Passions erupt in the lava beds of the Canary Islands.
This movie feels a little like those dubbed Spanish and Italian dramas of the 60's although it is entirely in English.
However as the story unfolds it defies you to stop watching and features a cast that is hard to take your eyes off.
When Jonas (Robert Walker Jr.) arrives at an isolated gas station on the road to Salina, the owner Mara (Rita Hayworth) greets him as Rocky, her long lost son. At first he thinks she is an empanadas short of a picnic, but when her daughter, Billie (Mimsy Farmer), and her neighbour, Warren (Ed Begley), also accept him as Rocky, he decides he is on to a good thing - especially as his newfound sister comes with 'benefits'. However the new Rocky finds the road to Salina a bit too rocky as he and 'sis' explore taboo territory amidst the spectacularly barren landscape of the island.
Rita Hayworth was an amazing screen presence throughout her career. She was about 50 here but still striking looking. Sadly she was already experiencing the problems that beset her at the end of her life. One wonders if acting the part of a woman with mental problems was such a good idea for someone who was really experiencing them.
A few years before, John Wayne and his crew thought she was rude and insufferable while working on "Circus World". Apparently "Road to Salina" was a happier experience and she got on well with the crew.
Still it was hard for anyone in the film to compete with Mimsy Farmer. Her Billie is about the most uninhibited performance in a mainstream movie until Nastassja Kinski prowled her way through 1982's "Cat People".
Eventually, Mimsy also shed her film career, emerging as a truly impressive sculptor. Maybe it shouldn't come as a surprise when an actor's creativity shows in other areas of the arts. Many actors have drawn, painted or sculpted well: Gary Cooper, Gail Russell, George Montgomery, Dennis Hopper and Lucy Liu among many others - even Marilyn Monroe.
"Road to Salina" used to turn up on TV in the 1970's, and seems to have a bit of a cult following these days. It's worth seeking out just for the stars alone.
