Best gialli to introduce my partner to?

[JAMIOUSE]

My partner hasn't seen many gialli, I've made them watch Tenebrae and they sat and hide behind the cushion for most of it. What gialli should I pick to make them watch next? It shouldn't be too gorey or full of naked female victims! So far I've thought Bird With The Crystal Plummage would be a good choice.

[viva la gore]

My favorite is Lizard In A Woman's Skin.

[JAMIOUSE]

It's my favorite too Viva but I think it may be a little gory. How about Bloody Iris? I don't remember it been chock full of naked ladies and gore and having a good story.

[Timmy Lea]

My former partner had very mixed feelings about gialli- she claimed to have never seen any unti we started dating, until I pointed out that technically, as she owned copies of DON'T LOOK NOW and BLOW UP, she sort of had.

The first "proper" giallo we watched together was THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, which she liked a lot (largely due to the presence of a 'familiar' face in Suzy Kendall) and she liked it, apart from the cat-eating, so this gave me the leeway to try out A LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN and ALL THE COLOURS OF THE DARK. Again, being a big fan of things psychedelic, I thought these would suit her, and they kind of did, but she found the plots confusing and said that by the end of each she'd given up trying to understand them. She also said Stanley Baker's whistling in the former goton her nerves.

I'm not sure if she's watched any since we parted, though I did make her a copy of Spanish imitation giallo A DRAGONFLY FOR EACH CORPSE in her Christmas box last year. Personally, the two films I regret not getting to show her were THE PERFUME OF THE LADY IN BLACK (which might have appealed to her because of her love of Lewis Carroll, but again is pretty lateral and confusing) and SHORT NIGHT OF THE GLASS DOLLS, just because it's so beautiful.

I think, though, that if you were to introduce a lady friend to the joys of gialli, the best place to start would be with Bava, probably EVIL EYE or BLOOD AND BLACK LACE: ladies seem to like the more romantic, oil-panting approach more than the weirdness of later efforts or the gore of Fulci. And avoid trhowing them in at the deep end with the likes of GIALLO A VENEZIA or THE SISTER OF URSULA- unless they're particularly kinky types- but in that case, you probably won't get much film watching done anyway!!

Goth girls should be able to handle anything like OPERA, or more old-fashioned fare with lots of creaky architecture like FORBIDDEN PHOTOS or THE KILLER RESERVED NINE SEATS. If, on the other hand, they're the type that likes a good laugh (not Goths then) , I reckon A BLADE IN THE DARK will do the job nicely, despite the gore, and have them pissing their pants within twenty minutes. It always cheers me up...

[claire]

I second the vote for "Blood And Black Lace".

[MarcMorris]

I find the Carroll Baker gialli usually do the trick.

The Fourth Victim (Eugenio Martin, 1970)
The Knife of Ice (Umberto Lenzi, 1970)
Paranoia (Umberto Lenzi, 1969)
A Quiet Place to Kill, (Umberto Lenzi, 1970)
So Sweet... So Perverse (Umberto Lenzi, 1969)
The Sweet Body of Deborah (Romolo Girolami, 1967)

[Timmy Lea]

I find the Carroll Baker gialli usually do the trick.

The Fourth Victim (Eugenio Martin, 1970)
The Knife of Ice (Umberto Lenzi, 1970)
Paranoia (Umberto Lenzi, 1969)
A Quiet Place to Kill, (Umberto Lenzi, 1970)
So Sweet... So Perverse (Umberto Lenzi, 1969)
The Sweet Body of Deborah (Romolo Girolami, 1967)

Would you believe, I've only got one of them- KNIFE OF ICE. Really underrated film. As is SPASMO- but it has to be said, I've had difficulty getting peoplet take that seriously simply because of the title.

I also think the Bido films might be good for breaking the ladies in (oo er) , but maybe THE BLOOD STAINED SHADOW more than WATCH ME WHEN I KILL: that 'oven' scene is a bit much even for my stomach sometimes....

[MarcMorris]

I'm pretty sure SPASMO is a mis-translation. The original sales info I saw listed it as SPASM.

[cloud]

Well the obvious one has to be Dario Argento's work, Phenomena? Deep Red? Opera? Four Flies On Grey Velvet? Sleepless? Take your pick, but listing Argento is a bit lazy because he's the best director in the world so moving further afield...

In terms of most extreme I'd go for Giallo A Venezia, I'm yet to see one that's topped that in terms of sleaze and inventive kills. But I reckon that one is a few steps too far though if your partner is a newcomer. Play Motel was pretty scuzzy as well.

