The Road to Salina

Robert Walker, Jr. Is travelling the titular road when he comes across a small gas station/café in the middle of nowhere. Desperate to seek shelter from the desert sun, he encounters Rita Hayworth, the owner, who declares that he's her son "Rocky".

Walker plays along mostly because he needs a place to stay, but becomes increasingly confused when family friend Ed Begley, and then his "sister" Mimsy Farmer don't question his identity. Investigation reveals that he looks nothing like Rocky, and when he confronts Farmer she initiates a sexual relationship.

Where is Rocky and why is everyone so committed to him being Rocky?

This Italian/French co-production was Georges Lautner's only English-language film. He was a very successful director of crime films that never really made sizeable inroads to North America, and this was clearly designed to address that. It feels nothing like any of his other films. It's a lightly existential, sun drenched noir that feels very much of a piece a certain kind of vaguely countercultural films coming out of Europe at the time. The presence of Farmer and the (really quite good) Pink Floyd-influenced score reminds me Barbet Schroeder's "More", even though the plot couldn't be less similar.

It's shot off the coast of Spain and has the Sunny, desolate look of most of the European films shot there in this period. It's an intriguing little film with good performances all around and prodigious nudity from both Walker and Farmer. My only real complaint is that the whole thing has a flashback structure that leads to an utterly pointless narration by Walker popping up periodically.

Robert Walker Jr (Jonas) drifts his way to an isolated petrol station in the middle of nowhere run by Rita Hayworth (Mara). She's nuts and thinks he's her son. She also has a daughter Mimsy Farmer (Billie) who lives with her. Weirdo hanger-on Ed Begley (Warren) also acknowledges Walker Jr. as Hayworth's son. Just what is going on in this crazy place?

First of all, who is who in this film? Is Hayworth telling the truth? Is Farmer really her daughter? Why is everyone seemingly playing along with a lie? And what about the whole brother/sister love angle? Too weird.

The film is, unfortunately, very slow moving and Farmer is very unconvincing in her role. Her smile is just too plastic for words. I fell asleep during this film but so what. I bet nothing happened. Walker Jr. got a few clues as to who is telling the truth. Nobody cares. It's a boring film with a sick premise and is totally unrealistic and pretty confusing, especially at the beginning. Anyone normal would have just left, especially when an old friend turns up. That's it, leave. End of stupid film.

Road to Salina is a sadly over looked film that has allot of what people can enjoy in a movie. Of course you have to be into the whole open idea about the film's theme of a suggestive incest. From the start there is a tension set in the film (thanks to Barbet Schroeder)that will hold your attention. Many people wish to see Rita Hayworth's last film. If you get a chance to watch it be sure you are in the mood (70's....) to give it time to build to the climax... you might be amused with the ending.

Georges Lautner is far from being an accursed director:his career is full of these comedies "à la française " the likes of "la grande sauterelle", "les tontons flingueurs" "ne nous fâchons pas" which are not exactly what we call artistic ambitions.But there are exceptions: at least three of his works are worthy of investigation:the first one is "le septième juré " in the early sixties ,a mesmerizing study of a bourgeois's psychopathology ,masterfully portrayed by Bernard Blier;in the late eighties ,he made a stunning return to rural melodrama with "la maison assassinée" ,an unfairly overlooked movie.The third one is "la route de Salina".

First of all,the cast is amazing:Rita Hayworth directed by a Froggy!And ,most amazing thing,she portrays a mad woman :it was to be one of her last parts ;soon she was to get Alzheimer's .Robert Walker jr,Jennifer Jones 's son, plays a young man whom she mistakes for her own son;beautiful Mimsy Farmer is his so-called sister,with whom he soon has a love affair.More a psychological drama than a detective story,and despite several steamy love scenes ,it's a rather austere and slow-moving story.

What seems dated today is just that :the hippie side,swimming in the nude (probably inspired by Schroeder's "more" (1969) which features Farmer as well),a soundtrack made up of hip pop music (Jethro Tull 's "bourrée").

But what remains is intriguing,often spellbinding and would deserve a better rating.Lautner succeeded in creating a sultry atmosphere,turning to good account his offbeat cast,including Ed Beagley as a good-natured neighbor.The characters' psychology is more complex than it appears at first sight,particularly Billie's (Farmer).We soon discover she's as crazy as her mother .

The story is told by the hero,and is a long flashback . "La route de Salina" was not really a blockbuster for Lautner who would be soon returning to his favorite "style" ("Il était une fois un flic",1972)

One of my favorite films of all time, maybe even my very fave. A drifter lands in a situation in the middle of nowhere, pretending to be a long-lost son in order to shack up for a while. But what seems simple gets really complicated for him, as he's faced with situations that make him get deeper involved than he ever intended. This film never bores and has many great twists and turns, as the viewer tries to determine just who knows what, and what everyone's motives may be. The cast is just great, and the final moments of the film where it all comes together are incredible. I always felt the photography, direction, and music gave this film a certain 'feel" that's hard to match. It shows the remoteness and desperation of the characters, to whom loneliness is the most dreaded disease. A DVD release would be a godsend.