TINTORERA
Mexico, 1977, 126 minutes (original running time; UK & US running time 89 minutes), colour.
Susan George, Hugo Stiglitz, Andres Garcia, Fiona Lewis.
Directed by Rene Cardona Jr.
Tintorera is an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the 1975 Jaws. This time a tiger shark is menacing the east coast of Mexico. Two hunters are in pursuit accompanied by a British woman (Susan George).
There is some action, some beautiful colour photography, underwater photography – and more than a dollop of sexual activity.
The film is conventional, rather exploitative and a reminder of how popular these themes were in the mid-1970s.
The film was co-written and directed by Rene Cardona Jr, a prolific director who churned out often many films a year from 1964 to the beginning of the 21st century. During the 1970s he had some international success with Tintorera as well as a film about the Bermuda Triangle and a film about Guyana and the Jim Jones massacre.
1. An entertaining adventure film?
2. The 'Jaws' tradition and the direct influence of these disaster films? The tradition of the sexploitation drama? The blending of these two themes? The effect?
3. Colour photography, Mexican locations, the underwater photography, the shark footage?
4. How credible was the plot? The presentation of the holiday makers in Mexico and their attitudes, morality, fun seeking, sensuality and sexuality, hunting of fish etc.? The idle way of life? These people as being victimized by the shark, as hunting the shark? Realism, contrived for the purposes of the film?
5. Stephen as a wealthy man, his owning of the yacht, his servants, way of life, sexuality and feelings? Patricia, the threesome with Gabriella? His attack on Miguel, friendship with him? Parties etc.? His activity in swimming, hunting the fish, his motives in hunting the tiger shark and succeeding? A conventional hero for these kinds of exploits?
6. The contrast with Miguel as the Mexican gigolo, his philosophy of life, attitude towards women, to hunting fish, to life and death? The effect of his death for saving Gabriella?
7. Patricia and Gabriella as English women seeking excitement and sexuality? Character, motivation? Patricia and her not wanting to complicate lift, her affairs, callous attitudes, not wanting emotional involvement? The effect of her death? The contrast with Gabriella as a similar kind of person but taking up with the two men? The film's attitude towards their time together, lyrical scenes, fishing, swimming, touring the ruins, the meals, the rings? the emphasis on nudity, sexuality?
8. The build-up of the atmosphere of the tiger shark? The initial scenes with Stephen going fishing with his assistant? The killing of the shark in the underwater scenes? The tiger shark and mauling and killing people? the gruesome close-ups? The party and the mauling of the girl? The finale?
9. How conventional the material? The value of the film?
