Fuego (1964)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Julio Coll
(more)

Writers:

Luis de los Arcos (screenplay)
Luis de los Arcos (story)
(more)

Release Date:

22 January 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

See The Thing Without A Face

Plot:

A married man has a brief affair, then goes back to his wife and children. His jilted mistress, believing...

Plot Keywords:

Arson | Murder | Revenge

Cast

Barry Sullivan	...	Vance Pierson
Martha Hyer	...	Laura Blanco
Sherry Moreland	...	Verna Pierson
Soledad Miranda	...	Liz Frade
Luis Prendes	...	Police Inspector
Fernando Hilbeck	...	Julio
Carlos Casaravilla	...	Frade
Marisenka	...	Isabella Blanco
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Francisco Morán
Hugo Pimentel

Directed by
Julio Coll
Luis García		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Luis de los Arcos		screenplay
Luis de los Arcos		story
Sidney W. Pink		screenplay
Sidney W. Pink		story

Produced by
Richard C. Meyer	....	producer
Sidney W. Pink	....	producer

Original Music by
José Solá

Cinematography by
Manuel Berenguer

Film Editing by
Margarita de Ochoa

Makeup Department
Carmen Martín	....	makeup artist
Marita Sánchez	....	hair stylist

Production Management
José Puyol	....	production manager

Art Department
Antonio Simont	....	set designer

Special Effects by
Antonio Molina	....	special effects

Music Department
José Solá	....	conductor

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)
• Esamer S.A.

Distributors

• Universal Films (1964) (Spain) (theatrical)
• American International Pictures (AIP) (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• Astral Films (1964) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Troma Team Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

A Cold Wind from Hell (USA) (working title)
Fire
Pyro
Pyro... The Thing Without a Face (USA)
Wheel of Fire (UK)

Runtime:

Spain:90 min | USA:99 min

Country:

Spain | USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Panacolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Spain

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Once again, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

Not-bad Spanish-made thriller from the folks at A.I.P., it tells the story (kind of old hat now, but not so much when this was made) of a successful man, this case engineer Vance Pearson (a very solid Barry Sullivan), a married man, who has an affair with Laura (an absolutely stunning Martha Hyer). Feeling guilty about it, he calls it off, but this sets off her inner maniac. The spurned lover promptly sets his house ablaze, killing his wife and daughter, and burning him very, very badly when he tries to save them. After that, all he has to live for is revenge, as he relentlessly tracks Laura down.

"Pyro" is a definitely enjoyable, if ultimately not very memorable, thriller. That said, it's certainly made competently enough, with the crew making the most of their various locations. The acting from the two leads is very good, with strong support from the somber-looking Fernando Hilbeck as Vances' concerned co-worker. Future Jess Franco regular, the incredibly dazzling Soledad Miranda, has a small part as a good-hearted carnival worker with a penchant for rescuing stray dogs; she's tremendously appealing and adds a fair bit to the films' later portions. The film moves at a respectable pace, and provides us with some effective sequences, including one where Laura believes Vance to be following her. The final reveal of Vances' burn-ravaged face pays off well, with decent makeup effects.

My main concern actually involved the music; while not technically bad, it was too overbearing and intrusive at times, taking me out of the action.

An interesting and reasonably entertaining fore-runner of films like "Play Misty for Me" and especially "Fatal Attraction", "Pyro" doesn't appear to be that well known, but is worth checking out if you're interested.

7/10