Road to Salina
Encyclopedia
Road to Salina is a 1970
French
film, a psychological thriller directed by Georges Lautner
. It stars Robert Walker, Jr., Mimsy Farmer
and Rita Hayworth
. The film is based upon Maurice Cury’s novel Sur la Route de Salina. A French- Italian co production, it was shot in English
in the Canary Islands
.
As Billie, his alleged sister, comes home, Jonas thinks that the game is over and that he will be finally unmasked as an impostor, but even Billie recognizes him as her brother. The attractive and carefree Billie soon takes him under her wing; they spend all the time together, go skinny dipping in the ocean and an erotic relationship starts between Jonas and his allegedly sister. Everything seem to be fine and Jonas begins to relax in his role as Rocky. Mara, Billie and Warren enjoy a dinner party together celebrating Rocky’s come back.
Realizing that Billie is having a passionate affair with her allegedly brother, Mara and Warren are afraid that the harmony so recently reach would soon be broken. Uneasy, Jonas becomes increasingly interested in finding the reasons for the disappearance of the true Rocky. He has the first clues in his search from Warren, who never expressing any doubt that he is Rocky mentions the past and brings to a conversation the name of Rocky’s girlfriend, Linda. In search for answers, Rocky goes to Salina and finds Linda who runs a local restaurant as Warren told him. He drops a glass at the bar to draw attention to himself and Linda is the first person who fails to recognize him as Rocky. Back at the house, Jonas steals from Billie’s bedroom some old photographs and confirms his suspicions that he does not even resemble the real Rocky. When he confronts Billie with the truth she tells him that she has lied to protect Mara and that she loves Rocky and wanting him back.
In an attempt to resolve his mounting confusion, Jonas visits Linda again. She tells him that she was going to elope with Rocky the day he disappeared. The surprising visit of Charlie, and old friend of Jonas, once again threatens to completely destroy the façade that he is really Rocky, but not only do Mara and Billie seem totally undisturbed when Charlie calls Jonas by his real name, but Charlie and his companions have a good time with Mara, Billie and the bewildered Jonas. Instead of accepting his friend's offer of leaving with him, Jonas stays with Billie and Mara.
Jonas finally learns the shocking truth about the nature of his "sister's" behavior. When Rocky wanted to leave the incestuous relationship with his sister, Billie unintentionally killed him with a rock while trying to stop him. The revelation marks a turning point in Jonas relationship with Billie, from then on she avoids him. Rebuked by her, Jonas explodes during an argument with Billie. Shaking her against a wall, he accidentally kills her. He runs away in the middle of a rainstorm in spite of Mara’s protestations. Mara begs him to stay and offers him to help him hide Billie’s body under the station as she did with Rocky but instead Jonas goes to Salina and tells the sheriff what have happened. The story is told in flashback.
. It was the last film of Ed Begley who died in April, 1970 and the second to last film for legendary screen siren Rita Hayworth. All Movie/www.allmovie.com/work/sur-la-route-de-salina-41584
. The main theme of the film, named "Sunny road to Salina" was used by Quentin Tarantino in Kill Bill V 2.
It also features songs and music from popular French singer Christophe and French/Canadian/British band 'Clinic' (consisting of Philip Brigham
, Phil Trainer and Alan Reeves).
. Kevin Thomas in the Los Angeles Times
called it " An admirable ambitious film of strictly sophisticated appeal. He described the film as " A fable showing how tragedy can occur when reality intrudes upon the lonely lives of those who live in a world of fantasy". The review in Newsday
called Road to Salina " A very strange film... More perversely compelling than it has a right to be". In the Village Voice
, Robert Colaciello said: " If your taste runs to 70s actors having 60s sex in a 50s film so that a 40s star can suffer, then Road to Salina is for you "
1970 in film
The year 1970 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 9 - Larry Fine, the second member of The Three Stooges, suffers a massive stroke, therefore ending his career....
French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
film, a psychological thriller directed by Georges Lautner
Georges Lautner
Georges Lautner is a French film director and screenwriter.He was born in Nice, the son of actress Renée Saint-Cyr.- As director :* 1958 : La Môme aux boutons* 1960 : Arrêtez les tambours* 1960 : Marche ou crève...
. It stars Robert Walker, Jr., Mimsy Farmer
Mimsy Farmer
Mimsy Farmer is an American actress. Her nickname came from a line in Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky; "All mimsy were the borogoves".-Career:...
and Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
. The film is based upon Maurice Cury’s novel Sur la Route de Salina. A French- Italian co production, it was shot in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
.
Plot
Jonas, a young drifter, is wandering in a deserted area on the road to Salina. He stops to drink some water at a desolate roadside service station when Mara, the owner, identifies him as her son Rocky, who disappeared four years ago. Jonas is overwhelmed by the awkward situation, but tired and hungry, he accepts Mara’s offer of room and board. Feeling sorry for Mara, he pretends to be her beloved son Rocky. Jonas is soon comfortably assuming Rocky’s identity. Initially he believes that Mara is just delusional, but when Warren, Mara’s old friend and neighbor, arrives for a visit, surprisingly Warren also acts as if Jonas were Rocky.As Billie, his alleged sister, comes home, Jonas thinks that the game is over and that he will be finally unmasked as an impostor, but even Billie recognizes him as her brother. The attractive and carefree Billie soon takes him under her wing; they spend all the time together, go skinny dipping in the ocean and an erotic relationship starts between Jonas and his allegedly sister. Everything seem to be fine and Jonas begins to relax in his role as Rocky. Mara, Billie and Warren enjoy a dinner party together celebrating Rocky’s come back.
