The Barefoot Contessa (1954)

 Joseph L. Mankiewicz's "The Barefoot Contessa"


What "The Barefoot Contessa" manages to do well is stimulate intrigue while simultaneously offering nothing but dry boredom. I know that may be a bit harsh. I am actually quite fond of Joseph L. Mankiewicz and his screenplays. I feel as though he has a kernel of an idea for this film, while not quite executing his grand vision.

What Mankiewicz does do well, however, is employ technicolor with great crispness. It was the first time he had ever used such technology. Safe to say, it was done marvelously. I found myself quite impressed with the stark clarity of his images. It was a beautiful film to look at. 

Beyond the technicality of the film's visual feat, its story comes across as a bit thematically convoluted. Its easy to see the intended point of the film: the symbolic relationship between the titular barefoot Contessa and the powerful men that own her company. Mankiewicz seemed to be exploring the modern elite class and their complex nature, how their power is used, and how they exploit others. However, I feel as though Mankiewicz attempts to inject too much melodrama into what could have been a far more socio-political dissection. The resulting film is more of a jumbled mess of ideas, rather than something that resembles a thematically coherent drama.



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