La pensionnaire

In LA SPIAGGIA ("The Beach") Martine Carol plays Annamaria, a good-natured prostitute who takes her young daughter from convent school with her on a summer vacation at a fancy beach resort. At first she passes as a respectable woman but gradually as the truth about her profession comes to light things turn a little nasty. Those who were friendly to her at first become hostile. This racy and pungent anti-bourgeois and anti-hypocrisy "commedia all'italiana" was not widely shown when first released in America because of its then-risque' subject matter. Raf Vallone also stars. Director Alberto Lattuada was very skilled with this kind of material.

The films of Alberto Lattuarda, although variable, are known for their elegance and technical polish, this being no exception. The colour is sumptuous and everyone looks gorgeous but a film featuring mainly vain, shallow, idle and vacuous characters is hardly likely to hold one's interest for long.

The best moments by far come towards the end when the true nature of Annamaria's past is revealed and she is given a second chance by an elderly, cynical millionaire. Fifties sex siren Martine Carol as Annamaria is of course a feast for the eye and very touching in the scenes with her daughter but the excellent Raf Vallone is wasted.

Considered 'daring' at the time it now appears rather tame and its subsequent status as one of the 'Hundred Italian films to be saved' remains, to this viewer at any rate, something of a mystery.