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Edwige, I may not be sure how to pronounce your name but god I love your films! My vice is a locked room and only you have the key…!
You don't have a liking for wearing black gloves , do you? 
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Every third thursday at TGs house is Black glove night. "Black gloves tonight?" Asks mrs tg wen he gets home from a hard day's labour at an insurance desk.
And its not remotely sexual, she just wants to strangle him lol 
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You don't have a liking for wearing black gloves , do you?
I don’t know how to answer that without incriminating myself
You could always claim you are the red herring.
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Posted: |
Jan 29, 2023 - 8:23 AM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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The Pyjama Girl Case (1977, Flávio Mogherini)
Back from its end of year break, once again bringing you the good, the bad and the you-know-what of gialli.
Starting with a late-model Australian-set potboiler, this really belongs in the ugly category, having few of the redeeming features of the classic giallo whilst being a sorry tale of a Dutch girl in New South Wales having sex with much older doctor, an immigrant factory worker and his friend a waiter - one at a time at least. She marries one of them, but it doesn’t go well…
Meanwhile, retired (for about 20 years by the looks of it) police inspector Ray Milland is keeping busy by helping with a murder investigation. The partially-burned body of a young girl is found in a sack, in a car, on a beach. Of course, Ray manages to find the clues that the younger, less-experienced officers miss. I hope he was well paid for this, as he comes out of it with little dignity!
The film doesn’t have many giallo bingo points - I counted a paltry five, as follows:
Funky music - definitely, at several point. Not the main title, unfortunately, which features one of the two worst songs in a film that I’ve ever heard. The other is also in this film.
Man slaps woman - yep, right in the camper van
Over loud or inappropriate music - aforementioned funky stuff playing against a static backdrop of an empty city street
Naked woman - the Dutch girl after sex, and the dead girl when put on public display (really) to see if anyone can identify the horrifically charred remains. Surely that doesn’t happen, even in Sydney… 
Gay/lesbian character - yes, played for laughs, unfortunately.
There’s a big (and well-concealed) twist, but not at the end, and although the inept police (not even qualifying as goofy) are led astray on occasion, I’m not going to count any of it as a red herring as the audience is never fooled by it.
This is part of Arrow’s Giallo Essentials Red Edition. It has interesting points, but I’m glad I didn’t buy it separately, all things considered.
I’ve got the Lenzi/Baker box set coming shortly, looking forward to that.
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There’s a big (and we’ll-concealed) twist, but not at the end, and although the inept police (not even qualifying as goofy) are led astray on occasion, I’m not going to count any of it as a red herring as the audience is never fooled by it.
Yes, it was a good one. When I watched it my head was left a little mashed at first!
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Posted: |
Feb 3, 2023 - 3:43 PM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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Orgasmo aka Paranoia (1969, Umberto Lenzi)
The first film from the Lenzi/Baker box set, Carroll Baker playing a bored and very rich widow already most of the way to being an alcoholic, preyed upon by Lou Castel’s charming bad boy and his stepsister, who are themselves in a dodgy relationship. Great Umiliani score, which comes on a cd along with the film. A quasi-giallo with little in the way of killing but a fair bit of nudity, especially in the US version. Which of course I watched.
Funky music - yes, Umiliani style
Twist ending - yes
Witness of murder - not as such
Striptease - again, not as such
Killer’s POV - nope
Man slaps woman - yes
Overloud or inappropriate music - not in my judgment
Outrageous title - yes in the original at least
J&B bottle - yes, many times
Naked woman - absobloominlutely
Death by stabbing - not remotely
Red herring - yes
Black-gloved killer - not that kind of giallo
Goofy police inspector - not a copper in sight
Important picture - not to speak of, not really
Woman takes bath or shower - yes
Blackmail - yes
Gay/lesbian character - torn on this one, but technically not
Important memory - no
Random scene in Italian - sadly not, always amusing
Ooh ooh music - yes, plus a couple of catchy songs
Death by Razor - no
Childhood trauma - a hint but not enough
Killer’s footsteps - not in the traditional sense
A score of 10 for this one, and onto the next…
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Posted: |
Feb 4, 2023 - 1:44 PM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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So Sweet … So Perverse (1969, Umberto Lenzi)
The Giallo du Jour is the second in the Lenzi/Baker set. Jean-Louis Trintignant is Pontiac-driving factory owner Jean, three years into a loveless marriage, at least on his side, as there’s a hint of several affairs. A bit of a git. A mysterious blonde rents the Parisian apartment above theirs and is being threatened by Klaus, a manipulator who holds her in his horrid thrall. Will Jean help her? Can he thwart the ruthless and omniscient Klaus?
Funky music - yes, while walking around J-LT’s factory
Twist ending - not sufficiently to count
Witness of murder - yes but no. No.
