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A Brilliant Conflict

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

A good thriller with some spotlights as the splendid music , the black/white photography , the subjective sight point at a murder and the thrilling chases out of the urban environment , usual to Noir film . Carlos (Carlos Larrañaga) is an unfortunate young who lives in Barcelona suburb . He wishes a good time , even through crime , and then schemes a robbing , in the offices of the company where he used to work .As he will suggest to an old friend , a retired and sickly failed boxer (Fernando Sancho) an ambitious plan . The mature boxer called Enrique tries to survive and save their marriage to a mean woman , Isabel (Gisia Paradísi) . Enrique has many contacts to carry out the projected plan to steal , and he joins two experimented thieves Antonio (Miguel Ángel Gil) and Manuel (Arturo Fernández) . All of them are engaged into a daring robbery they hope will be the beginning of a new life , but things go awry . The picture is developed with tension , suspense , emotion , and the exciting deeds are unfolded with absolute logic until the bloody final outcome . 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 , as when the camera becomes subjective for a moment, showing us what the killer watches; in addition , the sequence of stairs when a thrilling duel takes place . Being especially inspìred and influenced by The killing (1956) directed by Stanley Kubrick. Vicente Parra gives a good acting as a poor but ambitious young man who lives in the outskirts of Barcelona and desiring to improve his existence and to earn a lot of money by whatsever means . Outstanding the attractive presence of Gisia Paradís who has an international and Hollywood aspect but she was born in Huesca , she plays a nasty Femme fatale using her sex-pot attractive. And the incombustible Arturo Fernández who played along with Carlos Larrañaga in ¨Un vaso de Whisky¨(Julio Coll 1958) . This nice film 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) , or "A Tiro Limpio" (1963), by Francisco Pérez-Dolz , ¨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 Bosch's film falls short .The usual characters respond to the classic archetypes from Film Noir : a young and ambitious man become involved into criminal life , an evil woman , a Femme fatale , who maneuvers on her own using his beauty ; a tarnished boxer, some professional criminals predisposed to crime and the ordinary treason . Being masterfully photographed in Noir style by Sebastián Perera , full of ligts and shades . Mostly filmed in atmospheric scenarios on location in Barcelona , and others places vicinity of Barcelona , Cataluña , as well as interiors filmed in IFI (Ignacio F Iquino) studios . Enjoyable musical score by José Solá , a catching as well as interesting Jazzy soundtrack , the film has its best moments in sequences such as theft, and pursuits . The motion picture was compellingly directed by Juan Bosch , being well paced and virtually devoid of dialogue , but imitating the American Noir . 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 the theft , pursuit , to final confrontation , there is nothing forgotten by screenwriters and filmmaker . TheJuan Bosch i film s a precios gem that should be seen by all buffs of classy Spanish cinema. "A Sangre Fría" is a magnificent example of the Noir film that was made in Spain in the late 50s, and one of the first films directed by Juan Bosch, involved both the splendour of this genre in the 50s . Juan was a Spanish craftsman , writing and directing ; working from the 60s in all kind of genres and B movies . His film debut was ¨Huellas del destino¨(57) . Later on , he made a Film noir trilogy : his second film :¨A sangre fría¨, ¨sendas marcadas¨, ¨Regresa un desconocido¨. And beach comedies as ¨Ultimo verano¨, Bahía de Palma¨. He made other popular comedies for ¨IFI¨ production company , such as ¨El terrible de Chicago¨, ¨La viudita YeYe¨; and he directed Spaghetti Western : ¨Dallas¨, "God in Heaven, Arizona on Earth¨, "And the Crows Will Dig Your Grave" , "My Horse, My Gun, Your Widow" ,¨Ciudad Maldita¨, ¨They Believed He Was No Saint" , "Stagecoach of the Condemned" ; Giallo : "The Killer Wore Gloves" , "On the Edge" or "The Killer with a Thousand Eyes" ; more Comedy : Mauricio Mon Amour¨, ¨40 Años Sin Sexo¨, ¨Caray Con Divorcio¨ , ¨Rolls Para Hipolito¨ and Terror : ¨Exorcismo¨, ¨Secta Siniestra¨ . Rating : 7/10 , this one remains largely watchable .

Spanish crime films in the fifties and sixties had to be scripted under the limiting scrutiny of the Censorship Board (JSOC), and the Police could only be presented as efficient and exemplary in all circumstances. The ending was therefore predictable, but script-writers could focus on the suspense of how the police got there. This is not really explained in the film which, through the action, focuses on the criminals' psychology and relationships. If the film glosses over the police investigation, not to upset the censors, this is compensated by the fragments it offers of urban Spain (Barcelona) in the late fifties (high-rise buildings in the blue colour outskirts and Jazz Club or pelota matches in the centre). The film was re-re-released as a DVD in 2008, Spanish language only, as one of a six-pack collection of films all starring the always impeccably dressed leading man Arturo Fernández. (bpeb)