La Fièvre monte à El Pao (1959) - film review

When the governor of an prison island is assassinated, his secretary, Ramón Vasquez, assumes the role of acting governor until a replacement can be appointed. Vasquez, an idealist, exploits this opportunity to improve the lot of the prisoners, and also to start an affair with the former governor’s widow, Inés Vargas.  The new governor, Alejandro Gual, arrives, but he shares none of Vasquez’s concerns.  Instead, he intends to have Vasquez arrested unless Inés submits to him and becomes his lover.  When Inés learns that the prisoners are planning a revolt, she persuades Vasquez this is a perfect opportunity to get rid of the wicked Gual...

A comparatively obscure entry in the Buñuel canon, La Fièvre monte à El Pao certainly does not show the director at his best.  Despite some memorable moments (most notably the film’s final five minutes) and commendable acting (particularly from an exceptional María Félix), the film is ponderous and lacking in drama and tension.

Although the film has a promising opening, with some impressive panoramic location scenes, it quickly drifts into complacency.  Although a lot of action  is eluded to in the script, very little of this actually makes it to the screen.  Even the crucial rebellion towards the end of the film takes place well out of camera shot.  The mounting fever of the film’s title just fails to appear, and watching this film is a bit like watching a firework which just fails to go off.  Having said that, the film has some saving graces and should not be written off as a failure, if only for the performances given by the three lead actors, María Félix, Gérard Philipe and Jean Servais.

La Fièvre monte à El Pao is probably most noted because it marks the final acting role for Gérard Philippe, a popular and highly regarded French actor.  Whilst making the film, Philippe was suffering from liver cancer, and this is noticeable throughout his performance, adding a very real tragic poignancy to his character.  Philippe died a short time after his appearances in this film had been recorded, at the age of 37.

© James Travers 2002

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