Director Mario Soldati is always of interest. He was an extremely cultured and artistic individual whose films exhibit technical proficiency, good taste and restrained passion.
Adapted from 'The Trap' by Delfino Cinelli this is a tale of jealousy and revenge and one would have to say that the film is a little too tasteful and the passion a little too restrained.
Signor Soldati has great skill with actors and he draws excellent performances from Carlo Ninchi as the vengeful gamekeeper, Andrea Checchi as the gullible peasant and Adriano Rimaldi as the civilised count. Armida, who is married to the peasant but also has feelings for the count, is played by Doris Durante. Signorina Durante is here billed as 'Dori' as the final 's' was too anglicised for Mussolini's Italy. A fascinating actress who thrived under the Fascist regime and had a relationship with one of Il Duce's ministers who was subsequently executed by partisans. She very wisely made a speedy exit to South America. A smaller role as the faithful friend is played by Juan de Landa who was to excel that year as the ill-fated husband in Visconti's 'Ossessione.'
The main interest here lies in the camerawork. Massimo Terzano had begun in the silent era and at the time this film was made was considered a deity among cinematographers. His colleague Otello Martelli went on to become one of the most renowned of all, notably for Fellini.
The highlights of the film are the threshing scene and the final duel.
For reasons best known to himself Mario Soldati has altered the screenplay of Emilio Cecchi which is probably why this piece seems not quite fully realised and whatever its merits has turned out to be very good but alas not great.
Best to leave the final words to the director himself: "I was wrong!"