Watch The Belle Starr Story

The Belle Starr Story is a 1968 spaghetti western movie that delves into the life and legend of one of the American West's most notorious female outlaws, Belle Starr. Directed by Lina Wertmüller and Piero Cristofani, the film stands out as the only Western directed by a woman during the 1960s. The movie stars Elsa Martinelli in the titular role, pulling off a fiery and determined performance that captures Belle Starr's complex character. Robert Woods and George Eastman round out the main cast, contributing to the dynamic storytelling with their nuanced performances.

Set in the post-Civil War era, a tumultuous time in American history, the film captures the essence of the Wild West, a place rife with lawlessness and conflict. Belle Starr emerges as a fascinating figure in this landscape, straddling the line between notorious outlaw and folk heroine. The narrative chronicles her exploits and the relationships she forms with other outlaws and gunslingers, shedding light on the survivalist ethos of the time.

The film opens with the enigmatic and fiercely independent Belle as she runs her own gang, crossing paths with desperados and lawmen alike. Elsa Martinelli's portrayal is compelling; she embodies Belle Starr's spirit with a balance of toughness, intelligence, and a hint of vulnerability that occasionally pierces her hardened exterior. Belle's story is an intricate tapestry of adventure, romance, and betrayal, entwined with the grim realities of life in the wild frontier.

Belle's interactions with the men in her life are central to the narrative. Robert Woods plays Larry Blackie, a charming gambler and gunman, who presents a mix of fascination and danger that draws Belle into an intricate relationship. His portrayal conveys the depth and complexity of a man torn between his desires and his survival instincts. George Eastman's character, Cole Harvey, another notorious figure in this western saga, adds a layer of intensity and unpredictability to the ensemble. Each character’s relationship with Belle reveals different facets of her personality, as well as the various forces shaping the lives of individuals living outside the law.

The Belle Starr Story takes the viewer through a spectrum of settings, from dusty towns to wide-open spaces, creating an authentic atmosphere that encapsulates the era's aesthetics and values. The backdrop is a character in itself, and the film does an excellent job of using its environment to tell its story, from the saloons where plans are hatched to the vast, empty plains where destiny often unfolds at the point of a gun.

Much of the movie’s strength lies in its unflinching look at the tough choices and harsh realities facing those on the fringes of society. It explores themes of freedom, loyalty, and the high cost of living by one’s own rules. Through Belle's interaction with various characters, the audience gains a unique glimpse into the lives of women in the Old West, where they were often forced to be as tough as the men in order to survive.

Stylistically, The Belle Starr Story is a product of its time, featuring the typical elements of the spaghetti western genre - dramatic close-ups, a tension-filled score, and shootouts that play out with a sense of gritty realism, albeit stylized. It distinguishes itself, however, with moments of poetic resonance and character study, which give the film a distinctive flavor, allowing it to be more than a mere series of confrontations and heists.

The film's screenplay weaves a tale that could be seen as a psychological study as much as it is a thrill-packed western, delving into the motivations and past experiences that shape Belle's life decisions. It leaves audiences not only entertained by gunfights and galloping horses but also contemplating the very human story at its heart.

The Belle Starr Story also touches on the discrepancies between the real person and the legend that history often fabricates. In doing so, it invites a meditation on how stories are told and remembered, particularly when it comes to figures like Belle Starr, whose life was sensationalized by the press even during her lifetime. The film blends fact and fiction in a way that keeps the viewer questioning where one ends, and the other begins.

Although not as widely recognized as some of its spaghetti western counterparts, The Belle Starr Story is noteworthy for its fresh take on familiar genre tropes, especially through the robust and multifaceted portrayal of its female lead. The cinematic journey it presents is a rare look at the Old West from a perspective that was not commonly explored at the time, making it a unique and thought-provoking piece that continues to resonate with fans of the genre.

The Belle Starr Story is a 1968 art house & international movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3.