drama with intrigue , suspense, plot twists , brief nudism and made in Gialloesque style. A twisted and entertaining film about an interesting premise , the vengeance carried out buy an old man against his young wife who has an affaire with a virile boy by having the pair looked at a room in an isolated , far mansion .Trio starring are pretty well, Juan Luis Galiardo as the seducer macho man, gorgeous Rosalba Neri as the young girl who romances a hustler lover and veteran Curd Jurgens as the wealthy old hubby betrayed by a very young woman . They are well accompanied by a good support providing brief but attractive interpretations, such as : Emma Cohen, Manolo Otero , Ricardo Tundidor , Pilar Velazquez , and Eduardo Calvo .

It contains an atmospheric musical score by synthesizer composed by the Italian Piero Piccioni .As well as faded and worn-out cinematography by Florentini , being really necessary a perfect remastering . The picture was decently directed by Juan Logar. He was a multifaceted man , as he was a writer , dubbing actor, composer , producer and filmmaker , directing a few movies such as : "Aun hay tiempo , Quiero soñar, Autopsia , Trasplante de un cerebro , El perfil de Satanás, and this Fieras sin Jaula" at his best . Rating : 6/10 . Acceptable and passable . The picture will appeal to Rosalba Neri fans .

What is the price they have to pay, those who cheat in love, the adulterers? They deserve death? One thing is certain, for those who are cheated, life is not life anymore, it becomes unbearable, it becomes a slow death. I saw Curd Jürgens in many movies and I do not consider myself a fan of. But here I liked it how he lived Ronald Marvelling's character. Rosalba Neri, which usually shows her charms (neither here no exception), shows that she can also play well, she's not brilliant, but convincing. Juan Luis Galiardo is OK in the role of Pietro too. Emma Cohen is also credible in the role of Catherine. Piero Piccioni's music is not amazing, just functional. In conclusion, a good movie, except the end, which is disappointing.

Old school giallo with a much different premise, told mainly in flashback, so although there's a lack of gore, things still feel pretty refreshing.

What you have here is the story of Alexa, a young Rosalba Neri who has married an old Curt Jurgens, much to the annoyance of her fellow student Emma Cohen, mainly because Curt is her dad. We find out right away that Rosalba is having an affair with hunky Pietro, and both of them aren't so discreet about what they are up to (check them out on the beach at the start of the film. Rosalba's standing there in the buff when there's clearly passers-by getting on about their business. Intentionally left in? Who knows.)

At the same time we see this, we were also shown that Rosalba's husband is up to something at their little love nest, checking doors, windows and such like, so we get the drop that he knows about the affair and is planning on doing something too. What it is though I'm not revealing, as it puts a nice twist on the tired genre and sets up the story for flashback city, and of course further twist.

Usually these films have people scheming against each other and everything comes to a head, but by playing these cards early you do get caught up in the story and wonder what's going to become of the main characters. As usual, Rosalba Neri, although frequently shedding clothes, is also a good actress, so you get to feel her pain. On the other hand, Emma Cohen gets underused as Curt Jurgen's daughter.

A good film about bad decisions and regrets. And greed.

This movie is about a young woman who marries the wealthy father of a university friend, but quickly falls in love with a younger man. The jilted husband hatches an unusual plan for revenge by framing the adulterous couple with his own murder and sealing them in a room in his isolated villa with his dead body. Since most of this movie takes place in a single location,the movie quickly becomes paranoid and claustrophobic as the young couple fall apart debating about what has happened and what to do about it.

This Italian-Spanish co-production to some extent resembles the then popular Italian gialli, but it lacks a lot of the more garish and delirious elements of that genre. It stars Rosalba Neri as the unfaithful wife (who was perhaps a little long in the tooth to be playing a university student). Unfortunately, the dubbed Spanish-language copy I saw edited out all of her no doubt copious nude scenes as Spanish censors at that time was wont to do (Damn Generalisismo Franco! First, he kills hundreds of thousands of people, then he sets up a 40 year fascist dictatorship, and now this!).

This was obviously a very low-budget movie and it's very limited in its sets, but at least it doesn't last long enough for anyone to get too bored. The version I saw (on Mexican television) looked pretty decent at least, but I would have preferred an unedited version (and with some English subtitles). Worth a look though I guess.

Addendum: I recently saw the French version, which does have some brief nudity from Neri (but still might be cut). Unfortunately, this probably doesn't justify the crappy looking, full-screen presentation, but if you find the English-subtitled version the previous reviewer mentioned, well, maybe. . .