(1971/ITALY)
AKA-UNA FARFALLA CON LE ALI INSANGUINATE, UNA MARIPOSA CON LAS ALAS ENSANGRENTADAS.
REVIEWED BY-STEVE GENIER DIRECTED BY-DUCCIO TESSARI CAST-HELMUT BERGER, GIANCARLO SBRAGIA, IDA GALLI (AS EVELYN STEWARD), SILVANO TRANQUILLI, WENDY D’OLIVE, GUNTHER STOLL and CAROLE ANDRE. SOURCE-MANGA FILMS (SPAIN)(PAL REGION 2 DVD / 2005 / 92 MINS)
Director Duccio Tessari (TONY ARZENTA:BIG GUNS) brings us this very different giallo, or crime drama in many ways. Exploring the more technical and scientific aspects of solving a murder before taking it into a court room battle. This is when many viewers would probably lose interested and shut it off, but you have to stick to the program on this one. Tessari does a very thorough job of setting up characterizations, total suspense through drawn out scenes. Making elaborate of showing every details necessary to give the viewer a complete realization of just exactly what he’s trying to convey. He pushes the story forward via a courtroom battle, but at the same time brings to light new and very important evidence. Even splitting the storyline in two really, with the whole court room drama, there is another sub story involving Helmut Berger who for some odd reason is brimming with bottled up anger. Giving the viewer that he might be in fact the true killer. Bringing the two non-linear storylines together in an explosive end. All of this is not without your fare share of red herrings either. This rarely seen giallo is well worth a viewing even if a bulk of the storyline is a courtroom drama of sorts.
A younger Helmut Berger is extreme in his role as Giorgio, busting with anger throughout the film eventually submitting to it in the end. His performance is certainly quite good and worthy of being one of his best, of course there are those who would automatically disagree, but too each their own I suppose. Silvano Tranquilli was quite humourous as Inspector Berardi, though the humor was only slight it was very noticeable. Especially with how he likes his coffee or getting a cigar prepared to be smoked only to turn down lighting it due to it being too strong. It brings a whole different dimension to this film, one that is very refreshing and very welcomed. Ida Gilla or Evelyn Steward in this case is quite beautiful as usual, and does a wonderful job as Alessandro’s wife who is trying to support him through this court trial and at the same time having an affair with this lawyer on the side. Yes, this sound more like a soap opera doesn’t it. Believe me it’s the furthest thing from one. I must mention the very young and quite sexy Wendy D’Olive who plays Sarah the daughter of Alessandro and Maria. What a sight indeed, still she was quite good as the mischief daughter.
This like many gialli of the time has a very effective and very rememberable score attached to it. Performed by composer Gianni Ferrio who also worked with Tessari on TONY ARZENTA. Though starting off with a rendition of Tchaikovsky’s concerto no.1 , he then molds it together with his own piece for the main theme. Something that echos throughout the rest of the film. Also carrying on with aspects that pertain to many gialli that THE BLOODSTAINED BUTTERFLY has. It’s killer decked out with the usual overcoat, gloves and hat to hide his identity. Using a switch blade to kill his victims, though many of them during the day. This killer is certainly gutsy indeed. Like mentioned above, you really have to be patient with this film though the court scenes as this concludes with quite a terrific ending indeed.
The Manga Films Spanish DVD release has it fare share of problems. The first being that of an audio problem where the audio is very low until more then halfway through the feature where it raises. There is also a problem with the Spanish subtitles, though they are initially forced, there is a way to remove them, but be prepared to work. You can find out how step by step via X-Ploited Cinema how to remove them. Other then these two problems, the overall disc isn’t too bad though I would of like to have seen this in it’s original Italian audio with English subtitles.
The print is actual very nice presented in a 2.35:1 ratio wide screen in English audio. The print has been restored quite nicely but from what I understand it’s much better to go with the Italian release from Medusa in that case, only if you know your Italian. As for extras, the disc is again coming up short in that aspect, only giving technical and cast information through bios and filmographies. Still with all the hoopla this disc has around it, it’s still the only release on the shiny format that has an English option to my knowledge. So, it’s not too bad and very watchable indeed. Until there is a better release of this with English options, this is your best bet.
STORY/FILM-3/5 BITCH SLAPS PICTURE-3.5/5 BITCH SLAPS AUDIO-2.5/5 BITCH SLAPS EXTRAS-1.5/5 BITCH SLAPS OVERALL DVD-2.5/5 BITCH SLAPS
