Mio corpo per un poker, Il (1968)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Directors:

Piero Cristofani
Lina Wertmüller

Writers:

Piero Cristofani (screenplay)
Piero Cristofani (story)

Release Date:

15 March 1968 (Italy)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Abused and dominated by men in her youth, Belle Starr now out-rides, out-smokes, out-shoots, and out-gambles...

Plot Keywords:

Torture | Action Heroine | Shirtless Male Bondage | Bullet | Interrogation

Cast

Elsa Martinelli	...	Belle Starr
Robert Woods	...	Cole Harvey
George Eastman	...	Larry Blackie
Francesca Righini	...	Jessica
Bruno Piergentili	...	Pedro (as Dan Harrison)
Bruno Corazzari	...	Pinkerton Man
Vladimir Medar	...	John Shelley
Eugene Walter	...	Velvet Fingers
Remo De Angelis	...	Gang Member

Also Known As:

The Belle Starr Story

Runtime:

Italy:103 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:15

Company:

Eureka Films

Fine fictional account of the Belle Starr Bandit Queen legend

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.