Fuego

Engineer Vance Pierson moves to Spain, where he will oversee the construction of his invention: a generator shaped like a ferris wheel. He meets a desperate young woman, Laura, who is trying to burn down her home for the insurance money she so badly needs. He stops the woman and they become passionate lovers. But soon Vance wants to end the affair he's having with Laura and go back to his wife and daughter. The jilted mistress flares up into a jealous rage and gets revenge on Vance...and he makes it his mission in life to get his own revenge on her. Barry Sullivan and Martha Hyer are excellent as the leads. Cult star Soledad Miranda appears as Liz, the daughter of a carnival worker, who falls for a mysterious older man. This was the first movie to have a $50 million set (Spain's Belesar Dam). Additionally, it was the first horror suspense movie filmed in Spain. It also was the first movie ever to be filmed in the province of Galicia, which is in northern Spain.

1963's "Pyro" is a Spanish title known as "Fuego" (Fire) in Spain, more broadly known as "Pyro - The Thing Without a Face" or "Pyro - Man Without a Face," or "Phantom of the Ferris Wheel" (its most appropriate moniker). Producer Sidney W. Pink, previous purveyor of "The Angry Red Planet," "Reptilicus," and "Journey to the Seventh Planet," first conceived of the script as "A Cold Wind from Hell" (this would be his favorite film), AIP once more footing the bill for international production, their contract star Vincent Price up for the role of Vance Pierson shortly after his visit to freezing Rome for "The Last Man on Earth." Perhaps his busy Hollywood schedule resulted in a casting change that enabled Barry Sullivan to accept, not so charismatic but playing a part that requires as much with at least three potential female lovers on hand. Despite being advertised as a horror film (and a flop in the US), the picture certainly doesn't play out that way, the carnival music opening showing us Pierson's family life coinciding with his engineering work, requiring him to move to Spain to begin construction of a circular generator (he displays a passion for all things round). While searching for suitable accommodations he comes upon an estate that looks promising, only its pyromaniac owner, supposed widow Laura Blanco (Martha Hyer), already has a full proof plan devised to burn the whole thing down to collect the insurance money. Before you can even perceive 'playing with fire,' he's falling into bed with this crazy pyromaniac mother, a literally burning affair that goes on for five months, to the obvious consternation of Pierson's wife (Sherry Moreland) and daughter (Pilarin Gomez). He rationalizes all of this to his own, self involved satisfaction: "my home has always been too peaceful, home sweet home, you are war...as long as we keep peace at home, I'll be needing violence!" Careful what you wish for Vance, because once you decide to end this relationship, your firebug playmate just won't take it lying down, replaying her original intention to now torch the house with his wife and child asleep inside. Setting out on a business meeting before a proper reconciliation, his partner wisely turns back, only too late to save the deceased, poor Vance forced to leap from his bedroom window completely engulfed in flames that produce fourth degree burns that no surgeon can restore to normalcy (shades of Peter Lorre in "The Face Behind the Mask"). Why Laura isn't immediately arrested and put away goes unexplained, her impromptu visit to him at the hospital allowing him the opportunity to swear vengeance by doing to her family what she did to his, after which he vanishes for 15 months. Reports of Laura's mother and maid perishing in a fire have authorities wondering if Pierson is beginning to make good on his threat, now posing as all around mechanic Peter, moving all about as part owner of a traveling carnival where he manages the ferris wheel with help from his partner's daughter Liz Frade (Soledad Miranda). How his human mask closely resembles his former features, and why none of the investigators recognize him is also a mystery, but he does locate his lover's island hideaway, living with a daughter who shows the same dangerous habits as her fiery mother (like John Huston and Faye Dunaway in "Chinatown," incest is suggested but never truly confirmed for we learn nothing about the missing father or dead husband). The entire first half takes its time setting up the pivotal moment when Laura's insane plot bears fruit, the second half inexplicably trying to turn this obviously psychotic murderess into a frightened victim.

Ferris wheel obsessed engineer Vance Pierson (Barry Sullivan) moves with his wife and daughter to Spain to work on a hydroelectric dam. While house-hunting, Vance meets sexy blonde Laura Blanco (Martha Hyer) as she is about to torch her run-down property for the insurance money. Instead, Vance buys the place, and subsequently starts a steamy affair with the woman. When Vance's conscience eventually kicks in and he decides to end his relationship with Laura, she flips out and sets fire to Vance's home—with his wife and child still inside. Vance rushes to their rescue, but he is too late to save them, and suffers severe burns in the process. When Laura pays him a visit in hospital, the disfigured engineer swears to hunt down Laura and her daughter, no matter where they run to.