Eyeball is one I'd put down as a good example to a-wooo your date, it's certainly one of the most fun giallo entries. Paul Naschy has also starred in some of my favourites and actually I think he does them even better than his gothic horrors, Blue Eyes Of The Broken Doll, A Dragonfly For Each Corpse and 7 Murders For Scotland Yard are all favourites. The oddest entries I've seen are the likes of Photo Of Gioia, Autopsy, The French Sex Murders, Delirium, The Spider Labyrinth, The House That Vanished, Short Night Of Glass Dolls, Night, After Night, After Night, The Gore Gore Girls and The Night Evelyn Came Out Of The Grave.

As far as consistent and well flowing ones go then Death Walks At Midnight, The Black Belly Of The Tarantula, Your Vice Is A Locked Door And Only I Have The Key, So Sweet, So Dead and The Strange Vice Of Mrs. Wardh are all worth checking out. But, my very favourites are the likes of Torso, A Bay Of Blood, Nothing Underneath, Fatal Frames, Bloody Moon and Dressed To Kill.

The most boring I've seen is What Have You Done To Solange?, that and Red Rings Of Fear were coma inducing (despite their plaudits). What Have They Done To Your Daughters? was fun though.

Personally I'd recommend Seven Notes In Black above all, there's no sleaze, no gore, just a very well plotted film with nods to Edgar Allan Poe. I'd say it's Lucio Fulci's finest hour as well. Half the fun is choosing, and there's plenty of choice out there!

[tobiaswragg]

I take your point about Solange being boring (granted, it does have Massaccesi as cinematographer for Dallamano, talk about the blind leading the blind) and occasionally unintentionally funny (the inconspicuous plain-clothes coppers just one step away from standing with their hands in their trouser pockets, whistling ostentatiously, and hiding behind broadsheet newspapers with holes for eyes cut out in them, combined with the 'lets play statues and stare off into space a la late-60s Godard' vibe). However, as the same time I've always found it strangely moving for reasons I can't really put my finger on.

The acid test here would be The New York Ripper. If your partner's still hot to trot after that cheeky little number, you're laughing.

[Companero]

It all depends on the sort of films she likes, mate. Showing my wife any older films is almost always problematic for me. I do think THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE is a great choice, as is one of the more action-orientated gialli like WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO YOUR DAUGHTERS or SUSPICIOUS DEATH OF A MINOR.

[tobiaswragg]

Somebody on this forum rubbed his wife up the wrong way by putting on Tenebrae.

[magnus jansson]

I´d say THE CASE OF THE SCORPION`S TAIL, nobody can dislike that one! And it has all the typical gialli features, and it´s fun. Maybe the plane-explosion can be a put off, but just look beyond that and all is well.

[cloud]

Tobias, thank you! You're only the second person I've come across online who understands what I say about Solange. Never before have I watched a giallo where absolutely nothing happens! And what was worse was it was 2 hours long, I was losing the will to live. I couldn't believe how bad its sequel Red Rings was either, again that was hard to stay awake through. Those 2 aside I tend to find something to like in most giallos I watch and while there is a noticeable difference of quality in some it's still a very consistent sub-genre.

I have the NoShame disc of Case Of The Scorpion's Tail in the pile waiting to be watched. I don't think I've seen one Sergio Martino film that I haven't liked so I do look forward to seeing it I just never get round to it.

Last night I saw Death Walks On High Heels and while it wasn't as good as Midnight it was still a hugely enjoyable experience and had something that Midnight didn't with its liberal use of nudity and extra gore. The only thing that let it down was its inferior plot. Still, the countryside, tea drinking inspector and setting in the UK gave it a lot of pluses. Damn, I miss NoShame :(.

[Companero]

Tobias, thank you! You're only the second person I've come across online who understands what I say about Solange. Never before have I watched a giallo where absolutely nothing happens! And what was worse was it was 2 hours long, I was losing the will to live. I couldn't believe how bad its sequel Red Rings was either, again that was hard to stay awake through.


RED RINGS OF FEAR followed WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO YOUR DAUGHTERS, which in turn, was a "sequel" to SOLANGE. I didn't think SOLANGE was bad. RINGS is the worst of the bunch but is still fun. DAUGHTERS is definitely the best IMO.

[cloud]

Well whether it followed Solange or Daughters it was still a sequel, no need to be so anal, Companero. I agree that Daughters is quite fun and the motorbike chase in particular was brilliantly done. 'Fun' is definitely not the word I'd use to describe Red Rings or Solange though, 'tedious' is a better description imo.

