Una vacanza nera

Not that much time ago DARK HOLIDAY was aired at least once a year on channel 17 (where they mostly air movies that nobody except perhaps me would seek out) but for some reason I never cared for it. But last July I finally saw and it was just ok.

Gene LePere (Lee Remick in her final role) is an American tourist that goes to Turkey and one day she goes to the local market and buys a small statue but unfortunately she is soon accused of smuggling antiques outside the country, is tried and sent to a Turkish prison. At first the other women prisoners look at Gene like to a rare animal, plucking her hair and clothes, and the prison overall looks awful with holes instead of toilets and food so watery that looks like regurgitated. With the help of young American Ken Horton (Tony Goldwyn) Gene will do everything for proving her innocence and after lots of trials and tribulations she'll finally return to the US.

There were some awful parts when she was sent to prison I admit, but for the rest it was on the same league of so many other TV thrillers of those years. I rooted a lot for Remick's character and it was a relief seeing her return in the US at the end.

Overall, an ok swansong for the lead actress and some passable entertainment, and that's what counts sometimes.

Lee Remick is Gene LePere, an American imprisoned in Turkey accused of smuggling antiquities. Whilst much is made of Remick's blonde hair in a country of dark women, and her fear is believable, she isn't the heroic type, so her repeatedly being told how admirable she is, is unintentionally funny. The teleplay by Rose Leiman Goldemberg based on LePere's book Never Pass This Way Again presents Gene's purchase of the items as by street thug intimidation, as a clue that something bad will come of it, though Gene's experience in prison isn't as horrific as it might have been. It's a pity Goldemberg doesn't give us anything about Gene's previous life in New York, since the narrative begins with Gene on the cruiseliner, since the only family connection she appears to have is an ex-husband. Director Lou Antonio uses the music score of Paul Chihara well, and provides a conversation between Gene and her lawyer Isha (Norma Aleandro) in silhouette. The ending isn't a surprise, particularly when you cast Remick, but at least it's not too easy.