Bolero (1984) (1984)

8% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
29% of users liked it
(1,422 ratings)

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… More 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, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: John Derek
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Aug 31, 1984 Wide
On DVD: Jul 26, 2005

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The real future of Bolero is in home cassette rentals, where your fast forward and instant replay controls will supply the editing job the movie so desperately needs.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
For some reason, the movie's sex scenes, which are relatively few, have been directed as slapstick.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Bolero must rank as one of the worst major movies ever made. Many awful movies are at least funny in a campy sort of way. Bo and John Derek, however, make films so sincerely bad that they offer nothing in the way of relief.
, Time Out
Erotic, surely, only for the very easily pleased.
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
Even showing lots of Bo Derek's beautiful nude body isn't enough to save Bolero from terminal boredom.
Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
Wow. In case one was wondering, Bolero shows that Showgirls does in fact have a direct antecedent.
Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
Cinema this toxic can either kill you with laughter or simply turn your brain into a pool of sex-obsessed pudding.
Jake Euker, F5 (Wichita, KS)
The director is no Vadim and the star is no Bardot.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Bolero salutes creativity as the universal language of hope, renewal and community.