Realizing that Billie is having a passionate affair with her allegedly brother, Mara and Warren are afraid that the harmony so recently reach would soon be broken. Uneasy, Jonas becomes increasingly interested in finding the reasons for the disappearance of the true Rocky. He has the first clues in his search from Warren, who never expressing any doubt that he is Rocky mentions the past and brings to a conversation the name of Rocky’s girlfriend, Linda. In search for answers, Rocky goes to Salina and finds Linda who runs a local restaurant as Warren told him. He drops a glass at the bar to draw attention to himself and Linda is the first person who fails to recognize him as Rocky. Back at the house, Jonas steals from Billie’s bedroom some old photographs and confirms his suspicions that he does not even resemble the real Rocky. When he confronts Billie with the truth she tells him that she has lied to protect Mara and that she loves Rocky and wanting him back.
In an attempt to resolve his mounting confusion, Jonas visits Linda again. She tells him that she was going to elope with Rocky the day he disappeared. The surprising visit of Charlie, and old friend of Jonas, once again threatens to completely destroy the façade that he is really Rocky, but not only do Mara and Billie seem totally undisturbed when Charlie calls Jonas by his real name, but Charlie and his companions have a good time with Mara, Billie and the bewildered Jonas. Instead of accepting his friend's offer of leaving with him, Jonas stays with Billie and Mara.
Jonas finally learns the shocking truth about the nature of his "sister's" behavior. When Rocky wanted to leave the incestuous relationship with his sister, Billie unintentionally killed him with a rock while trying to stop him. The revelation marks a turning point in Jonas relationship with Billie, from then on she avoids him. Rebuked by her, Jonas explodes during an argument with Billie. Shaking her against a wall, he accidentally kills her. He runs away in the middle of a rainstorm in spite of Mara’s protestations. Mara begs him to stay and offers him to help him hide Billie’s body under the station as she did with Rocky but instead Jonas goes to Salina and tells the sheriff what have happened. The story is told in flashback.
Cast
The film is notable for its cast. Robert Walker, son of famous actors Robert Walker and Jennifer JonesJennifer Jones
Phylis Lee Isley , better known by her stage name Jennifer Jones, was an American actress. A five-time Academy Award nominee, Jones won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in The Song of Bernadette .-Early life:Jones was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the daughter of Flora Mae and...
. It was the last film of Ed Begley who died in April, 1970 and the second to last film for legendary screen siren Rita Hayworth. All Movie/www.allmovie.com/work/sur-la-route-de-salina-41584
- Robert Walker, Jr. – Jonas
- Mimsy Farmer - Billie
- Rita HayworthRita HayworthRita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
- Mara - Ed BegleyEd BegleyEdward James Begley, Sr. was an Academy Award-winning American actor.-Biography:Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Begley began his career as a Broadway and radio actor while in his teens. He appeared in the hit musical Going Up on Broadway in 1917 and in London the next year. He later acted in...
- Warren - Marc PorelMarc PorelMarc Porel was a Swiss-born French film actor. He appeared in 36 films between 1967 and 1983.He was born in Lausanne, Switzerland and died in Casablanca, Morocco.-Selected filmography:...
- Rocky - Sophie Hardí - Linda
- Bruce Pecheur -Charlie
- David Sachs - Sheriff
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was composed by Georges LautnerGeorges Lautner
Georges Lautner is a French film director and screenwriter.He was born in Nice, the son of actress Renée Saint-Cyr.- As director :* 1958 : La Môme aux boutons* 1960 : Arrêtez les tambours* 1960 : Marche ou crève...
. The main theme of the film, named "Sunny road to Salina" was used by Quentin Tarantino in Kill Bill V 2.
It also features songs and music from popular French singer Christophe and French/Canadian/British band 'Clinic' (consisting of Philip Brigham
Philip Brigham
Philip Brigham is an Canadian rock singer, composer and guitarist.- Early life :Phil became interested in music from a very early age. He played the saxophone in the school band from 4th to 9th grades, His first major influences were seeing Ricky Nelson on "The Adventures of Ozzie And Harriet" and...
, Phil Trainer and Alan Reeves).
Reception
In the U.S.A Road to Salina had a modest and brief released. Its play-date was usually on the lower half of a double featureDouble feature
The double feature, also known as a double bill, was a motion picture industry phenomenon in which theatre managers would exhibit two films for the price of one, supplanting an earlier format in which one feature film and various short subject reels would be shown.The double feature, also known as...
. Kevin Thomas in the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
called it " An admirable ambitious film of strictly sophisticated appeal. He described the film as " A fable showing how tragedy can occur when reality intrudes upon the lonely lives of those who live in a world of fantasy". The review in Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
called Road to Salina " A very strange film... More perversely compelling than it has a right to be". In the Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
, Robert Colaciello said: " If your taste runs to 70s actors having 60s sex in a 50s film so that a 40s star can suffer, then Road to Salina is for you "