La Blonde enjôleuse

La Ragazza Del Palio is a good example of what happened to some of Italian Cinema in the 50s.Luigi Zampa, a good director previously associated with neo realism, here presides over a predictable romantic comedy of a US tourist lady (played by a British actress) who meets cute with a local Siena aristocrat, squabbles with him when he crashes into her car, tries to seduce her and then cheats in the famous yearly horse race,but later falls right into his arms. The film though offers several sensuous enjoyments.Besides the busty Diana Dors in the lead there are the pretty historic architecture of Siena and the surrounding settings of Tuscany, the punchy primary colors of Giuseppe Rottuno's lensing as shot in the then new and imposing Technirama process, and a lush, lovely score by Renzo Rossellini. It is light entertainment capably done and when the bambini look on at the end as the two lovers kiss, the viewer can't help but smile.