Corrida de la peur

Downbeat bullfighting drama from Columbia Pictures and director Robert Rossen has Luis Bello (Mel Ferrer) as one of the top bullfighters in all Mexico, but after getting gored in the arena, he begins to question his vocation and his life in general. His manager and best friend Raul (Anthony Quinn) tries to snap him out of his funk, but when Luis takes up with party girl Linda (Miroslava), the matador descends even further into self-doubt. Also featuring Eugene Iglesias, Jose Torvay, and Charlita.

Much of this stark black and white film is shot in a documentary fashion which adds to its verisimilitude. Ferrer isn't bad as the struggling bullfighter, battling with the pitfalls of celebrity. Quinn returned to the screen after a hiatus of several years to play the manager, and he's not bad, if underused. Miroslava was a Czech-born Mexican movie star who became a cult figure after her suicide in 1955. I abhor bullfighting, so those who can tolerate it may like the film more than I did. But I will say that Rossen presents the matches in a unique manner, more as a semi-religious ritual than a sporting event, almost as a modern form of animal sacrifice.

Good heavens, Anthony Quinn is handsome! If only he were the lead in The Brave Bulls instead of Mel Ferrer. There's nothing wrong with Mel when he's on his own, but up against Tony, there's no contest. I could barely pay attention when Tony was on the screen, and I certainly couldn't listen to anything Mel had to say when he was standing right next to him. Ladies, for some serious eye candy, but a pretty lousy movie, rent The Brave Bulls. For some serious eye candy in a good movie, try The Naked Street instead.

Mel plays a bullfighter, and Tony's his manager. While they're pretty good friends, when they both fall for the same girl, Miroslava, their friendship and working relationship is tested. Throw in a bunch of bullfighting scenes with Mel Ferrer's stunt double, and you've got a movie. Mel never really comes across as a very strong man anyway, and paired against Tony, he doesn't stand a chance. A rather weak hero isn't very easy to root for, especially when there's someone else ready in the wings.

This is a brilliant movie ruined by incredible miscasting. Mel Ferrer was a good actor with a great career and a marriage to Audrey Hepburn, but his casting as the central character in this movie is bizarre. Perhaps it was some sort of deal that Robert Rossen had to cut to get this movie made.

Everything else about this movie, from the script, to the great camera-work by Floyd Crosby and James Wong Howe is fine. It also has a great supporting performance by Anthony Quinn. It's Quinn's casual bravura that dominates this movie and sucks the energy from Ferrer whenever they are on the screen together.

The semi-documentary nature of this movie made Crosby the obvious choice to handle the camera. He had risen to prominence as a cameraman for Robert Flaherty. I am convinced that he shot the outside work and the sequences in the plaza del toro, while Howe's strong, classical lighting and group shots -- which he helped establish in the 1920s -- is used for the story segments.

THE BRAVE BULLS is another of a long series of movies held in high esteem in large part because it has been so hard to see. There are many estimable parts to it, but Ferrer stinks up the joint when compared to Quinn. I suspect that why Mr. Quinn had to go to Europe. Other actors were afraid to work with him.