La femme de paille

This is not a brilliant movie by any means, but it's worth seeing if you can track it down on late-night television or the limited VHS release (poor transfer quality, so be warned if you happen to find one). Ralph Richardson in particular gives a great performance, playing the meanest tycoon this side of Montgomery Burns, with a bit of "The Magic Christian"'s Sir Guy Grande thrown in for good measure. It's not surprising his nephew (Sean Connery) would want to do him in. Connery spends much of the film looking and acting like he's still in James Bond character. He wears similar well-tailored clothing and has the same cool, slightly bored manner he affected in those movies. Towards the end, though, his character turns sociopathically chilling, and he hits some good acting notes in that part of the film. Gina Lollabrigida gives a good performance sporadically, as well. Her halting English does her in at times, as it does in most of her films, but she delivers great emotion when her character has terrible things happen to her. The film has a rather slow start, but builds nicely and offers some twists along the way.

This film, one of the earliest starring Sean Connery, has strong and alluring power of its own. The visual settings are magnificent, and Gina Lollobrigida was never more seductive or beautiful than in this motion picture. Connery shows more depth than in many of his later films--one wonders what direction his career might have taken if he had not fallen into the clutches of "Cubby" Broccoli and the whole 007 thing. Sir Ralph is, well, Sir Ralph--imperious, petulant, old school upper class damn-the-servants Brit...This film plays strongly to anyone interested in the psychological stress a crime induces in the various participants, and this is one of the many factors that separate it from the run of the mill police procedural. Finally, it has an evocative and excellent musical score--and no wonder, since Rimsky-Korsakov's Cappricio Espanol features prominently as a mood-setter. Altogether, a good rainy afternoon movie!

I had heard of this movie for years, but never saw it on cable TV or on DVD, but did stumble across it on NetFlix. This movie was filmed around the time Connery made From Russia with Love. I had no idea what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised that it's a pretty good thriller, and a great "Bond" bonus for Connery fans. The character of Tony Richmond has a lot of overlap with James Bond - his wardrobe, looks, association with fancy locales and sports cars, and treatment of women. As you watch Connery in this role, you will not be able to avoid thinking of him as Bond. That's not a bad thing, and doesn't detract from the movie, itself. But rather, I look at it as a bonus Bond movie. Connery was at his physical peak during the filming of this movie. His appearance, vocal delivery, and acting are also some of his best work in a film. I think Connery's physical appearance changed so rapidly between 1962 and, say, 1980, that every year he looked markedly different than the year before. Fans of Dr. No, From Russia with Love, and Goldfinger will appreciate seeing Connery in this movie when all his looks and skills were at their finest. If you have a couple hours to spend watching an older style film, or are a big Sean Connery fan, this is a recommended movie.

I must say I have not seen much of director Basil Dearden's work, but this is a real good one. "Woman of Straw" is a classical thriller with a catching plot that turns out very interesting and enjoyable to watch. The film deals with ambition, treason, passion and murder.

Though a bit slow at the beginning, the movie grows in tension and intrigue as it runs. It has good music, perfect settings, visual impact in sequences through a sea cruise and good performances from Sir Ralph Richardson as the old and tyrannic billionaire Charles Richmond, Sean Connery (in his Bond days) as his ambitious nephew Anthony and Gina Lollobrigida as Miss Marcello (the old man's hired nurse) in what is probably her best non Italian role ever. Alexander Knox is there too, reliable as always, as a police inspector.

The already mentioned slow beginning and maybe a 10 minute excess in its running time don't really hurt the film which -in my opinion- is a very good one in its genre.

Sean Connery, Sir Ralph Richardson, and Gina Lollabrigida star in "Woman of Straw", a 1964 film.

Connery plays Tony Richmond, who hires Maria (Lollabrigida) as a nurse for his impossible wheelchair-bound uncle (Richardson). His Uncle Charles is cruel and rude, and Maria doesn't want to put up with him.

Shortly after she arrives, she quits. Tony explains to her that his uncle doesn't have long to live, which she knows, and he's only been left 20 grand in his uncle's will. If Uncle Charles marries Maria, she'll inherit everything, and she can give him a million pounds. It's all perfect.

Maria and Tony are attracted to one another, though at first she resists. She also doesn't think she can bring herself to get Uncle Charles sufficiently interested in her to marry him - the idea repulses her. In truth, she winds up growing quite fond of him and is strict in the way she cares for him. However, his Jekyll-Hyde behavior becomes too much and she quits again. This time, Charles goes to see her himself and proposes. She accepts.

While on a yacht trip, Charles changes his will to benefit her and doubles his nephew's inheritance to $40,000. Tony tells her that he will have to register the will in London when they get back in order for it to be legal. And that's where the trouble begins.

Terrific film, well directed by Basil Dearden, produced in color with glorious scenery. Everyone does a great job, particularly Richardson, such a magnificent actor, who is hateful one minute and likable the next.

Connery and Lollabrigida are gorgeous. It's a good script that will keep you involved right to the very end. Highly recommended. This doesn't seem to be out on DVD. I saw it on Netflix streaming, and now it's gone. Don't know what the problem is, but this deserves to be seen.