Giallo cinema and its folktale roots : a critical study of 10 films, 1962-1987 / Michael Sevastakis.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sevastakis, Michael, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Horror films--Italy--History and criticism.

Horror films.

Motion pictures--Italy--History--20th century.

Motion pictures.

History.

Italy.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

History.

Physical Description:

viii, 231 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2016.

Summary:

The Italian giallo film genre-the equivalent of the American whodunit but incorporating extreme violence and sex-was based on popular British and American fiction of the 30s and 40s, adapted to the explicitly liberal filmmaking of 1970s and 1980s Europe. Seldom released in American theaters, these films were usually distributed as redacted bootlegs, awaiting digital technology to be restored to their original content and pristine visual form. This book analyzes the censored sex and violence of giallo films, finding in them an inherent beauty and tracing their literary antecedents to the elements of the fairy tale as described by Russian folklorist Vladimir Propp. Each chapter covers a film and its director, from 1962 to 1987. The author argues that despite their formulaic production and designation as "Euro-sleaze," these films are works of individuality and artistic virtue. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 In the Beginning Was the Giallo: Mario Bava's La ragazza che sapeva troppo (1962) 5

2 A Vice in Common: Sergio Martino's Lo strano vizio della Signora Wardh (1970) 26

3 Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (and Dream Your Troubles Away): Lucio Fulci's Una lucertola con lapelle di donna (1971) 45

4 Murder According to the Good Book: Umberto Lenzis Sette orchidee macchiate di rosso (1972) 66

5 His Blindness Is His Sight: Sergio Pastore's Sette scialli di seta gialla (1972) 87

6 No Irises for Miss Landsbury: Giuliano Carnimeo's Pcrche quelle strane gocce di sangue sul corpo di Jennifer? (1972) 108

7 Jealousy as Cruel as the Grave: Andrea Bianchi's Nude per l'assassino (1975) 130

8 The Shadow of Guilt: Antonio Bido's Solamente new (1978) 151

9 A Night at the Opera... Without the Marx Brothers: Dario Argento's Opera (1987) 171

10 The Return of the Repressed: Lamberto Bava's Lefoto di Gioia (1987) 192.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 217-226) and index.

ISBN:

0786495014

9780786495016

OCLC:

923853582