Dir.: Willy Rozier; Cast: Brigitte Bardot, Jean-Francois Calve, Howard Vernon; France 1952, 76 min.
Also known in the UK/US under the title The Girl in the Bikini, this was the second feature for Brigitte Bardot, who has died aged 91. She was just 18 when she went on to marry Roger Vadim, later that year, 1952, and the rest is history.
Manina’s director and writer Willy Rozier had a long but not very distinguished career, directing 38 features between 1938 and 1976, of which 56 Rue de Pigalle is the best known. Manina is, apart from Bardot’s striking screen personality, quite ordinary for its time: Mature student Gerard (Calve) listens to a lecture about a hidden treasure trove off the coast near Ajaccio, the loot involves gold coins, worth a fortune, hidden in amphorae. It was lost after the ship carrying them way back in Phoenician times, sank. Gerard remembers diving near the rocky island of Levezzi five years previously with friends, when they came across an amphora. So off he goes on an expedition to uncover the treasure, borrowing money to finance the endeavour.
In Tangiers, he makes the acquaintance of the smuggler Eric (Vernon), whose boat they will use to recover the gold coins. After a tediously long evening in the cabaret and a subsequent brawl, the two set out with Eric’s men to Levezzi. Eric vaguely remembers Manina (Bardot) from his last visit, but is stunned to discover she is now a luminous beauty. Manina showcases Bardot’s singing – she would record over 80 songs in her career) – and her agility, she trips lightly over the dangerous rocks, slithering into the sea. Her magical performance embodies all the mysterious qualities of a mermaid, and Gerard falls in love with her. Eric too makes an attempt to kiss her, but is rebuffed with a hefty slap. Finally, Gerard finds the amphorae with the coins, but Eric has his own agenda.
Never mind the tedious plot, It is impossible not to be fascinated by Bardot, she carries the film; she is simply stunning, fully dressed or in a bikini, captivating with her doll-like beauty, she had innate star quality even at the beginning of her career, Bardot had the talent to act out all nuances of her various screen personalities. In Manina she was a force of nature, far beyond her fame as a sex object that was merely male projection and publicity. AS
TRIBUTE TO BRIGITTE BARDOT | MANINA is on digital platforms.