Part Fatal Attraction style thriller, part twisted revenge horror, Pyro… The Thing Without a Face is nowhere near as cheesy as the title suggests. In fact, it is a surprisingly dark tale, dealing as it does with infidelity, betrayal, madness, murder, and even a hint of incest for good measure (Laura's comment that her daughter's father was her own father is quite the shocker). Vance, covered from head to foot in bandages, telling Laura to 'take her family and hide' is effectively chilling, as is watching him as he makes good on his word. I only wish that the ending had been as bold: rather than sparing Laura's daughter, I'd love to have seen Vance throw himself off the ferris wheel with the little girl in his arms. That would have made for an unforgettable and more fitting downbeat finale.

In PYRO... THE THING WITHOUT A FACE, Vance and Verna Pierson (Barry Sullivan and Sherry Moreland) are the happily married parents of a lovely daughter. Vance is a successful engineer, spending his off hours searching for his dream home.

One day, Vance stumbles upon a house where a woman named Laura (Martha Hyer) is about to commit arson. The two hit it off, and an affair ensues. Things get complicated when Vance decides to break it off. Laura's not ready for this, and her firebug ways reemerge with horrific results.

This movie is a grim story of fiery death, anguish, and vengeance. Sullivan is very convincing in his tortured, sympathetic role. His singular mission isn't merely revenge. He's trying to blot out the agony of what happened to his family. An agony that can't be extinguished.

This film deserves to be more widely known...

A married man named Vance Pierson (an aged Barry Sullivan , though Vincent Price was firstly slated for the character) has a brief affair with a beautiful blonde divorcee called Laura Blanco (Marta Hyer) , but he doesn't want to continue their relationship and returns to his spouse Verna Pierson (Sherry Moreland ) and 10 year-old daughter . Laura's obsession knows no bounds and she becomes increasingly violent , putting Vance's life - and that of his family's - in danger. She begins to threaten him with possesive and violent acts . This unsettling mistress, believing that if he had no more family he'd come back to her, sets fire to his house, hoping to kill them. The man, unsuccessfully attempting to rescue them, is horribly burned . After he undergoes an operation to reconstruct his face. PURE FEMALE every gorgeous inch of her...yet the strange desire that feeds on her cannot be quenched by love alone! Look at this "man" and BEWARE! There is nothing human about him except his desires! See The Thing Without A Face

Intriguing and creepy film with suspense , thrills , chills and terrifying scenes . It has a plot similar to Fatal attraction by Adrian Lyne , adding eerie elements . As a happily married has an affair with a disturbing woman resulting in unexpected and fateful consequences , then the family man starts to plot a merciless vengeance against his former jilted mistress and he will stop at nothing to have his relentless vendetta , as tension is slowly but surely built up . An expertly made , manipulative thriller , one of the most unknown films of the Sixties. This movie had memorable moments that have stayed with us who first saw it at the theater long years ago . A successful change of roles for Barry Sullivan and Martha Hyer , especially the latter as the sexy , scorned and deadly other woman . Both actors do a superb job in here , but kudos also to the rest of the cast as Luis Prendes as Police Inspector , Fernando Hilbeck as Pierson's colleague , Carlos Casaravilla , Hugo Pimentel and special mention for Soledad Miranda , Jesus's Franco muse , and who , unfortunately died early by car accident at 27 .

Colorful and evocative cinematography in Eastmancolor and Panacolor by Manuel Berenguer shot on location in Viveiro, Lugo, Galicia, Spain. However , being really necessary a perfect remastering .This motion picture "Phantom of the Ferris Wheel" or ¨Pyro... The Thing Without a Face¨ or ¨A Cold Wind from Hell¨ or ¨Wheels of fire¨well written/produced by Sidney W. Pink and was professionally directed by Julio Coll , it had an uneven hit , it bombed in some overseas countries , in others was a blockbuster and in Spain had a certain success . Winning some Spanish prizes as Winner Prize of the National Syndicate of Spectacle : Best Music : José Solá . Filmmaker Julio Coll had an important career , being expert on ¨Noir film¨ , he started collaborating in more than 30 scripts , as the classic ¨Apartado De Correos 1001¨(50) by Julio Salvador . His best works were at the beginning his career as ¨Nunca Es Demasiado Tarde¨ , ¨Carcel De Cristal¨, ¨Un Vaso De Whisky¨ and ¨Los Cuervos¨ in which there is social drama , intriguing elements and solid dramatic narrative . In 1958 he created the production company ¨Juro Film¨ with whom he writes , produces and directs his films . As he shoots ¨La Cuarta Ventana¨ (61) , ¨Ensayo General De La Muerte¨ and ¨Los Muertos No Perdonan¨ (63) . Julio , subsequently , made international co-productions as ¨Fuego¨ with Barry Sullivan , ¨Comando De Asesinos¨ with Peter Van Eyck , ¨Persecución Hasta Valencia¨ with Tom Tryon and the historical ¨La Araucana¨ with Elsa Martinelli and based on Luis De Camoens book until his death at 73. Rating : 6.5/10 . Decent and acceptable horror thriller .