This box set from Arrow Film combines two films by director
Luciano Ercoli, an Italian director with little output in that role and only
double that as a producer. While his output wasn’t significant the quality of
these two films shows much potential and the fact that had he chosen to do more
he would have left a larger legacy behind for others to follow. As it is, both
films offer well-made giallo films that fans of the genre will want to add to
their collections.
The first of the two is DEATH WALKS ON HIGH HEELS and is the
better of the two films. The film stars the director’s wife Nieves Navarro as
Nicole Rochard, a well-known and much sought after striptease artists in
France. Nicole’s father was a renowned jewel thief and when he’s killed someone
calls her asking if she has his last score, something she knows nothing about.
A fan of Nicole’s, Dr. Robert Matthews, attends nearly every
performance she has no matter where she’s working. After Nicole has an argument
with her boyfriend over his drinking due being jealous of her success, she
finds friendship and love in the arms of Matthews. After a quick romance heads
home to England and she accompanies him. He sets her up in a house in the
country, a place his wife knows nothing about. With promises of leaving her to
set up his own practice, things begin to happen.
Murders of various side characters occur with startling
frequency. An attack on Matthews happens, his wife the main suspect. Nicole’s
boyfriend shows in England trying to find her. And a twist near the middle of
the film comes completely out of nowhere and sends the film off in a new
direction. While this may seem like a brief synopsis to reveal any more would
be to spoil the surprises the film has in store.
The movie works best as a mystery with clues being presented
for the viewer to decipher but all doesn’t become clear until the end of the
film. What makes it work is that they all make sense and were there for the
most part to be seen throughout the film. What makes it even better is the fact
that even the most jaded mystery fan might have a difficult time knowing who
did what to whom, something few mysteries can accomplish these days.
The second film, DEATH WALKS AT MIDNIGHT, once again stars
Navarro this time as super model Valentina. Valentina tries an experimental
drug in the presence of a reporter friend and while on the drug sees images of
a murder taking place. The fact she took the drug ends up in his article and
she loses work because of it. It also discusses her visions and suddenly she
begins seeing the murderer tracking her. When he makes an attempt on her life,
only she has seen him. Is there someone out to kill her or is she simply
hallucinating it all?
Characters appear for no reason with no background only to
take center stage at various parts of the film. As viewers even we aren’t sure
of Valentina’s mental state at first. While the film starts with a decent
premise it becomes a “are you kidding me” film as stupid decisions are made
from start to finish. An example is, after having been attacked by someone she
doesn’t see, Valentina is asked to get in the car of a woman she has never met
to talk and go for a drive. Not the smartest thing to do. When the woman
abandons her in a mental institution where the convicted killer of the victim
she saw in her drugged state is at (who is also supposed to be the sister of
this woman), Valentina leaves only to go with the same woman to another
location later on. With enough moments like this the movie became frustrating
for me as a viewer.
But good or bad the main thing here is that two movies that
may have been lost to the world have been rediscovered and brought out in the
best possible transfer possible. Arrow once again goes above and beyond to
deliver a package that fans will clamor to and others may want to see to get a
taste of what giallo is all about, if for no other reason than the first film.
Both display great cinematography that I’ve not come to expect in Italian made
films from the time. Another plus.
Keeping in mind that this is an Arrow Films release you know
there will be plenty of extras on hand for those that enjoy them. Included in
the box set is a limited edition 60 page booklet with writings from authors
Danny Shipka, Troy Howarth and Leonard Jacobs, all non-fiction writers about
the giallo genre, that includes stills and posters for both films. For the
first film you’ll find extras like an introduction by screenwriter Ernesto
Gastaldi, an archive interview with Ercoli and Navarro, an interview with
Gastaldi, an interview with composer Stelvio Cipriani, the original Italian
trailer and an English trailer. On the second film you’ll find another
introduction by Gastaldi, an audio commentary track by film critic Tim Lucas,
and extended TV version, an interview with Gastaldi and a visual essay by
Michael Mackenzie discussing the collaborations between Ercoli and Navarro.
Fans of giallo will find this a must have. The same for
collectors of Italian cinema of that time period. Fortunately for both, Arrow
Film has done a marvelous job on this one, making it one worth owning as well
as worth watching for those new to the genre.
Click here to order.
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