THE TASTE OF VIOLENCE

Though best known to French moviegoers as an actor in RIFIFI and the popular ANGELIQUE film series, Robert Hossein also carved out a fascinating, unexpected second career as a director. Drawn to pulpy material and crime stories in particular, Hossein’s works were quite different from other French New Wave filmmakers of the era.

Anticipating later Zapata Westerns that focused on revolution like A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL and THE WILD BUNCH, THE TASTE OF VIOLENCE is a most visually striking piece, also bearing resemblance to Kurosawa. In a Latin American dictatorship, revolutionary leader Perez (Hossein, also starring) holds up a train to kidnap the dictator’s daughter to trade her for captured comrades. Perez takes her across dangerous terrain with his two lieutenants…but the bounty on her head is high, and comrades may be easily tempted to switch sides.