Striptease - nope
Killer’s POV - not in this film
Man slaps woman - yes, offscreen
Overloud or inappropriate music - not really
Outrageous title - yes I’d say so
J&B bottle - eek, no!
Naked woman - yes
Death by stabbing - yes
Red herring - yes
Black-gloved killer - yes
Goofy police inspector - nein
Important picture - nay lad
Woman takes bath or shower - yes, offscreen
Blackmail - no
Gay/lesbian character - yes, well, more bi
Important memory - yes
Random scene in Italian - I watched it in Italian so no
Ooh ooh music - no
Death by Razor - no
Childhood trauma - no
Killer’s footsteps - no
Eleven GB points, entertaining film and great cars.
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Posted: |
Feb 7, 2023 - 2:04 PM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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A Quiet Place to Kill (1970, Umberto Lenzi) - aka Paranoia
Another film known regionally as Paranoia a year after the last film known regionally as Paranoia. Nowadays they’d just call it Paranoia 2 and have done. So the third film in the set, a little glossier than the first two with Jean Sorell rekindling his relationship with ex-wife Carroll Baker following her near-death crash while testing a racing car. Current wife doesn’t seem to mind, but her late-teenage daughter does when SHE eventually turns up. More undercurrents than Scarborough.
Another not quite full giallo from Lenzi, bearing in mind that Argento was only just establishing the horror side of the genre, and this was more drama than slasher. Eleven bingo points as below:
Funky music - yes, another Umiliani
Twist ending - a very satisfying one
Man slaps woman - yes, a few times at once
Overloud or inappropriate music - jaunty music while a young girl is being told how her parent died counts
J&B bottle - yes, appears shortly after the film takes a turn away from drama into gialloland, probably by coincidence
Naked woman - repeatedly
Death by stabbing - yes
Red herring - yes
Important picture - yes (cine film)
Woman takes bath or shower - yes
Blackmail - yes, at least some reference to it
Another film with great cars, one of many highlights of this type and era of film.
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Il Profumo Della Signora in Nero(1974)
With Mimsy Farmer
Not what I would call a typical giallo but I've seen it referred to as one. So good enough for me. Plus I wanted an excuse to watch it again.
Here the guallo elements are mixed with Alice in wonderland. Only here, I think the rabbit hole is Mimsy's mind. She is traumatised by her dad's death at sea, catching her mum doing rhe dirty with some fella and finally killing her mum by shoving her off the balcony. Suffering worsening hallucinations and nightmares. She is the killer but also the victim and everyone else is a killer by association.
Funky music= not a whiff, Poivani's music is possibly the nicest I can remember for o e of these films
Twist ending= I would say a good one 'could you pass the salt ,please'
Witness of murder= sort of : older mimsy witnesses herself killing her mum
Striptease= nope
Killer’s POV= possibly but a stretch, even for me
Man slaps woman= once at least
Overloud or inappropriate music= again no lovely Poivani and some Mozart
Outrageous title= not perticularly
J&B bottle =several times, huzzah,
Naked woman= yep , in the finally, the full monty
Death by stabbing= no, but by chopper, and then again, was there?!
Red herring= I think so but it didnt last long
Black gloved killer= no gloves, even on Sunday
Goofy police inspector= not one coppa
Important picture= several.but only in passing
Woman takes bath or shower= yes, her last but off screen
Blackmail= no
Gay/lesbian character=
Important memory= a lot of it is memory, twisted.or otherwise
Random scene in Italian= no
Ooh ooh music = I don't think Mozart wrote any
Death by razor= no shaves
Childhood trauma= major
Killer’s footsteps = they were barefoot or wore slippers.
At a push ten. Not bad for one not your tradional giallo.
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It was funny but first time I watched I didn't notice something. Almost at the beginning the black fella( dubbed by Edmund Purdom) told Mimsy ( and us) what was going to happen and then laughed it off as a joke. Cheeky chap.
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The Girl in Room 2a(1974)
With Daniela Giordana, Raf Vallone , Brad Harris, Rosalba Neri.
Not bad. A little different and a slow burner. Not as many murders in this one.
Newly.reased women are sent to a halfway house, on their release. Once there they are kidnapped by a gang, only to be tortured in front of a gang of sadists getting their jollies.
Funky music= in a couple of places
Twist ending= no, not the corkscrew type
Witness of murder= possible, as there were numerous captives hanging around together, literally.
Striptease= no
Killer’s POV= no
Man slaps woman= yep
Overloud or inappropriate music= possibly inappropriate- while the music in a couple of scenes was good, in itself, it was a bit out of place.and over the top
Outrageous title÷ no
J&B bottle= not a sniff, there were two bottles of wine seen but no one drank
Naked woman= several, there first before and during the opening credits
Death by stabbing= yep, knife in a walking stick and a fkn big sword
Red herring= no. Nowhere near a fish market
Black gloved killer= not that kind and it would've been killers
Goofy police inspector= no a single cop til one on guard just before the end credits
Important picture= yes, postcard of where the victims were kept
Woman takes bath or shower=no one got washed the whole film
Blackmail= no
Gay/lesbian character=no, though someone was fond of a pink cloak and gimp mask
Important memory= yes but pointless as it was in the mind of a nut job and only the audience could possibly see it
Random scene in Italian= yes
Ooh ooh music= no
Death by razor=no
Childhood trauma=no
Killer’s footsteps= no . Mind you everyone had footsteps. Sounded like a parade of horses.
