Sang et lumières

It's not a masterpiece ,but it does not deserve such a low rating ; a French-Spanish co-production , it deals with the ordeals of the toreador who ,after a serious wound, wants to call it a day .But his greedy manager won't hear of it and his mistress will help him change his champion's mind.

Even though,like me,you hate bullfights , first thing to bear in mind is that the scenes in the bullring do not exceed ten minutes in all and the screenplay mainly deals with the exploitation of a man by unscrupulous managers ,a lover who pretends to love him while urging him to mortage his property to preserve her life of luxury, a ruthless press and a blood-thirsty crowd . Even Pili's mother acts like a madam and urges her daughter to seduce the toreador and thus stop being his servant .

Daniel Gelin's hangdog looks work wonders as a toreador down on his luck ;Zsa Zsa Gabor almost plays the part of the femme fatale;and Christine Carrière does nicely in her part of the sincere girl ;Henri Vilbert portrays the cynical manager convincingly ; and Michel Audiard's lines hit home. Uncompromising denouement.

Georges Rouquier was famous for his documentaries,notably "Farrebique "et"Biquefarre" . It shows in the final fight , depicted in lavish detail.