The Criminal Life of Archibaldo de la Cruz (1955) review

While growing up during the Mexican revolution, little Archibaldo is told a music box has "magical properties" so when he plays it his governess (Leonor Llausás) is shot and killed; as an adult (Ernesto Alonso) he's obsessed with death and plans to off outspoken Patricia (Rita Macedo) - who has a toxic relationship with her husband - and later on less-than-virginal Carlota (Ariadna Welter).  The concept itself is very quirky - he's an "aspiring murderer" but doesn't actually kill anyone ... and yet they end up dying in strange ways regardless - but the dark joke wears thin quickly: it's more interesting to think about the Maestro tinkering around with Freudian theory - along with his pre-existing interests (those shoes! Christianity! ... a cremated mannequin?) - than anything presented on screen.  Eventually, our "protagonist" is informed that "thinking is not a crime" ... ahem, Orwell would like to have a word.