[claire]

I agree, Daughters is by far the standout of the three.


Jamiouse, if your partner is not too fussed on 70s exploitation (my wife just sits and laughs at most of it, pointing out the dubbing/bad acting/lousy FX etc - the stuff I call charm, in other words), then maybe try them on something more recent and "polished".

'Eyes of Crystal' is a decent modern attempt at giallo. Not one I'd rush to grab from the shelves over many of the films that have already been suggested on this thread, but one that I know my own non-gialli-loving partner could get away with (in fact, she did thoroughly enjoy it when we watched it on the big screen at Edinburgh Dead By Dawn fest).

[claire]

No, but my suggestion is more with Jamiouse's partner in mind ...

[WilsonBros]

I have been thinking of trying out my other half on a giallo or two, but am a little apprehensive.

I put on Strip Nude For Your Killer a couple of months ago, and ended up turning it off because she wasn't enjoying it.

Kev W

[MarcMorris]

Most girls I know prefer those with groovy music and gorgeous costumes, with glammed up babes. Not so much the more violent examples. Style and downright Kitsch over violence.

[tobiaswragg]

Strip Nude for Your Killer was the other one I was going to refer to in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek fashion. And no it isn't my chat-up line, so there.

[Mannfan]

Eyes Of Crystal is another I couldn't warm to, it didn't do anything for me I'm afraid.

same for me!...i've read mostly good reviews about this film and i was overall disappointed,but i'd give it another chance sooner or later;)

Best picks to introduce the giallo are IMO "The bird with the crystal plumage" (one of Argento's less flawed works),"Deep red","Tenebre","Blood and black lace","Evil eye","Don't torture a duckling",also Martino's gialli aren't bad too.
For the modern era, i also liked Alex Infascelli's "Almost blue",but it's more thriller than classic giallo...

[Timmy Lea]

SEVEN DEATHS IN THE CAT'S EYES would probably appeal to some of the girls I've known because Jane Birkin's in it, and MURDER ROCK maybe because it's cheesy. Nothing with Edwige Fenech in it though- girls only get arsey when they realise we're paying more attention to her than them. That said, my ex did want to watch WHAT ARE THOSE STRANGE DROPS OF BLOOD DOING ON JENNIFER'S BODY, but only because she was a Hole fan and thought there might be a connection.

As for SPASMO, I think it's an Italian way of saying SPASM- from what Lenzi says on the documentary anyway. It goes with ORGASMO. I still think he should have gone the whole hog, tough, and made CHASMO, ECTOPLASMO, CATACLYSMO and ANTIDISESTABLISHMENTARIANISMO....

[tobiaswragg]

Strip Nude for Your Killer isn't my chat-up line, so there.

If I go out tonight might try it out actually. You never know, Bob could indeed be my uncle...

[Jonny Rojo]

As for SPASMO, I think it's an Italian way of saying SPASM...

Check out the trailer ;)

GyiLMz0xM5I

[Timmy Lea]

Reminds me of my days in the playground..without Suzy Kendall of course.

[Mr_Bungle]

I would never be able to watch any giallo in the presence of my girlfriend, it'd just rub up her feminist sensibilities the wrong way. As would pretty much any horror film. If she saw my copy of Strip Nude For Your Killer on the shelf she'd probably whack me around the head with it. Actually I may just get away with 7 Notes In Black, as was suggested earlier.Though I did get a disapproving look from her when she saw the cover. The Black Cat would be a good choice too.

[mr sinn]

Personal favorites and worth a look are Don't Torture the Duckling, Black Belly of the Tarantula and probally the best giallo ever Deep Red

[Timmy Lea]

This is the problem with women these days...we gave them rights, and now look what they go and do with it, attacking us with our own giallo DVDs!! Seriously, though, there is a bit too much feminism among today's film fans. Which I would be willing to accept if the majority of them knew much about cinema, but from my experience, it seems that with a few exceptions who are brilliant writers (like Cathi Unsworth) they don't!!

My ex girlfriend Edwina loved gialli and Brit horror once I got her into them , she couldn't get enough. But she was unique...

[cloud]

Feminism? You better stay strictly on topic or else you'll be in trouble Mr. Lea! :)

[loops]

My sister asked if i had any good horror films she could borrow so i gave her a copy of The New York Ripper. Dont know if she has watched it yet.:eek:

[tobiaswragg]

And after that you could maybe try her with Bloodsucking Freaks. Not a giallo but I think you get my drift...

[bladesew]

One on Top of the Other. Brilliant score, costumes, photography, script and performances. It's not gory or gratuitous. Perfect.