La femme écarlate

i found a copy of this on the old fletcher video label its a lost classic engaging story fantastic acting monica vitti looks stunning as is the photography lovely lighting editing nothing to offend anyone just a film you can sit back and watch and enjoy pity they can't make them like this no more a euro classic.

The film is a delightful comedy giving Monica Vitti the chance to do what she does best. She has a twinkle in her eye as she handles men. She isn't lost for long when things don't work out.

They don't make stars like her anymore. She plays a confident sexy woman on her own in Paris while keeping her chic Dior clothes on. She is not a bimbo or a teenager but a free spirited woman enjoying herself. Look at her dance on the nightclub. She is gorgeous!

The film is typical of European movies of the time. Not much happening but plenty of style and with all the games grown up men and women played. It's a kind of a sophisticated comedy they don't make any longer.

Like anybody else who watches this film, it is for Monica Vitti and not because it has the awful US title; The Bitch Wants Blood or even the far more charming Italian; La Donna Scarlatta. She is lovely throughout, in various costumes and the late 60s décor and tempo help a lot. The rather amusing notes on my DVD include; '….will surprise those who know her only from the grim existential parables of Michelangelo Antonioni…' which is not only a bloody cheek but somewhat ironic. This is by no means a particularly sombre and thoughtful piece but does not really warrant the 'comedy' description and does actually have something of an existential theme and a very fine Anotonioni inspired sequence when she revs her car up and the street signage flashes by as we hurtle as if to oblivion. Seriously though this is for the most part a delightful, colourful and amusing Sunday afternoon movie with the serious added bonus of the lovely Vitti.

Monica Vitti thinks she's a good businesswoman. Then she discovers her manager/lover, Robert Hossein, has stolen her business. She flies to Paris to commit suicide, then decides on a better plan. Hossein will be in Paris on Friday. She steals a gun, planning to kill him. First, though, she tells Maurice Ronet, then vanishes from his ken. While he is searching desperately for her, she is cutting a swath among the news reporters and the British band they are interviewing.

Jean Valère's ultimately standard romantic comedy is powered in large part by Miss Vitti's moody, disinterested performance, and a set and costume design that features a lot of bright red clothes and draperies. M. Ronet also gives a fine performance as the moral young man who does not even recognize he loves this woman who invited him to lunch on the Eiffel Tower. It's a very 1960s looking movie. There's a bit of satire on the propensities of rock-and-rollers. but this is never a farcical comedy. It is, however, constantly engaging.

Ok...nothing really to "upset" you in anyway here...but the atmosphere...colors...Paris...clothes.....music....everything just makes me wanna travel back in time and be a part of this filmproduction. Easy viewing film you can "easily"(!!) label this little Euro gem. Monica Vitti looks wonderful...a bit like Elke Sommer in Mario bava's Lisa And The Devil. But it's lightweight context here...nothing to worry about. No violence...sex....creepiness....just a charming experience which I recommend you check up on any day. I saw the extremely rare danish x-rental version...83.02 mins... letterboxed....english language. Best of all...I'll add it to my collection...no other collector buys this off'a me...nope.