Details

Release year: 1958

Storyline

Ursula leaves the convent where she was educated, to start living with her uncle, the count Ribera, and her aunt Florentine. When she arrives, she is confronted with a local drama: a youngman from the village, Lambert, whose sister took her own life, accuses the count of being responsible for his sister's death, for having sexually assaulted her. The two men have a duel of honour, in which Lambert is severely wounded, and the count's honour is saved. Ursula acts as a nurse to Lambert, and falls in love with him, only to find out that Lambert is secretly her aunt's lover. One night, the count too, finds out his wife's affair, and again the two men fight, this time Lambert kills the count. Ursula helps him to escape. Florence, mad with jealousy and hatred for her niece, sets the police after him.

Top credits

Directors

Roger Vadim

Writers

Cast

Brigitte Bardot — Ursula
Alida Valli — Florentine
Stephen Boyd — Lambert
José Nieto — Comte Miguel de Ribera

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Did you know

• In her book "Initials B.B", Brigitte Bardot says that she was deeply horrified during the filming of a bullfight by the sudden death of a young impetuous bull, after a vet injected an anesthetic dose .

• Filmed in Spain, there are a number of scenes of (presumably real) bullfighting in this movie, including one of a slain bull being dragged in the street and then seemingly slaughtered for meat. Bardot would go on to become one of the foremost celebrity animal rights activists.

• The production was plagued with problems. Severe flooding happened in Spain during the filming. In addition, the director Roger Vadim, and actors Stephen Boyd and Brigitte Bardot all fell ill during the making of the movie. Stephen Boyd initially questioned whether he would work with Bardot again publicly (ironically he would work with Bardot again in 'Shalako'), but very quickly corrected his comments. His description of Bardot was that she had 'the mind of a child, but physically she was like a panther on the prowl.' He would later clarify his remarks to indicate that he 'loved' working with her, and that she won him over. They also became friends (See Vogue Magazine Feb 1958), and had a 'inside joke/word' they shared - 'beddibize'.