Showing posts with label 1977. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1977. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Il Mostro (The Fiend)

Luigi Zampa's 1977 giallo/drama doesn't have the most inspiring poster art, but I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised when I finally got a chance to see with fansubs last month. The story centers around a newspaper reporter who receives a letter from a killer and starts exploiting the fact to his own advantage. The traditional giallo elements aren't kept to a minimum, but the direction is competently handled and the ending is really quite powerful.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Doppio Delitto (Double Murder)

I've only seen an unsubbed copy of Steno's Doppio Delitto and while it's never the best way to enjoy the film, I really liked Steno's 1977 giallo and would love to see it with subs one day. A lot of the enjoyment is of course due to a great performance by the always watchable Marcello Masteroianni. Soundtrack by Riz Ortolani (who would re-use at least one of the cues here in Cannibal Holocaust three years laster). No info on the poster artist.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Sette note in nero (The Psychic/Murder to the Tune of the Seven Black Notes)

1977's Sette note in nero was Fulci's first giallo after a 5 year hiatus from the genre. Quite different from his earlier classics A Lizard in a Woman's Skin and Don't Torture a Duckling, The Psychic is still an excellent thriller and it still keeps growing on me on subsequent viewings. No info on the poster art.

Monday, February 2, 2009

L'occhio dietro la parete (Eyes behind the wall)

Giuliano Petrelli's L'occhio dietro la parete is something of euro cult version of the Rear Window theme. Fernando Ray is a wheelchair bound writer who spies on his tenant to find inspiration for his books. I don't want to spoil things for those who haven't seen it, but unsurprisingly Petrelli's film is a bit more sleazy and perverse than Hitchcock's film. Giuseppe Caruso's soundtrack sounds a bit like the De Angelis' A Blade in the Dark soundtrack. No info on the poster art.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Pensione Paura

Francesco Barilli's Pensione Paura was on my want list for the better part of a decade. When I finally got my hands on it, it was a 16x9 DVD with english subs. Yet another fantastic custom job by Oli at Profondo Blogger. The film itself wasn't quite as fantastic as I had hoped, but they rarely are when you built up your expectations for such a long time. Like Barilli's The Perfume of the lady in Black, I can see why some people would hesitate to call this a giallo, but it's an atmospheric thriller that's well worth seeking out.
Poster art by Piero Iaia.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Nove ospiti per un delitto/ Un Urlo nella notte (Nine Guests for a Crime)


Ferdinando Baldi is primarily known for his westerns and as far as I know Nove ospiti per un delitto/Un Urlo nella notte is the only giallo he directed. Unfortunately I don't know anything about the films release history and the reasons for the alternate titles. The poster art above is by Morini and the one below by Piovano (Studio Paradiso). 

Monday, September 22, 2008

Autostop Rosso sangue (Hitch Hike)

There are quite a few definitions of what constitutes a Giallo and every now and then you come across heated discussions on boards and forums if particular films should be counted as gialli or not. When I started this blog earlier this year, I decided that if the film is included in Adrian Luther Smith's Blood and Black Lace, it's ok to post the locandina here. There are a few films that I wouldn't classify as gialli that are included though. This and tomorrow's poster are two of them. Autostop Rosso sangue is a very good film, but to me it has far more in common with the "terror" genre (The House on the Edge of the Park, Night Train Nurders, Lonely Violent Beach) than the giallo genre. Great poster though, so I'm glad I get the chance to post it here.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Passi di morte perduti nel buio (Death Steps in the Dark)

Maurizio Pradeaux's second giallo is something of a missed opportunity. It starts off quite well, but Pradeaux injects too many comedic elements in the film and the end result is less than stellar. Looking forward to Fin de Siècle's upcoming release of Ortolani's soundtrack though. Poster from Studio Paradiso and I love the way they've painted on the undies on the poster.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Anima Persa (The Forbidden Room)


Like Un Bianco vestito per Marialè, Anima Persa is another film that I've had in my collection for years, but never got around to watching. It's fortunate I held off suffering thorough my poor quality copy of it though. Last month Oli at Profondo Blogger put together a fan composite using the Czech and Spanish DVDs. He was kind enough to send me a copy and I'm really pleased I got to see the film for the first time in this beautiful state. A very different giallo. Slow-moving and atmospheric, it certainly won't appeal to everybody, but I found it very rewarding. Poster by Piero Iaia

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Il Gatto dagli occhi di giada (Watch Me When I Kill)


Even though Antonio Bido's Il Gatto dagli occhi di giada has never been one of my favourite gialli, it's nowhere as bad as the locandina above though. Probably the worst looking out of all my 1970's posters. You've got to wonder what went through the head of the designer on this one. The bottom one is not a particularly inspired effort, but far better than the top one. 




Monday, March 24, 2008

La Ragazza dal pigiama giallo (The Pyjama Girl Case)

Flavio Mogherini's La Ragazza dal pigiama giallo is an unusual giallo. Lacking many of the elements normally associated with the genre and one of the few gialli loosely based on a real murder (the only other one that springs to mind at the moment is Camillo Teti's L'Assassino è ancora tra noi). The story unfolds through extensive use of flashbacks as we follow both through Inspector Thompson's (Ray Milland) investigation and the events leading up to the murder of the gorgeous Glenda (Dalila di Lazzaro). A very different but worthwhile effort.