The Bobo (1967)

Set in Barcelona, Spain. A singing matador (Peter Sellers) has an ambition to become famous. The local impresario (Adolfo Celi) is willing to take a chance on him but on one condition. That he must seduce the beautiful but conniving minx (Britt Ekland), who dumps her admirers as soon as she has gotten all the money and gifts she can from them. Based on the novel OLIMPIA by Burt Cole and directed by Robert Parrish (IN THE FRENCH STYLE). Originally set to be a vehicle for Ava Gardner with George Cukor directing, what we ended up with is a vapid attempt at a Chaplinesque comedy. That Peter Sellers was a major comic talent is never in question but he fails here. Granted, Ekland's vixen probably deserves her comeuppance but there's something decidedly unsavory about Sellers' dope using her to get his break at stardom. If the movie were actually funny perhaps it could have overcome this unpleasantness but I never laughed once. With Rossano Brazzi, Al Lettieri, Ferdy Mayne, Hattie Jacques and Antonia Santiago Amador whose fiery flamenco is the film's highpoint.