I'm glad to have finally seen this film. Why don't people talk about it more? This is a nicely made original film. The script is unexpectedly scathing, featuring direct and clever commentary on a wide variety of topics (including Hollywood). It's quite satirical and darkly comic. The direction and editing of the film are amazing. The opening portion of the film is fantastic. So many small stories are relayed in just a few seconds, in the opening cantina scene alone. The sets and locales are fantastic. [spoiler]I had two issues with the film. One is the casting of Ava Gardner (who is a fine actress and did fairly well in this role, but seems miscast - a topic which has been discussed). The other issue regards a disclosure made towards the close of the film. However, in hindsight, perhaps it could've worked out that way.[/spoiler] [spoiler]A main character relays, on their wedding night to their bride, that they suffered an undisclosed injury during wartime rendering them impotent (although this isn't explicitly stated). This revelation felt off. As first I thought this development was a euphemism for the character being gay (secondary to censorship and how homosexuality was addressed in other films and writing at this time). However, that wouldn't explain the subsequent development (which the film is centered around).[/spoiler] [spoiler]I found it challenging to accept that the topic had never come up during the whirlwind romance (of sorts), but seemingly loving, relationship prior to the characters being married. I also found it difficult to accept that the count would've walked out on their wedding night (!) and the topic was never discussed. This development rang untrue.[/spoiler] [spoiler]Potential issues and the accelerated relationship are addressed by other characters, but this event seemed jarring, whereas nothing else in the script raised my right eyebrow. After all, there are many ways partners can satisfy one another - and, again, this would be something that would've come up (pardon the pun) during the courtship (which Dawes mentions). I've tried to find more information on the script, which is otherwise amazing.[/spoiler] Despite a script issue (for me), this films remains amazing. It was an original, epic, satiric, and satisfying [spoiler]tragedy[/spoiler]. While surprising, although not shocking, this film was only nominated for two awards (screenplay and best supporting actor). Yet more snubs in a long history of poor awards management (for the "Academy" awards - Note that I've a poor view on awards shows and feel that most, if not all, harm the industries they're supposed to celebrate).

Takes a woman who seems in the first reel to have a pretty interesting story, and then deprives her of all agency or interest by filtering her story through the eyes of the men around her. The screenplay turns her into a non-person, and while Gardner is luminous and beautifully costumed, I struggled to maintain interest.

Too much glamor for such a lurid theme.