The barefoot countess

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Movie
German title The barefoot countess
Original title The Barefoot Contessa
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1954
length 128 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Joseph L. Mankiewicz
script Joseph L. Mankiewicz
production Joseph L. Mankiewicz
music Mario Nascimbene
camera Jack Cardiff
cut William Hornbeck
occupation
synchronization

The barefoot countess (original title: The Barefoot Contessa ) is an American drama film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz from 1954. The main role was played by Ava Gardner . Humphrey Bogart and Edmond O'Brien can be seen in important supporting roles.

action

Film director Harry Dawes has seen better days before. When he came to Madrid for test shoots with the unknown Maria Vargas, his arrogant financier almost thwarted his plans. Dawes can only persuade the attractive dancer to a contract with great difficulty, and the first joint film is a great success. Maria Vargas becomes the male-court star Maria d'Amata. But at first she also remains aloof to the rich South American Bravano.

When Bravano becomes too pushy in a casino , the Italian Count Vincenzo Torlato-Favrini comes to her aid - the beginning of a great love. But Harry, who is the best man at the upcoming wedding, doubts that Maria can be really happy with Vincenzo. Soon his doubts are tragically confirmed: Vincenzo is impotent due to a war wound, which Maria only learns about after the wedding. Frustrated, she takes a lover and becomes pregnant. Vincenzo shoots her and lives with Dawes and other of Maria's companions at her funeral before he is taken away by the police.

background

The role of Maria Vargas was initially offered to Rita Hayworth . This declined, however, because the film plot apparently showed too strong parallels to her own biography.

Reviews

"With its approaches to social criticism, its cynical philosophy, intelligent dialogues and precise cast right down to the supporting roles, the film leaves an ambivalent impression," said the lexicon of international films . The film drama is "[a] ls typical Hollywood product of its time nevertheless interesting". The TV magazine Prisma wrote that The Barefoot Countess was "often very cynical and extremely critical of society". Parts of the film are “quite pseudo-philosophical and therefore too long”. Thanks to a “perfect cast” it still offers “good entertainment”.

Cinema described the film as an "anti-fairy tale" that was "played well" but whose "criticism of the system [...] was rather tame". The conclusion was: "Noble bitter billing with the star myth."

Awards

Edmond O'Brien won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in 1955 . He was also nominated for the New York Film Critics Circle Award . Joseph L. Mankiewicz was nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars . His script also received a Writers Guild of America Award nomination .

synchronization

role actor Voice actor
Harry Dawes Humphrey Bogart Paul Klinger
Maria Vargas Ava Gardner Edith Schneider
Oscar Muldoon Edmond O'Brien Wolfgang Lukschy
Alberto Bravano Marius Goring Klaus Miedel
Eleanora Torlato-Favrini Valentina Cortese Tilly Lauenstein
Count Vincenzo Torlato-Favrini Rossano Brazzi Curt Ackermann
Kirk Edwards Warren Stevens Heinz Dragon
Pedro Vargas Franco Interlenghi Herbert Stass
Night club owners Alberto Rabagliati Erich Fiedler
J. Montague Brown Bill Fraser Paul Wagner
Mr. Max Black John Parrish Siegfried Schürenberg
Mr. Blue Jim Gérald Eduard Wandrey

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The barefoot countess. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed July 23, 2018 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used 
  2. ↑ See prisma.de
  3. ↑ See cinema.de
  4. ↑ The barefoot countess. In: synchronkartei.de. German dubbing index , accessed on July 23, 2018 .