The Vintage

For a French audience,the main interest lies in the presence of Michèle Morgan,cast against type as a peasant woman (and a brunette).French oldies buff will recognize Helena Manson,Marcel Peres and Jacques Marin in small parts.

it's difficult to believe John Kerr and the late Mel Ferrer are brothers on the lam,for the youngest committed a crime in his native Italy .Filmed on location near Marseille ,its best scenes depict grape harvest fifty years ago.But the story is too derivative to be really exciting;too much of it is predictable .

It will remind French people of a time when Italians were emigrating into their country,an age that has gone.

Crossing the border to France from their native Italy are runaway brothers Mel Ferrer (as Giancarlo Barandero) and John Kerr (as Ernesto Barandero). The younger Mr. Kerr is wanted for murder. Looking for jobs as "pickers" for "The Vintage" (grape crop) brings the two men to a vineyard run by Leif Erickson (as Louis Morel) and his earthy wife Michele Morgan (as Leone). Her young and beautiful sister Pier Angeli (as Lucienne) looks riper than the grapes, though she is due to marry Jack Mullaney (as Etienne Morel). The fugitive men stir up desire in the womenfolk. You would expect this group to ignite some passion on the screen, but no. Only the scenery seems real.

**** The Vintage (5/8/57) Jeffrey Hayden ~ Mel Ferrer, Pier Angeli, John Kerr, Michele Morgan