Based on José Antonio García Blázquez's novel of the same name, this melodrama tells the story of Jacinto Martín del Río, AKA 'Jaci', Renaud Verley , a rebel womanizer . He is a fatherless lad who feels a deep love almost unhealthy for his mom , as he has Edipo's complex. His mummy called Teresa : Danielle Darrieux is a bourgeois widow with dark purports and unclear virtues . Anyway, that will not be an obstacle for him to notice other young girls or old women . His charming and sympathy result to be the main weapons which helps him , from time to time, to get some cash from women , such as the upper-class photographer Naty : Gina Lollobrigida , the dancer África : Concha Velasco and the thief Elaine : Susan Hampshire . But things get worse when the mother's lover , Richard Leighton : Giacomo Rossi Stuart goes to live at home.
Based on a novel written by Garcia Blázquez and shot in colorful and glimmering style . This is a slow and boring , at times , as well as dramatic story and one of several movies dealing with youth delinquency in Spain during the seventies , they represented a time and a way of life in the history of Spain . A passable look at young life , love and friendship in the isolated side let the story flow efficiently , but being middlingly made .
The movie deals with various thorny issues such as : older woman younger man sex , mother son relationship with incest overtones , obsession , generational gap , jealousy , contra-culture and youth delinquency . Director Francisco Rovira Beleta gives a pretty nice filmmaking and attempting to explain the hard motivations , violent evolution and unexpected final conclusion .The director creates a sort of peculiar social habits in the 70s , including Hippie world , by tackling the juvenile life through a group of amoral and rebel boys . These characters choose to live dangerously rather than work in deadend jobs , it is made with a clear intention of social , showing some bizarre roles . Renaud Verley gives a so-so acting as Jaci , an attractive and sympathetic young who lives with his widow mother Teresa, for whom he professes a sickly love . Danielle Darrieux is better than Verley as Teresa , Jaci's mother , who lives with concern of lack of preparation of him to face his future . Support cast is frankly excellent , though really wasted , such as : Susan Hampshire , Concha Velasco , Maribel Martín , Javier Loyola ,Eduardo Fajardo ,Giacomo Rossi Stuart, José Yepes , Monserrat Julio , Gustavo Re and many others .
Filmed in atmospheric color , in and around Barcelona , Madrid and Ibiza , with some great locations . Being photographed by the prestigious Michael Kelber , who filmed important movies such as : French Can Can , Lulu , Lemmy Caution , Sangre en Ruedo ,El Litri , Scandal , Rogelia , Mata-Hari , El capitán Jones , Secrets d'alcove , among others . Shot in multiple locations as Plaza España, Plaça Reial, Barcelona, Drugstore Liceo, Las Ramblas, Barcelona
Parque del Retiro, Plaza Mayor, Madrid, and Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain . It is an internacional co-production among Spain , France , Italy with great cast . This Euro-pudding motion picture was regularly directed by Francisco Rovira Beleta , but it failed at boxoffice , and the U.S. release was 1977 by Independent International; it would turn up in drive-ins for years . Rovira was a splendid director and writer , especially known for Los Tarantos (1963), El Amor Brujo (1967) and Los Atracadores (1962). At his beginnings Rovira collaborated with the powerful production company CIFESA as assistant director to Luis Lucía and Juan Orduña . His film debut was ¨Doce Horas De Vida¨(1948) , and went on ¨39 Cartas Amor¨ and ¨Luna De Sangre¨ based on Fernan Caballero novel . His best movies were the prestigious neo-realist trilogy formed by ¨Hay Un Camino a La Derecha¨, ¨Expreso Andalucia¨ about the famous train robbery and this ¨Los Atracadores¨ (61) . His greatest successes were ¨Tarantos¨(1963) about Alfredo Mañas story and ¨Amor Brujo¨ based on Manuel De Falla music , both of them had nomination to American Academy Award . Subsequently , he directed some flops as ¨La Dama De Alba¨ about Alejandro Casona , ¨La Larga Agonía De Peces Fuera de Agua¨ realized in ¨Escuela Barcelona¨ style and ¨No Encontré Rosas Para Mi Madre¨ . Later on , Francisco made the historical production ¨La Espada Negra¨ (76) about R.R.C.C. and his last one was a Noir Film titled ¨Crónica Sentimental En Rojo¨ .
