The Barefoot Contessa 1954

As Harry Dawes (played by), a once-celebrated filmmaker, navigates the harsh realities of his dwindling career, he finds himself in the peculiar position of working for Kirk Edwards, a shrewd businessman with grand ambitions to produce a film. In search of a leading lady that exudes glamour and sophistication, they embark on a journey from Rome to the vibrant nightlife of Madrid, where they stumble upon Maria Vargas, a free-spirited dancer with a penchant for going barefoot.

Maria’s troubled home life is juxtaposed against her carefree nature, which immediately resonates with Harry. Despite her initial disdain for Kirk, she finds herself drawn to Harry’s expertise and passion for storytelling. As they work together on her film debut, Maria’s star begins to rise, and Harry’s career is revitalized through their collaborative efforts.

The trio becomes inseparable, producing two more films that solidify Maria’s status as a Hollywood sensation. However, beneath the glamour and adoration, Maria’s personal life remains tumultuous. During a lavish party at her estate, tensions simmer between Kirk and Alberto Bravano, a charismatic Latin American playboy who has been eyeing Maria all evening.

As Alberto extends an invitation to join him on his luxurious yacht in the Riviera, Kirk attempts to exert control over Maria, prompting her to accept Alberto’s offer. This sudden shift sparks a chain reaction as Oscar Muldoon, their publicist, abandons Kirk for Alberto, sensing an opportunity to elevate his own career.

As Maria’s star continues to shine brighter than ever, she begins to harbor deep-seated insecurities. She envies the happiness her friend Harry has found with script girl Jerry, and this realization sparks a newfound sense of discontent within her. The tables turn once more as Alberto’s luck takes a drastic turn for the worse at the Monte Carlo Casino.

In a public display of frustration, Alberto berates Maria, prompting Count Vincenzo Torlato-Favrini to intervene with a firm slap on the face. As Maria is escorted from the casino by the count, she finds herself drawn to his charming and refined nature. The two eventually marry in an opulent ceremony, with Harry serving as best man.

However, the joyous occasion is tempered by the revelation that the count is impotent due to a war injury, leaving the noble line of Torlato-Favrinis without heir. As Maria navigates this newfound reality, she must confront the fragility of her own happiness and the uncertain future that lies ahead.

As the rain-soaked streets of Italy wept tears of despair, Harry’s hotel room became a sanctuary for Maria, whose turmoil was palpable as she recounted the devastating news that her husband’s potency had abandoned him. Her solution to this crisis, however, left Harry reeling in horror - she had conceived with another man, driven by the misguided notion that Vincenzo would welcome this new life into their family lineage. Despite Harry’s dire warnings that such pride would not be easily swayed, Maria was resolute in her plan to reveal this truth to her husband that very night.

The moment Maria departed, Harry’s instincts kicked in as he noticed Vincenzo’s car tailed by hers, and he decided to trail them, sensing a darkness brewing. Back at the palazzo, in the humble servants’ quarters, a sinister scene unfolded: Vincenzo, driven by his own malevolent impulses, took aim and ended the lives of both Maria and her lover before they could share the truth about the child. Harry arrived just as the fatal shots were fired, but he chose to withhold the revelation about the pregnancy from Vincenzo, allowing the tragedy to unfold without further complication.

As the narrative came full circle, the funeral procession served as a haunting reminder of Maria’s tragic demise, with flashbacks weaving in and out of the somber proceedings. And so, as the story concluded where it began, Vincenzo was taken away by the authorities, forever scarred by his own handiwork.