review by Chris Underwood
Viva Maria! 1965
Watched Jul 24, 2012
Chris Underwood’s review:
Just seen this for the very first time and on the big screen at BFI London. Many in the audience seemed to enjoy it but it soon dawned upon me why I had never bothered to see it upon its original release nor since. It is not really bad but it fails to present a happy picture of the two ladies together, it fails to be funny, is at times indeed, embarrassing and the musical numbers are only just watchable. The director is clearly out of his depth and as I have thought before rather more interested in filming children than adults. There is one rather subversive gag towards the end but like so much in this film it is carried to far and the effect is lost.
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