User reviews

Ambitious thriller with acceptable atmosphere and nice production , though falls flat and is regularly developed . Based on a known novel written by Antonio Muñoz Molina , being adapted by also director Mario Camus . Madrid , 1962 , more than twenty years after the civil war has finished , a retired communist agent and ex-captain nicknamed Darman (Terence Stamp) is living in Carborough , England . He is sent to Polonia , there receives instructions and comes back to Spain . He is assigned to pull off a dangerous mission to kill a ¨topo¨ or infiltrated in the underground Communist Party ; he is named Andrade (Simon Andreu) , a traitor who informs about communists , being subsequently executed . In the process, he goes to ¨Tabu Boute¨ where meets a pretty girl (Patsy Kensit) who he believes could help her but this only further complicates issues . Meanwhile , a Police inspector named Valdivia (Jose Luis Gomez) is investigating the killings .

Thrilling film about Noir cinema with suspense , plot twists but slowing paced and ultimately turns out to be boring . The story fails when deals with historical-politician deeds , including a flawed screenplay and a confuse and embarrassing finale . Furthermore , a badly developed love story among both protagonists Stamp and Kensit . Casting is frankly excellent , with plenty of good English actors as Terence Stamp , Geraldine Jones , John McEnery as well as Spanish players : Simon Andreu , Pedro Diaz Corral , Carlos Hipolito , Francisco Casares and Jose Luis Gomez in a double role . Gorgeous Patsy Kensit acting as a femme fatale who plays an erotic show number , a Gilda-alike , with nudism included . Fine production design and scenarios with appropriate sets . Colorful cinematography by Javier Aguirresarobe who subsequently would make a prestigious career in Hollywood . Stirring and suspenseful musical score composed and conducted by Jose Nieto .

The motion picture is middlingly directed by Pilar Miro . In 1982 Pilar was designated General Director of Cinema . She was an expert filmmaker of Television chapters and occasionally for cinema , getting some successes such as ¨The dog in the manger or El Perro del Hortelano¨, ¨The bird of happiness¨ , ¨Werther¨ and especially ¨The Cuenca crime¨ . ¨Beltreneros¨ resulted to be a flop and failed at the box office , in spite of an international cast , spectacular set production and enjoyable atmosphere . Rating : Average .

Pilar Miró's 'Beltenebros' is about an old spy who is hired to murder a double agent. However, as he has doubts, he pursues his own investigation to find out whether this double agent is worth the kill. In the process, he meets a femme fatale who he thinks could help her but this only further complicates things. But to be honest, I could care less. On paper this may sound a bit interesting albeit clichéd. 'Beltenebros' tries to ape the classic noire films with the added oozing of sex. However, Miró fails miserably. The movie itself has a B grade feel to it. The lighting is very poor. It's loaded with dialogues but none of them are even the least bit interesting. The acting mostly suffers because of the bad writing though the viewer does get the pleasure of watching Patsy Kensit strip again. The actor who plays the main villain is downright horrendous. Overall, ''Beltenebros' is a movie that's best left ignored.