If you think you might be watching a production of Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf I couldn't blame you. It's what instantly hit me looking Regina Roma with Ava Gardner and Anthony Quinn, the Martha and George of this piece.

Maybe seeing what Virignia Woolf did for Elizabeth Taylor's career convinced Ava to sign on for this four character drama. She and Tony are great, but the rest of the film is strictly ho-hum.

Tony and Ava are awaiting the arrival of their son Ray Sharkey only Sharkey is bringing Anna Karina and he announces their engagement.

In less than 90 minutes all the family secrets get aired. Just like Virginia Woolf.

The production values are strictly from Hollywood Poverty row days. Virginia Woolf is a mostly talk in the living room, but the sets were top rate. Here the cheapness of production is very apparent.

Fans of Tony and Ava should see this. Others take it or leave it.

Brilliant actors in a play of three and a mute - simply watching forth person. Ava Gardner is on top, playing with persuasion and great skill the over dominant Italian I think, mother. She uses all tricks and lies to have her husband and son on her hand. She wants to be the only person in their lives, and that turns to be an absolute catastrophe to their day routine. The drama reaches it's pick when she rejects his son's fiancé as improper for him, accusing her that she's a prostitute! All action takes place in the living-room with Anna Karina (fiancé) watching dumbfounded, Anthony Quinn (husband) accusing her all the time, and the son begging her to stay with them - not to abandon them! Really an opportunity for Ava Gardner's big talent in dramatic, theatrical roles. I consider that her beauty apart, Ava Gardner was a great actress - equal to Liz Taylor.

To see Anthony Quinn in yet another wonderful performance is always a pleasure. This time the drama is not set in vast planes or big boats, but in a living room in which a reproduction of a Cezanne painting is the only thing worth mentioning. So much more for the story; fit to be a Tennessee Williams-drama, but written by Pierre Rey. Maybe the acting of Ava Gardner is slightly over the top every now and then, but Ray Sharkey is fine and Anna Karina as the shy 'Regina' is as great as the old fox Quinn. The quality of the dvd is poor, but what is depicted is really worth attention. A good film.