Two Males for Alexa (1971) Poster

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6/10
Two Mules for no wait that aint right
Bezenby5 September 2018
Old school giallo with a much different premise, told mainly in flashback, so although there's a lack of gore, things still feel pretty refreshing.

What you have here is the story of Alexa, a young Rosalba Neri who has married an old Curt Jurgens, much to the annoyance of her fellow student Emma Cohen, mainly because Curt is her dad. We find out right away that Rosalba is having an affair with hunky Pietro, and both of them aren't so discreet about what they are up to (check them out on the beach at the start of the film. Rosalba's standing there in the buff when there's clearly passers-by getting on about their business. Intentionally left in? Who knows.)

At the same time we see this, we were also shown that Rosalba's husband is up to something at their little love nest, checking doors, windows and such like, so we get the drop that he knows about the affair and is planning on doing something too. What it is though I'm not revealing, as it puts a nice twist on the tired genre and sets up the story for flashback city, and of course further twist.

Usually these films have people scheming against each other and everything comes to a head, but by playing these cards early you do get caught up in the story and wonder what's going to become of the main characters. As usual, Rosalba Neri, although frequently shedding clothes, is also a good actress, so you get to feel her pain. On the other hand, Emma Cohen gets underused as Curt Jurgen's daughter.

A good film about bad decisions and regrets. And greed.
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6/10
Good, Solid, Dramatic, Gialloesque Thriller.
LeeVanNero26 July 2019
Entertaining Mystery/Giallo, from Spainish director Juan Logar - of Autopsy infamy - which features a very decent cast of Curd Jurgens, Rosalba Neri, Emma Cohen and Juan Luis Galiardo - lead in Logar's Autopsy. Story line is a little different from the standard Giallo, though in truth it isn't really a 'true' Giallo in any case. No mysterious or gloved killer, no dramatic twists as such and no red herrings, but plenty of drama, mostly seen in flashback. The direction is certainly different, odd at times, but never dull, and there is little about this film that is mainstream. Music is nice enough, Piero Piccioni scoring a solid soundtrack, that's no classic, but is far from lifeless or tedious. Acting is generally OK throughout, though Jurgens never streches himself too much. The stunningly beautiful Neri is her usual reliable, strong and incredibly sexy self. All in all a film that is definitely recommended, though not an easy one to get hold of, particularly in English. There are a couple of nice blu-ray release from Germany, with English subs - both of which also feature the 'clothed' Spanish variant - but currently no UK or US versions available on any format. Hopefully that will change !
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6/10
Passable drama thriller with a surprising premise and paced by means of various flashbacks
ma-cortes15 February 2021
This Spanish/Italian co-production deals with a young girl : Rosalba Neri-mother of actress Francesca Neri- marries the rich father of one of her best friends : Emma Cohen . However, soon finds herself in love with a playboy: Juan Luis Galiardo . The elderly husband : Curd Jurgens to be aware of the treason , and he then will seek for retribution.

An acceptable thriller drama with intrigue , suspense, plot twists , brief nudism and made in Gialloesque style. A twisted and entertaining film about an interesting premise , the vengeance carried out buy an old man against his young wife who has an affaire with a virile boy by having the pair looked at a room in an isolated , far mansion .Trio starring are pretty well, Juan Luis Galiardo as the seducer macho man, gorgeous Rosalba Neri as the young girl who romances a hustler lover and veteran Curd Jurgens as the wealthy old hubby betrayed by a very young woman . They are well accompanied by a good support providing brief but attractive interpretations, such as : Emma Cohen, Manolo Otero , Ricardo Tundidor , Pilar Velazquez , and Eduardo Calvo .

It contains an atmospheric musical score by synthesizer composed by the Italian Piero Piccioni .As well as faded and worn-out cinematography by Florentini , being really necessary a perfect remastering . The picture was decently directed by Juan Logar. He was a multifaceted man , as he was a writer , dubbing actor, composer , producer and filmmaker , directing a few movies such as : "Aun hay tiempo , Quiero soñar, Autopsia , Trasplante de un cerebro , El perfil de Satanás, and this Fieras sin Jaula" at his best . Rating : 6/10 . Acceptable and passable . The picture will appeal to Rosalba Neri fans .
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Worth a look (maybe)
lazarillo8 March 2006
This movie is about a young woman who marries the wealthy father of a university friend, but quickly falls in love with a younger man. The jilted husband hatches an unusual plan for revenge by framing the adulterous couple with his own murder and sealing them in a room in his isolated villa with his dead body. Since most of this movie takes place in a single location,the movie quickly becomes paranoid and claustrophobic as the young couple fall apart debating about what has happened and what to do about it.

