Ever since first viewing Italian bombshell Monica Vitti in the fun '60s spy-romp, Modesty Blaise, i've always known she was cool, but after watching her sizzle up the screen in the fabulous film, The Scarlet Lady (originally released in France as La Femme écarlate), i'm now absolutely obsessed!
It is the story of a perfume company heiress, who after finding out that her entire fortune has been squandered by her schmucky boyfriend, she plots to murder him, and then herself, but first decides that since she doesn't have long to live, she wants to spend a week shopping, partying, and flirting with young rock stars as a faux-journalist. Of course, along the way, she meets a handsome stranger . . .
This film has anything I could ever ask for . . . a complex-yet-comical femme-fatale, amazing costumes by Dior, a Parisian shopping spree, a fictional French pop band called "The Timothys", a fun story-line, a romantic ice-cream date atop the Eiffel Tower, and psychedelic designer décor (if Jonathan Adler hasn't taken inspiration from this film, i'm a monkey's auntie).
It is the story of a perfume company heiress, who after finding out that her entire fortune has been squandered by her schmucky boyfriend, she plots to murder him, and then herself, but first decides that since she doesn't have long to live, she wants to spend a week shopping, partying, and flirting with young rock stars as a faux-journalist. Of course, along the way, she meets a handsome stranger . . .
This film has anything I could ever ask for . . . a complex-yet-comical femme-fatale, amazing costumes by Dior, a Parisian shopping spree, a fictional French pop band called "The Timothys", a fun story-line, a romantic ice-cream date atop the Eiffel Tower, and psychedelic designer décor (if Jonathan Adler hasn't taken inspiration from this film, i'm a monkey's auntie).
Not
to mention that you get to watch Monica Vitti learn to smoke weed,
making her the most gorgeous stoner ever to grace the silver screen. High Times should totally include a pin-up of her in their next ish'.
* All screen caps by J.B.T., so please be polite and ask permission if you plan to use them on your site. Thanks : )
I love learning about all this cool stuff on your blog! I definitely want to try seeking this out.
Posted by: Ashley | September 19, 2008 at 04:24 PM
Thanks! It's available on netflix actually : )
P.S. Your blog is great too ; ) Congrats on your wedding. Those great photos really made me miss Disneyland : (
Posted by: J.B. Taylor | September 19, 2008 at 06:22 PM