For tonight’s movies I’m heading back to the world of giallo and an early film from horror legend Dario Argento. This is “The Bird With The Crystal Plumage” from 1970. The film usually credited with both launching Argento’s career and popularizing the giallo sub-genre internationally. Really, I should have watched this years ago, but I’m making amends now. The movie is written and directed by Argento with Vittorio Storaro providing cinematography. The legendary Enzio Morricone provides the soundtrack. American method actor Tony Musante stars.
“Sam Dalmas” (Muscante), is an American writer, vacationing in Rome while trying to get over a case of writers block. While walking home one evening Sam witnesses a violent attack at an art gallery. The victim survives thanks to his interference and Sam is questioned by the police where he learns that this may be a serial killer. Sam is haunted by what he saw that night and is sure he has missed something important about the would be killer. He begins to investigate the killings himself, something that draws the attention and wrath of the killer. Now he and his girlfriend “Julia” (Suzy Kendall) are in mortal danger. Sam can’t help but think this is a sign he is getting close to an answer.
Yellow With Spots of Red
This is very much a giallo film. It’s more murder mystery than horror, but when violence is required it doesn’t hold back. It’s a very compelling murder mystery too. I have to say, I didn’t guess the killer either. The red herrings were well placed and while I didn’t fall for all of them, they did enough to throw me off the scent. But it’s also not the kind of film ruined by knowing, so it hasn’t lost re-watch value either. There are perhaps a few holes in the story, but they don’t ruin anything. I would say some characters are a little too easy about friends of theirs dying and the police a bit too quick to let an American writer do their investigating for them, but other than that it is solid.
Despite being an early Argento film, his flair for visuals is evident here. It is perhaps a little less polished than it would become, but if anything that makes it more effective here. There’s a lot of closeups of limbs, eyes through holes and some great set ups for having the killer charge towards their victim. The killer’s style of black raincoat, gloves, hat and mask, mirror Mario Bava’s “Blood and Black Lace”. Argento would re-use this in several of his later giallo movies too, cementing the look as the “Giallo killer”.
The Art of Horror
Later Dario Argento films tended to feature great soundtracks from “Goblin”, which gave them a unique feel. This movie is before he began collaborating with that Italian progressive rock band. Instead, in his early career Argento regularly collaborated with one of the masters of the movie soundtrack, Enzio Morricone himself. Unsurprisingly, this is a top tier soundtrack and it really adds to what you see on screen. In some ways it’s superior to Goblin’s work since sometimes with that band, the music would feel more important than what was on screen. Similar to when Tangerine Dream did soundtracks in the US. Morricone’s soundtrack fits perfectly.
The presentation of the film is stylish but energetic and visceral. It doesn’t really build slow tension or rely on jump scares. Instead, it is somewhere in between the two. When the action kicks off you get very little warning, but you do see it coming. It’s just enough to brace yourself and get you to the edge of your seat. The kills aren’t dwelled on either. You see just enough for it to have shock value and no more. Everything in this movie is quite measured, which is no surprise coming from a very technical director as Argento.
Conclusion
The movie isn’t without flaws, but they are few and far between. My biggest issue, I can’t list without giving a major spoiler for the ending. Suffice to say it’s down to the logistics of the final twist. But that’s really my only issue. The film looks good and sounds good. It’s not quite the visual spectacle of “Blood and Black Lace” or some of Argento’s later films (For example, “Opera” which I reviewed a few years ago). It does however have an interesting and well put together plot (Better than Opera in that regard). Plus of course a Morricone soundtrack. Overall this is a clear 7/10. Definitely a recommendation and if you want to understand what “Giallo” is as a genre, this is the movie to watch.