This Italian-Spanish co-production to some extent resembles the then popular Italian gialli, but it lacks a lot of the more garish and delirious elements of that genre. It stars Rosalba Neri as the unfaithful wife (who was perhaps a little long in the tooth to be playing a university student). Unfortunately, the dubbed Spanish-language copy I saw edited out all of her no doubt copious nude scenes as Spanish censors at that time was wont to do (Damn Generalisismo Franco! First, he kills hundreds of thousands of people, then he sets up a 40 year fascist dictatorship, and now this!).

This was obviously a very low-budget movie and it's very limited in its sets, but at least it doesn't last long enough for anyone to get too bored. The version I saw (on Mexican television) looked pretty decent at least, but I would have preferred an unedited version (and with some English subtitles). Worth a look though I guess.

Addendum: I recently saw the French version, which does have some brief nudity from Neri (but still might be cut). Unfortunately, this probably doesn't justify the crappy looking, full-screen presentation, but if you find the English-subtitled version the previous reviewer mentioned, well, maybe. . .
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7/10
Just to say...
henriqueac-6278318 December 2022
Warning: Spoilers
... that I watched and this is a pretty nice movie. I mean, no moral lessons were given and all characters have some serious personality flaws, but in the end I turned out to be a cool movie. An old wealthy ruthless man, a cynical girl and a... let's say... Incoherent fellow see themselves sharing a girl... The plot has all the conditions for a disaster to happen, but the way it happens is creative. I will give no spoilers here, but I am about to say that it seems that the old man was always in control... Too late, now I have already said it. Hahaha As always, these old italian movies has nice scenarios and clothes.. Everything seems to be very fashionable... hahaha.
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5/10
Italian Crime Movie with Rosalba NERI and Curd JÜRGENS
ZeddaZogenau1 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Two men for Alexa drink bitter whiskey

A young woman (Rosalba NERI) marries her fellow student's rich father (Curd JÜRGENS), but cheats on him with a young man (Juan Luis GALIARDO). The aging millionaire seems to have come to terms with this, but then he sets a cruel trap for the young lovers...

Not a new story, but the implementation could have been very exciting! The actors act listlessly (JÜRGENS) or overwhelmed (NERI), so that the potential of the rather nasty revenge action is unfortunately wasted. Juan Luis GALIARDO (1940-2012) isn't an acting revelation either, but at least he has a face that hasn't been seen that often. He was a star of Spanish-language films and also very present in Mexico.

No recommendation!
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6/10
(No) Escape Room; - Italian Giallo style!
Coventry13 October 2023
Not sure if this film evens answers to my own personal definitions of being a Giallo, but for sure it's a typically vile and sinister early 70s exploitation product like only the Italians could make them!

The sensationally beautiful Rosalba Neri ("Lady Frankenstein", "The French Sex Murders") stars as what you'd refer to as the ultimate gold-digger gal. She, Alexa, is determined to marry a rich old man, and doesn't waste any time as she easily seduces her college friend's wealthy father Ronald Marvelling, who's a widower and a frequently traveling business tycoon. Alexa also doesn't have the decency - or the patience - to wait for him to die and collect the inheritance, but promptly begins a steaming love-affair with the hunky Pietro. Unfortunately, but not entirely unpredictably, Ronald didn't get so rich and powerful because he's a weak and pitiable victim. He finds out about his young wife's adultery and prepares for a deadly trap in their little love nest. Ronald kills himself (or dies from a heart-attack, that wasn't very clear) in front of the couple, and promptly the bedroom turns into a hermetically sealed and inescapable tomb.

