Setting: Austria and Spain.
Black gloves? - yes.
Murders and tits at even intervals? - yes.
A disco dancing scene? - No, but there is a party scene.
Bizarre flashbacks? - Yes.
Police procedural routine padding? - Yes, some.
It was without much hope that I put on this Martino giallo.
I'd had the DVD for a while and thought it was time to give it a shot.
After 5-10 minutes I was hooked.
LO STRANO VIZIO DELLA SIGNORA WARDH exibits tremendous level of technical craftsmanship.You get plenty of shots of breathtaking fluidity as well as some original lighting effects.
Bruno Corazzari (THE BLACK CAT) has a great little part in the film.
He enters the story unexpectedly and has a brief but intense episode with one of the victims.
If I had to criticize some aspect of LO STRANO VIZIO DELLA SIGNORA WARDH, I would focus on the the murders. Poorly executed. Some unconvincing slashings, some red blood sprayed. No wounds. Jess Franco-style almost.
Another problem is the trademark Martino lightness. The film doesn't try to grab you whole. There are self-conscious silly moments, but thankfully, not too many. The impact of suspence scenes is lessened a little but that's Martino for you. Only Dario ever took his black-gloved heroes totally seriously, I guess.
Now I am not a fan of Edwige Fenech, George Hilton or Sergio Martino. So when I say that LO STRANO VIZIO DELLA SIGNORA WARDH is a damn fine giallo, I mean it.
Superior to TORSO in every respect.
Hey Alex,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree Mrs. Wardh is a signature giallo with all the trademarks.
Interestingly, Martino's stock has risen since the advent of DVD. His gialli, especially, have gained a lot of fans.
I still prefer Your Vice is a Locked Room...and Torso to this one but not by a wide margin. Hope all is well, Alex.
Hey Hans,
ReplyDeletecool that you stopped by.
I remember reading your appreciative review of Torso.
I want to see Your Vice is a Locked Room... and All the colours of the Dark.
I thought I'd guessed who the culprit in Mrs. Wardh was pretty early on. And I sort of was right, but still didn't guess the whole crazy plot behind the murders! Mrs. Wardh has class and dark allure so I am sure to revisit it.
My friend!
ReplyDeleteBy fans of Martino's giallo agree with you! The film takes, and photography in bright colors (typical of Martino) is beautiful. I put it on a par with "Torso", but i prefer "Tutti i colori del buio" (with an increasingly bleak Rassimov), because the mix of genres.
Hi there my dear friend!
ReplyDeleteI apologize for not keeping in touch.
I plan to watch "Tutti i colori del buio" later in the week, if it's got Rassimov then I must see it, I am becoming a huge fan of that guy!
Thank you again for taking the time to comment ))
Speak soon