I’ve become a fan of the giallo films in recent years. I’d
seen some in the past but with many being released for the first time on
blu-ray I’ve been able to catch many that I’d missed. The thing is I’ve truly
enjoyed seeing these films and look forward to seeing more as they are
released. Which brings us to SHORT NIGHT OF GLASS DOLLS.
The movie is told from the perspective of reporter Gregory
Moore (Jean Sorel) who is thought dead and laying in the morgue due for an
autopsy. He can hear his thoughts in his own mind but can’t move or communicate
with those around him. As he awaits his fate he reflects back on what led him
to this predicament.
Moore was writing about political affairs in Czechoslovakia.
He became enamored with a young woman named Mira (Barbara Bach) and promised to
take her with him on his next assignment. Called out to meet and informer who
never shows Moore returns to find Mira gone and missing. With the police
assuming she just ran off he must search for her on his own.
Using his reporting skills he soon discovers a number of
young women who’ve gone missing in recent years. He continues his search with
the help of his ex-lover and editor Jessica (Ingrid Thulin). As he delves
deeper he finds connections to Klub 99 where he had taken Mira earlier on the
night she went missing. He soon learns that the members of the club are a
secret sect of Czechoslovakia's old guard who thrive on destroying the
idealistic young people of that country. Before he can take this information to
the police he is drugged which is where we now find him. Can he escape?
The movie is often hailed for the political motivations seen
on screen but for myself I found it difficult to understand all of those. Much
of what they were talking about was foreign to me and I’m not just talking
about the film. I wasn’t aware of much of the political turmoil in that country
at the time and it made it just a bit confusing. Interesting but confusing. I
found out more in looking into the film after watching it than I gained while
watching.
In the end it was entertaining enough but not a film I would
truly call a giallo in spite of the fact that it has been marketed as such.
Perhaps that’s just my misunderstanding of the genre but I don’t think so. Gone
are the black gloves, the sharp knives and the masked killer. Still on hand are
a few red herrings to distract you. On the whole though I’d have to say I was
disappointed in this one. But many have praised it so my guess is it depends on
your life and viewing experiences.
Twilight Time is releasing this like always in just 3,000
copies. The film was released earlier but Twilight Time always does an amazing
job with their transfers making this one a movie to add to your collections if
you love the genre. Their edition includes extras like an isolated music track
(the score was written by Ennio Morricone), an audio commentary track with film
historians David Del Valle and Matteo Molinari and the original English and
Italian theatrical trailers.
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