baronpantoufle

Watch it for a radiant Julie Christie, who was never more lovely or charming.

Watch it for nice shots of Venice looking wonderfully seedy and decrepit.

But what the the director was trying to do, I am not sure. He is one of those artists that Criterion and others always praise as a genius. Gimme a break.

So many elements thrown into the mix, suggesting the supernatural and Lord knows what, and in the end it all amounts to a big fat zero.

For example, little things, like the bishop looking all mysterious and distrubed, and suddenly waking in the middle of the night as the climax nears. But that's just another red herring. One of many.

Just an OK movie to kill a rainy afternoon. But a masterpiece? No. Not even as good as Hitchcock at his worst.

I know how you feel: wow! Marlon Brando and, and, wow, just so many big names from that era and people who were not yet big but were on the way, and a well-known director and a screenplay by no less a talent that Lillian Hellman! What could possibly go wrong?

Everything.

I stumbled on this one on Criterion and wondered how it is I don't remember ever having heard of it.

Turns out there is a reason for that. Some movies are better forgotten. They just were doomed from the start. This is one of them.

But Marlon Brando! Redford and Jane Fonda!

Yes, it is too good to be true.

It is simply a mess.

Let's just move on....