Quinto: Fighting Proud / El valor de un cobarde / Quinto: non ammazzare (León Klimovsky, 1969)

[Mickey13]

Copied from the Spagvemberfest 2022 thread:

@Mickey13

This sounds like something I should enjoy technically, but oddly enough, the solid premise is hardly put to good purpose and most of the potential evaporates by reason of some shoddy editing and somewhat flabby directing. The storyline unfolds in a pretty unremarkable, indifferent fashion without any apparent emphasis in terms of style or narrative purpose. At the very least, the basic components of the story are on the intriguing side and the whodunit mystery displays sufficient vigor, so there is still something take interest in.

With all that being said, even though the underlying idea provides a solid foundation for a juicy, pulpy kind of adventure, the directional approach completely nullifies that point of departure by opting for an almost schmaltzy, corny style of directing which cancels out the grit inhering in the tale, virtually transforming the motion picture into a trite soap opera of sorts. Likewise, Umiliani’s score is reminiscent of Francesco de Masi’s compositions, further conducing to the inordinately old-fashioned feel of the production. Though the work gets much better in the second half, it is hard to come to terms with just how featureless the final product turns out and just how bland the overall craftsmanship is here. What a major disappointment.