The Night Heaven Fell

It is difficult to find a point of interest in this film except if you are a male looking for a scantily clad Bardot or interested in watching the miserable way of life in south Spain during Franco's period. Spanish most poor gypsies lived in sacromonte, near Granada, in caves dug in the rock because they couldn't even afford to live in a shanty. Rural southern Spain was a combination of misery and illiteracy where only the local cacique had things like running water or electricity. In this context is set this movie, where a girl just released from a convent and without a bit of shyness arrives to join their uncles. Miss Bardot's brat dumb character is so infamously used to exploit her anathomy at the slightest opportunity that it cringes to say the least. Although mr. Boyd's character is not far behind in terms of silliness. What else to say except that best acting - if that means a thing in a film like this- comes from totally wasted Alida Valli, Stephen Boyd (Messala, where are you?) and - in a brief appearance- Fernando Rey (miles away from French Connection) who do the best they can with the poor material they are given. All in all, a movie made to the greater glory of miss Bardot that does not deserve a watching.

Although this movie has much to do with the Spanish sense of pride and honor, its real issue is a fierce competition between the beauty of Brigitte Bardot and that of the landscape of Southern Spain. As Bardot's performance is pretty uninspired here, this time the scenery wins.

'Les bijoutiers du clair de lune' makes good watching for its enjoyable shots. As for Bardot, she certainly did better in other movies.

The spoiled Ursula de Fonte (Brigitte Bardot) leaves the convent where she was educated to live with her Aunt Florentine (Alida Valli) and her tutor and uncle, Count Miguel de Ribera (Pepe Nieto), in a farm nearby a village in Spain. While driving through the village, Ursula sees the local dweller Lamberto (Stephen Boyd) accusing her uncle of being responsible for the suicide of his sister. Lamberto goes to the farm to fight against Miguel but he is beaten up.

Ursula falls in love with Lamberto but sooner she finds that he is Florentine's lover. When Miguel finds Lamberto in his real state, he shoots the trespasser and Lamberto stabs and kills Miguel. Ursula helps Lamberto to flee and they are chased by the police. Ursula becomes his lover and their love ends in tragedy.

"Les Bijoutiers du Clair de Lune" is a silly melodramatic romance by Roger Vadim. I saw this film many years ago on cable television and I have just seen it again on DVD.

The plot is absolutely ridiculous, with a terrible story and characters. Brigitte Bardot never convinces as a virgin girl that was raised in a convent and her character is annoyingly hysterical. Stephen Boyd also does not convince as a Spaniard and his wolf character is very unpleasant. The gorgeous Alida Valli has good performance in the role of a repressed woman that falls in an unrequited love with Lamberto, but the poor script does not help her.

In addition to Alida Valli, the locations and the beauty and erotic situations of BB are the best that "Les Bijoutiers du Clair de Lune" can offer, but it is very few to enjoy this film. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): "Ao Cair da Noite" ("Near Nightfall")

This 1958 "boy-meets-girl" romantic-drama is a completely contrived "Roger Vadim" production where (as expected) Vadim takes every opportunity imaginable to parade his wife at the time (actress, Brigitte Bardot) in as little clothing as possible. (Va-Voom!)

This French production also stars Irish macho-man, actor, Stephen Boyd who gives it his best shot in his futile attempt to project as much masculine sexuality as possible (trying, of course, to keep on par with the sensually smoldering Bardot).

I honestly have to tell you that I found "The Night Heaven Fell" to be quite a peculiar movie-experience where a lot of the serious situations actually came across as being unintentionally laughable, while, on the other hand, much if the intentionally humorous moments failed to produce even the slight chuckle from me at all.

This is by far my favorite Brigitte Bardot movie! I love the Spanish scenery, I love her costumes, love the pulp-fiction semi-exploitation which Vadim teases us with, and I love Bardot's chemistry with Stephen Boyd (Ben Hur's 'Messala'). They make an absolutely sizzling screen pair together, and they look gorgeous. Boyd was one of her few English speaking co-stars (the first since Dirk Bogarde in 'Doctor at Sea', in fact). Boyd is like a hot-tempered bull in this. Even though he is dubbed, it doesn't detract from his performance. His muscular physique adds to the tension between himself and Bardot, who matches his intensity. Vadim's movies are always fun to watch, but I like the one in particular. It's just a sexy movie. He has a great way of directing Bardot and bringing out her best characteristics. Alida Valli is great as the seduced, then spurned woman. Can't ask for better entertainment in my opinion.