The Barefoot Contessa

Unlike lots of factory films from the 50's this one kind of bites the hand that feeds it. Many references and dark allusions to the studio/startlet scene of this era and not all of them kind. Kind of a 1950's version of the 'Player'. Overall much more enjoyable for this fact.

The latter third looks almost like they've grafted it on to the move to make it appeal on a romance/love interest basis. Largely forgetable but some good scenes with Bogart doing great 'suit' acting.

Bogart's girlfriend in the film (sorry, don't remember the name) is gorgeous and within the constraints of acting against the name of Ava Gardner she's great!

Overall - take a look it will pleasantly surprise you.

It's been about a week since I viewed this film, and it's managed to stay with me since. I'm fairly new to Bogart, who manages to live up to his Film God hype with a classy performance full of believable empathy. Ava Gardner, as expected, steals the show with a brave, spit-on-the-ground performance of a character that was, in some ways, just like herself. Just a stunning, remarkable film with a tender friendship between the two lead characters, and a framework story that doesn't seem contrived. The beauty of this film is that Ava and Gardner carry the film together. Neither character is more important and both performances respect that.

Interesting tidbit: the statue of Gardner that features prominently in the film was also prominent in Gardner's ex-husband Frank Sinatra's garden in his Palm Springs home for over 20 years after their divorce. Sinatra's last wife demanded it be removed.

The Barefoot Contessa is one of the best films of the 1950's.Ava Gardner gives a magnificent performance as a beautiful Spanish nightclub dancer Maria Vargas who is catapulted to instant stardom in Hollywood from a poverty stricken background in Spain.Humphrey Bogart is superb as Harry Dawes the producer who discovers Gardner and becomes her friend and confidante.The film explores the darker side of fame in spite of Maria's fame, celebrity and desirability as a woman she craves a quieter simpler life with 'real ordinary,' people instead of the fake people she meets in showbiz and high society circles. Marriage to an Italian counts provides Maria with the escape she needs but with tragic consequences.

I really adored this film. When I watched it and I saw how Ava Gardner's character looked sad and lonely at the height of her fame even though she was popular and desired by so many men I realised that fame is not all that it's supposed to be. If you want to discover the magic behind Ava Gardner and Hollywood of a by-gone era then I recommend that you see this film.

very good first class story line well worth watching

This is a fairly enjoyable attempt to tell the story of a movie star's life in an epic flashback style. The film is ambitious and long with exotic and luxurious locations and several different phases. There are some good performances from most of the main characters and the always watchable Bogart anchors the movie. The film is unusual in the way that the emphasis and viewpoint seems to switch at several times and it is worth seeing although there is not really enough to it to make it essential.