This is a slow , deliberate , twisted , dramatic story and one of several movies dealing with an interesting intigue located in Barcelona . Well made and competently performed production that stunningly brings most of the roles of the classsic Noir Film . The motion picture with a great cast , was compellingly directed by Francisco Rovira Beleta . It deals with a girl is suddenly found dead and with an amputated breast on the shores of a tourist beach on the Catalan coast . The bust shows up , soon after, on the work table of Judge Olvido (Silvia Solar) . It seems as if someone would like to relate the fabulous heritage of Óscar Bassegoda, of whom the judge is executor , with a strange portrait of the deceased Nuria Bassegoda, where she also turns up with a severed breast . Sly and cynic Inspector Méndez (José Luis López Vazquez , his role bears remarkable resemblance to Alfredo Landa's German Areta from Garci's El crack) is assigned by the judge to investigate the killing , it leads him to the dark and dangerous city underbelly and he realizes that he is not only one looking for an inheritance . The veteran , ironical commissioner Méndez then starts a laborious investigation that will take him from the slums of Barcelona to the wealthy areas of the noisy town , where he will have the opportunity to meet the gorgeous as well as mysterious Blanca Bassegoda (Assumpta Serna) who is suffering harassing by her husband (Hugo Blanco) .Then , Police Inspector Méndez hires an ex-con (Lorenzo Santamaria) to escort her .
It concerns about adventures and misfortunes of sleuth Méndez , one the most particular Inspectors of the Spanish cinema , being based on the novel written by F. Gonzalez Ledesma , Planeta Award . Here the premise is simple , a commissioner has to find out a murder that leads him through underbelly of Barcelona to the richest areas of the city . An effective, properly made and competently performed production that alrightly brings most of the characters of the classsic Noir Film and also contributing occasionally some novelties . In spite of slowness , the picture is pretty well , filled with suspense , thrills , emotion and a complex intrigue . Although it contains a weak pace , slow developing and a difficult storyline dealing with ambition , betrayal , corruption , dark underworld and many other things . As Rovira Beleta pays tribute to Spanish Noir film , especially developed during the 50s and 60s .This nice movie belongs to the Spanish Noir Film whose main center was in Barcelona ; other great titles also located within a Barcelona production as "Distrito Quinto" (Julio Coll,1957), ¨Brigada criminal¨(1950) Ignacio F Iquino , ¨Un vaso de Whisky¨(Julio Coll) , ¨A sangre fría¨(1959, Juán Bosch) , ¨Nunca es demasiado tarde¨(Julio Coll , 1956) , or "A Tiro Limpio" (1963), by Francisco Pérez-Dolz , as well as ¨091 Policia al habla¨ by Jose Maria Forque and the best Noir resulted to be "Los Peces Rojos" . However , the movie does not reach the level of these previous works and Rovira Beleta 's film falls short .The usual characters respond to the classic archetypes from Film Noir : a tough Inspector become involved into criminal life , an evil woman , a Femme fatale who maneuvers on her own using his beauty ; some professional criminals predisposed to crime and the ordinary treason .
The main aspect results to be its excellent cast and stands out José Luis López Vazquez) giving a fabulous performance and Assumpta Serna as the attractive heiress , she plays a suuspicious Femme fatale using her sex-pot attractive. And the singer Llorenç Santamaria plays a good-looking and kind ex-convict and Hugo Blanco as the violent and revengeful husband .
Mostly filmed in atmospheric scenarios on location in Barcelona , with some great locations , and others places vicinity of Barcelona . The motion picture was compellingly directed by Francisco Rovira veleta , being well paced with some flaws , but imitating the American Noir and originally shot for TV . It was contemptuously deemed and unjustly forgotten , but nowsadays, being well valued . He managed to make a fluid and filled with thrills , killings , assaults , and shots ; though in average but enough budget . A movie without concessions, which, from the beginning to final confrontation , there is nothing forgotten by screenwriters and filmmaker . Beleta was a splendid director and writer , especially known for Los Tarantos (1963), El Amor Brujo (1967) and Los Atracadores (1962). At his beginnings Rovira collaborated with the powerful production company CIFESA as assistant director to Luis Lucía and Juan Orduña . His film debut was ¨Doce Horas De Vida¨(1948) , and went on ¨39 Cartas Amor¨ and ¨Luna De Sangre¨ based on Fernan Caballero novel . His best movies were the prestigious neo-realist trilogy formed by ¨Hay Un Camino a La Derecha¨, ¨Expreso Andalucia¨ about the famous train robbery and this ¨Los Atracadores¨ (61) . His greatest successes were ¨Tarantos¨(1963) about Alfredo Mañas story and ¨Amor Brujo¨ based on Manuel De Falla music , both of them had nomination to American Academy Award . Subsequently , he directed some flops as ¨La Dama De Alba¨ about Alejandro Casona , ¨La Larga Agonía De Peces Fuera de Agua¨ realized in ¨Escuela Barcelona¨ style and ¨No Encontré Rosas Para Mi Madre¨ . Later on , Francisco made the historical production ¨La Espada Negra¨ (76) about R.R.C.C. and his last one was a Noir Film titled ¨Crónica Sentimental En Rojo¨ .