The original (for 1971, at least) premise, the absorbing narrative structure (through non-chronological flashbacks), and the convincing performances of both Rosalba Neri & Curd Jürgens are enough reasons for me to label "Two Males for Alexa" as a worthwhile cult flick. I do regret not being able to find a fully uncut version, though. In the barely 80 minutes version I watched, there isn't a single nude sequence (which is simply impossible in a Rosalba Neri film) and the already limited number of action footage is missing as well. Can't say for sure if "Two Males for Alexa" formed the inspiration, but similar plots featured more recently in other (modest) cult movies like "Alexandra's Project", "Gerald's Game", and "Till Death".
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8/10
There is no cure for love
RodrigAndrisan7 June 2016
What is the price they have to pay, those who cheat in love, the adulterers? They deserve death? One thing is certain, for those who are cheated, life is not life anymore, it becomes unbearable, it becomes a slow death. I saw Curd Jürgens in many movies and I do not consider myself a fan of. But here I liked it how he lived Ronald Marvelling's character. Rosalba Neri, which usually shows her charms (neither here no exception), shows that she can also play well, she's not brilliant, but convincing. Juan Luis Galiardo is OK in the role of Pietro too. Emma Cohen is also credible in the role of Catherine. Piero Piccioni's music is not amazing, just functional. In conclusion, a good movie, except the end, which is disappointing.
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6/10
"The most important thing is to keep calm"
hwg1957-102-26570420 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
A married woman Alecsa and her lover Pietro are trapped in a sealed area in a beachside house with the dead body of the husband Ronald. The film explores what led up to the situation and how the imprisoned couple cope. It's not quite a giallo but is engrossing anyway. Mainly set in the 'prison' but it also opens out as past and present intermingle, assisted by the good editing. The three main leads are excellent, Curd Jürgens as the rich husband, Rosalba Neri as the wife and Juan Luis Galiardo as the lover and their interplay is very well written. There are a lot of themes like love, loyalty, regret, desire, value, doing right which flavour the film in a subtle way. It was an unexpected pleasure to watch.
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9/10
Marginally a giallo but completely surreal
christopher-underwood14 August 2013
Not only is Two Masks For Alexa an unsatisfactory title for what I have as Two Men For Alexa, or this site has as, Fieras Sin Jaula but somewhere along the line the numeral 2 has become inserted on another site and made this title almost impossible to find. Mind you the film is difficult to find as well. I digress. Marginally a giallo but completely surreal, this really is an undiscovered gem. The beginning strikes as either incredibly bad or intoxicatingly good depending how you react to what seem like totally unconnected sequences crashed together without a thought and completely different colour stock seemingly being used. Then gradually as we become used to the human triangle within the story and the many, many flashbacks, some crazy sort of logic establishes itself before, way before halfway, there is a real surprise and the film appears to be at an end. But no. Everybody is great, including the lovely, Rosalba Neri and Curt Jurgens, the music is fine and the direction...let us say, unusual. If you have any interest in Italian movies of the early 70s, seek this out. Did I mention Ms Neri and her wonderful and numerous costumes!
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6/10
One of Rosalba Neri's best performances - but does the rest of he film measure up?
parry_na12 September 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The extraordinary Rosalba Neri plays the titular character, an insatiable woman who has an affair with virile young Pietro (Juan Luis Galiardo). Not that either of them care, but she is married to the elderly Ronald Marvelling (Curd Jürgens) at the time. For the first twenty minutes or so, the audience could be forgiven for thinking it was watching a pornography 'flick', for we are treated to relentless and lingering sex scenes between the two hot-heads (unlike the original Italian version, the Spanish print had Neri clothed throughout), while a constantly furious Ronald skulks in the shadows of his mansion. Importantly, he is holding a gun, and it seems inevitable as to what will happen when he finally confronts his wife and her lover, writhing around in his bed. We wait a long time to see what he will actually do, but what happens kick-starts the drama and changes the nature of the story completely.

In a SPOILER, he appears to blow his brains out. As he dies, the windows and doors instantly become sealed, impossible to open. In a voice-over that Pietro and Alexa can both hear, Ronald explains that this is his ultimate trap. As his body putrefies, Alexa will still love him, he says. They will never escape. Clearly, as a result of this revelation, the first thing the young couple do is spark up a cigarette.

Emma Cohen plays Catherine, Ronald's daughter. Sadly wasted, she's the reddest of herrings, for when the end of the film comes - and I speak as a fan of open-ended finales - it is far from satisfactory, which casts a shadow backwards over what has just been watched. It is as if Director Juan Logar ran out of cash.
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