8 at a push.
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The Stendahl Syndrome(1996)
With Asia Argento and.Thomas Kretschmann
Asia's cop is on the trail of a rapist/ murderer. He taunts her, she becomes obsessed with him. Possibly the grimmest in overall atmosphere and quite nasty in places.
Funky music= no
Twist ending= I think so, if you say the end starts with 20 minutes to go. Plus it threw me and it was a second viewing.
Witness of murder= yes
Striptease= no
Killer’s POV= yes , briefly
Man slaps woman= several tests and a good couple of wallows too.
Overloud or inappropriate music = not a chance
Outrageous title= not compared to most
J&B bottle= not a sniff
Naked woman= only in art work
Death by stabbing= a contributing factor( with two bed springs) but not necessarily the nail in the coffin
Red herring= possibly, the killer sent Asia on a bum steer and she took the bait
Black gloved killer= no gloves, it.was summer
Goofy police inspector= no, they were a decent bunch
Important picture= dozens , in context
Woman takes bath or shower= bath ran but as a decoy
Blackmail= nope
Gay/lesbian character=no
Important memory= possibly when she was.habving a touch of amnesia. Soimportant to her not us
Random scene in Italian = no
Ooh ooh music= one brilliant piece in a room full of paintings
Death by razor = no but toyed with
Childhood trauma= no
Killer’s footsteps= nope hush puppies
Only eight at a push.
Edit. Some nice touches : the paintings coming to 'life'and Asia stepping into them. And a graffiti sort of monster coming down off a wall.
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Posted: |
Feb 12, 2023 - 2:43 AM
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By: |
Tall Guy
(Member)
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The last in the Lenzi/Baker box set, this features Carroll as a mute caught up in a series of murders while living with her uncle in a mansion deep in the Spanish countryside. Notable for not the slightest hint of nudity, the meagre bingo score makes this an atypical giallo.
Knife of Ice (1972, Umberto Lenzi)
Funky music - no, pretty much in keeping with the backdrop
Twist ending - yes, quite a good one
Witness of murder - not in the sense intended
Striptease - see above
Killer’s POV - nope
Man slaps woman - again, no
Overloud or inappropriate music - not that I noticed
Outrageous title - not unless you consider the lack of a knife made of ice to be outrageous
J&B bottle - conspicuous by its absence
Naked woman - also see above
Death by stabbing - yes
Red herring - yes
Black-gloved killer - yes
Goofy police inspector - yes
Important picture - none
Woman takes bath or shower - no, dirty lot
Blackmail - naw
Gay/lesbian character - missing
Important memory - not directly
Random scene in Italian - no
Ooh ooh music - tends to go with nudity, so no!
Death by Razor - niet
Childhood trauma - yes
Killer’s footsteps - yes
Seven bingo points, not a huge score at all.
That concludes my reading of this very good region A boxset. It’s well-presented and contains some great work by both Lenzi and his leading lady. It loses a bit for not having a booklet with it, perhaps examining the relationship between the eponymous film-makers, but it does include two soundtrack CDs, which is brilliant.
Not hard and fast gialli per se, but enjoyable, and I’ll be revisiting some of them to hear the commentaries over the next few days.
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It was a change to see Fajardo was not a naughty boy. Though he seemed to be for a while.
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The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion (1970)
Dagmar Lassander and Nieves Navarro.
Dagmar gets blackmailed but no one believes her. They think she's going loopy. Surprisingly bloodless and restrained effort. Only 3 death and one of them was off screen.
Funky music
Twist ending= yes
Witness of murder= no
Striptease=no
Killer’s POV= no
Man slaps woman= yup
Overloud or inappropriate music= no, though trust the master to score a sex scene in the avant guarde style
Outrageous title = heading towards one, at least.
J&B bottle= no a bloody one it was like rocking horse shit
Naked woman= yup
Death by stabbing = no
Red herring= yes( sez so on the cover
Black gloved killer= briefly though debatable if he a tually killed.anyone
Goofy police inspector= no
Important picture= yes
Woman takes bath or shower= no
Blackmail= yup
Gay/lesbian character= no
Important memory = don't think so, I can't remember
Random scene in Italian= but a brief exchange in German
Ooh ooh music= nope
Death by razor = no, not even a shave
Childhood trauma = no
Killer’s footsteps= maybe.
9 at a push.
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