Main Cast: Bo Derek, George Kennedy, Andrea Occhipinti, Ana Obregon, Olivia D'Abo
Release Year: 1984
Country: US
Run Time: 106 minutes
Plot
In a semi-erotic film almost universally lamented, Bo Derek, last wife of the late John Derek (who wrote, directed, and photographed Bolero), plays Ayre, a virginal young woman who, on graduating from an exclusive British boarding school, is determined to find the right man for her first sexual encounter wherever he might be in the world. Rich enough not to venture forth alone, she brings along her friend Catalina (Ana Obregon) and the family chauffeur (George Kennedy). Ayre first travels to an Arab country where she meets an ideal lover, a sheik (Greg Bensen) who offers to deflower her but falls asleep almost immediately (he was, after all, reciting lines from this script). Giving up on the sheik, Ayre goes on to Spain, where she meets the toreador Angel (Andrea Occhipinti) who is even better than the sheik because he manages to stay awake. Unfortunately, after she has succeeded in her quest, the perils of Angel's profession are brought home when he is gored in a sensitive location -- the arena, of course. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
Greg Bensen - Sheik; Ian Cochrane - Robert; Mirta Miller - Evita; Mickey Knox - Sleazy Moroccan Guide; James Stacy - Young Valentino #2; Paul Stacey - Young Valentino #1
Credit
Rony Yacov - Associate Producer, Maurice Bejart - Choreography, Yousaf Bokhari - First Assistant Director, John Derek - Director, Sophie Bhaud - Editor, Hughes Damois - Editor, John Derek - Editor, Yoram Globus - Executive Producer, Menahem Golan - Executive Producer, Elmer Bernstein - Composer (Music Score), Peter Bernstein - Composer (Music Score), Francis Lai - Composer (Music Score), Michel Legrand - Composer (Music Score), Alan Roderick-Jones - Production Designer, John Derek - Cinematographer, Bo Derek - Producer, John Derek - Producer, William Randall - Sound/Sound Designer, John Derek - Screenwriter, Maurice Ravel - Featured Music
Bolero is a 1984 film starring Bo Derek, and written and directed by her husband John Derek. The film centers on the protagonist's sexual awakening and her journey around the world to pursue an ideal first lover who will take her virginity.
Bolero was released with no MPAA rating; its nudity and sexual content disqualified it from an "R" rating. At the time of release the NC-17 rating had not yet been established and the only higher rating being X, John Derek decided to released the film unrated. The film's tagline is "An adventure in ecstasy."
The film was trashed by critics; it was nominated for nine Golden Raspberry Awards and won six, including "Worst Picture," "Worst Actress," "Worst Director," and "Worst Screenplay." [1] In 1990, the film was nominated for, but lost the Razzie Award for "Worst Picture of the Decade." [2]
The film earned about $8.9 million in American ticket sales.
Ayre "Mac" MacGillvary (Bo Derek), a virginal young woman, on graduating from an exclusive British boarding school, is determined to find the right man for her first sexual encounter wherever he might be in the world. Rich enough not to venture forth alone, she brings along her friend Catalina (Ana Obregon) and the family chauffeur Cotton (George Kennedy). Ayre first travels to an Arab country where she meets an ideal lover, a sheik who offers to deflower her but falls asleep almost immediately, Giving up on the sheik, Ayre goes on to Spain, where she meets the toreador Angel (Andrea Occhipinti) who is even better than the sheik because he manages to stay awake. Unfortunately, after she has succeeded in her quest, the perils of Angel's profession are brought home where he is gored while bull-fighting.
The injury leaves Angel unable to perform in the bedroom, and so Ayre makes it her mission in life to see to his recovery. Along the way, she learns to fight a bull herself as a way of getting her despondent lover motivated to stop lying about. Eventually she is successful in aiding Angel to full recovery, and the film ends with their wedding.
