Un tiro por la espalda

An atmosphere of mystery surrounds the death of Juan Durán. Paula (Yvonne Bastien), his wife, who has not seen her husband for three months and has traveled to Rio de Janeiro to meet her husband, receives the news of his death when she arrives. There she meets the manager (Alberto de Mendoza) of her husband's company, and with him she goes to the location outside of Rio, to the hotel where he presumably died, apparently from a heart attack, and at that time he was accompanied of a woman. Since then, she also feels the impression of being watched and persecuted. There, a bloodhound police inspector (Tomás Blanco) finds clues that the death could have been a murder and that is when his wife also becomes a suspect along with other people who were swarming around her husband.

This is an obscure and unknown thriller, being scripted by prestigious filmmakers: Jaime de Armiñán, Vicente Coello, José María Forqué and set in Rio de Janeiro, including suspense, murders, action, chases and plot twists. This is an intriguing film that hardly anyone knows of its existence, in fact I came across it by chance on YouTube in an Italian version and posing it as if it were the typical Italian 'Giallo'; In fact, the title credits were in that language, luckily it had English subtitles and I was able to find out what was going on. The film is acceptable and passable, not remarkable, it has a certain intrigue and enough suspense and with an unexpected twist at the end that elevates the film somewhat. The performances are decent as a very serious Yvonne Bastian who worked in five successive films with director Antonio Román: Seven Spies in the Trap (1966), Ringo from Nebraska (1966), A Shot in the Back (1964) The Sun in the Mirror (1963) and Pact of Silence (1963), perhaps Román was married to this not very attractive Argentine actress. Better are other veteran performers of the casting, such as the also Argentine Alberto de Mendoza, Tomás Blanco, Perla Cristal, Gérard Tichy and the indispensable Julia Caba Alba.

It shows evocative cinematography of Brazilian exteriors - although it is not overused - by the prestigious cameraman Alejandro Ulloa who achieved many national and international successes. As well as an atmospheric musical score by Adolfo Waitzman. The film was professionally directed by Antonio Román providing some skill, but also some routine. Antonio Román's film debut was a documentary: "The Enchanted City." His first feature film was "Escuadrilla" 1941 in collaboration with José Luis Sáenz Heredia. Later he directed historical dramas: "Lola Montes", and the classic of Spanish cinema: "Los Últimos de Filipinas" and "Fuenteovejuna". In addition, other dramas: "Madrugada", "Pact of Silence", "La Vida Encadenada" and "Intriga". And subsequently he directed folk stars films. In 1970 he made a Spaghetti Western together with the famous filmmaker Mario Bava: "Ringo de Nebraska" and continued writing scripts such as "Planet of the Vampires" directed by his friend Mario Bava. Rating Un tiro por la espalda (A Shot in the Back) (1964): 6/10. Functional intrigue thriller with drama included that will appeal to fans of Spanish cinema.