Way back when it was first released, I commented in my newspaper review that the best way to enjoy Arena was to come late. I was wrong. The best 3-D sequence is right at the very beginning of the movie, with two cars nosing into the camera as they race along the highway to Tucson. After this initial spurt of action, all we get is a lot of dreary rodeo footage with a few steers horning into the lens.
The screenplay is likewise dull, though it does provide a few snappy lines for the lovely Barbara Lawrence. Her wonderfully sinuous femme fatale lifts the acting level of Arena considerably, even inspiring Robert Horton to lift his game.
Gig Young as nearly always is insufferably dull, whilst unattractively photographed Jean Hagen is wasted in a thankless role. Miss Bergen looks pretty but out of place.
Interesting to see Lee Van Cleef in a rare sympathetic underdog role.
Despite some bright stretches, color photography in the print under review is inclined to be too soft and diffuse - especially in the seemingly endless rodeo footage which looks like a blow-up from 16mm.
The screenplay is likewise dull, though it does provide a few snappy lines for the lovely Barbara Lawrence. Her wonderfully sinuous femme fatale lifts the acting level of Arena considerably, even inspiring Robert Horton to lift his game.
Gig Young as nearly always is insufferably dull, whilst unattractively photographed Jean Hagen is wasted in a thankless role. Miss Bergen looks pretty but out of place.
Interesting to see Lee Van Cleef in a rare sympathetic underdog role.
Despite some bright stretches, color photography in the print under review is inclined to be too soft and diffuse - especially in the seemingly endless rodeo footage which looks like a blow-up from 16mm.