La noia

'The Empty Canvas' of Alberto Moravia's novel literally represents the emptiness of life of mediocre painter Dino. He finds solace with a tantalising but vacuous teenage girl whose lies and infidelities almost destroy his sanity until a near-fatal rendezvous with Death brings him to his senses........

As Dino's mother we have the riveting Bette Davis in the first of her two Italian films. She is adequately dubbed by character actress Rina Morelli but with Miss Davis of course, it is her looks that speak volumes. Her son, who affects to despise money but still sponges off her, is played by Horst Bucholz, not the easiest actor to get along with by all accounts. He has a definite presence and convey's well enough his character's Existential angst. Catherine Spaak is physically ideal as his female Nemesis. There are small but telling appearances by Isa Miranda, Lea Padovani and Georges Wilson whilst Daniella Rocca in a maid's outfit is actually far sexier than a naked Miss Spaak covered in bank notes!

Moravia himself referred to his novel as being about 'my kind of boredom' and in this adaptation even the sex is boring. The film itself alas is also a bit of a bore. Damiano Damiani's direction lacks the touch of a master and reminds us that Antonioni and Bolognini do this sort of thing so much better.