A deadly dull drama about bullfighting, falling apart because of the miscasting of the leading man, Mel Ferrer. Ironic because he's half Cuban, but isn't at all convincing playing a Mexican. Perhaps knowing that Anthony Quinn was Mexican born makes his casting just perfect, but Ferrer is playing a character who's trying too hard to convince that he has the passion that the character is supposed to have, but just comes off as angry and overwrought, a truly hammy performance.
This is also a desperate attempt by Robert Rossen (a director with otherwise great credits) to emulate the new wave craze of European films, and it falls flat and boring with a convoluted story that doesn't retain interest. For a better film about bullfighting outside the "Blood and Sand" films, try "The Brave One" (1956) that is much better. This was a big snoozer that didn't interest me in the least. Ole here makes me say "Oy Ve".
This is also a desperate attempt by Robert Rossen (a director with otherwise great credits) to emulate the new wave craze of European films, and it falls flat and boring with a convoluted story that doesn't retain interest. For a better film about bullfighting outside the "Blood and Sand" films, try "The Brave One" (1956) that is much better. This was a big snoozer that didn't interest me in the least. Ole here makes me say "Oy Ve".