Woman of Straw

12/1/2024

I was pleasantly surprised with this film. "Charles" (Sir Ralph Richardson) is a wealthy man, a bully and an odious sort of creature, but one who has taken a shine to his nurse "Maria" (Gina Lollobrigida). She, in turn, has taken to the wastrel nephew "Tony" (Sean Connery) who is trying to manipulate her into marrying the old man for his £50m fortune then the two of them can spend it once he has shaken off his mortal coil. There is a slightly convoluted back story, but aside from that it is a simple and engaging tale of good old fashioned greed and avarice. It's cleverly tempered by just a shade of jeopardy - you are never entirely sure who is going to stab who in the back. You just know this is not going to end up with everything smelling of roses! It is long, and maybe could have shaved