Eva (1962) review

Tyvian Jones (Stanley Baker), a Welsh writer of questionable talent, is in Venice with his lovely girlfriend Francesca Ferrari (Virna Lisi) for the premiere of a film based on his novel, but when Francesca leaves for Rome, he receives an unexpected visit from prickly Eva (Jeanne Moreau) who spends the night at his place and he becomes hopelessly (and pathetically) obsessed with her, which ruins his life.  Moreau is expertly cast as a stone-cold prostitute with a heart made out of ash - her "interests" include records, smoking, cats and money (and not in that order) - except the story is missing any genuine nuance and it plays out exactly as one might expect: Tyvian is a scumbag and a drunkard and Eva is a viper, so she engages in her games, he gets what he deserves and Francesca is the sacrificial lamb (she's so insignificant her character's apparent suicide isn't even shown on screen).  It was not a successful movie - various hands chopped it up - but the ever-mysterious Floating City on the Adriatic provides a suitably haunting backdrop.  And as for Tyvian's line, "I love all women, six to sixty" ... he should probably adjust those numbers.