christopher-underwood
Bit of a strange one and something of a curate's egg although on balance I liked it. The only spaghetti western directed by a woman and, I believe the only one starring a woman, also. Elsa Martinelli was in her 30s when she made this and altogether made over 60 films, including, funnily enough, Vadim's Blood and Roses that I only watched the other day. I think it is probably poor dubbing but she does not have the assurance she needs here and tends to come over a little hysterically at times. Fortunately the very solid George Eastman is here to save the day. Bit sexy and some particularly strong violence towards the end, this wavers a bit and is not helped by the oft repeated love song and its lilting romanticism.
classicsoncall
Man, was this a ponderous flick, even with liberal use of the fast forward button. I had high hopes for the picture at the beginning, but when Belle Starr (Elsa Martinelli) didn't shoot Larry Blackie (George Eastman) in the first twenty minutes, I got that sinking feeling that this would be a chore. Sure enough, the picture is filled with flashbacks and filler that just outlasted my patience way before the sixty minute mark, and there was still another half hour to go.You know what was really odd? Every single close-up shot of the gorgeous Elsa Martinelli revealed a different configuration of freckles! I thought it was my imagination so I stayed attentive, and sure enough, the quantity of spots on her face kept changing, even within the same scene! Not to mention the perfect use of eye liner and mascara for an outlaw of the late 1800's. I guess I shouldn't be too critical because movie makeup is what it is, but the whole time I kept thinking that I should connect the dots on Belle Starr's face.Oh well, I've seen worse, and I'm not saying this was a bad picture, but it just struck me the wrong way today. For me, this was a B Western that went way too long. I can take them in sixty minute doses or thereabouts, but in this case, I wanted to take Belle's advice myself - "Don't try anything or I'll pull the trigger".
JohnWelles
"The Belle Starr Story" (1968) is, to my knowledge, the only Spaghetti Western ever directed by a woman, Lina Wertmüller (who was the first female to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Direction, for "Seven Beauties" [1976]). This fact somewhat overshadows this frankly bizarre movie that should probably be seen by fans so they can say at least "I've seen it!".The screenplay by Piero Cristofani is merely passable: Belle Starr (Elsa Martinelli) meets Larry Blackie (a fine George Eastman) during a card game, commencing a love/hate relationship coming to a head when both try and steal a diamond shipment from right underneath the noses of the Pinkertons.The middle of the film is taken up by long flashbacks to Belle Starr's past (which feature the ever reliable Robert Woods. He was originally going to have more screen time than he does, but he fell out with Wertmüller and thus his role was shortened); these are good scenes, but they rather unbalance the film and put the pacing off. The acting is mostly good, with Bruno Corazzari doing wonders in his small role. The direction is, like the cinematography and editing, solid but not inspired. Over all, an interesting oddity in the harsh desert of Spaghetti Westerns that aficionado's will want to watch.
marc-366
This film is a rarity in the euro-western genre, in that it has a female lead. Whilst I know very little about the real life "bandit queen" Belle Starr, I gather that the story itself bears little resemblance to actual events (although the rumoured father of her first child, Cole Younger, becomes her rustling partner Cole Harvey in this movie).The story itself begins with a game of poker between Belle (played by the fantastically foxy Elsa Martinelli) and equally renowned bandit Larry Blackie (with George Eastman as endearing as ever). Having already won all of her money, Blackie offers Belle a final game with her body being the only thing she has left to gamble. She throws the game, disposing of her best cards and leaving her at Blackie's mercy (and bed). From here on, the story concentrates on the relationship between the pair - which is sometimes loving, sometimes rough, but always displaying great rivalry.The film is in two parts, the first relaying Belle's past to Blackie in flashback, with the second half containing more action as the two rivals each aim to loot a transportation of diamonds.The flashbacks in the film are particularly engaging, as you gradually learn how Belle Starr gained her bandit queen reputation. However the second half is also a good view (with Blackie's torture at the hands of the Pinkertons a particularly well filmed scene). Even when the film does reach the occasional point of mediocrity, the fine interplay between Eastman and Martinelli prevails.Not a classic, but all in all a highly enjoyable western worthy of my recommendation.
AD
