Paranoia

The lead actress in a series of four Umberto Lenzi films always looks intentionally "dated" and middle aged, and I have never been clear on why this is. Allegedly a sex symbol, Baker - who was in her 30s and early 40s while starring in Italian films - perpetually looks stuck in early Sixties, like a rather average but pretty housewife who stopped paying attention to youthful fashions years ago. She sticks out like a sore thumb in most giallos I've seen looking faintly older, too American, and so boring and conventional compared to other prominent giallo actresses of that era. And in truth she was about ten years older than most of them, and sometimes played widows or MILF-like characters, but I've always failed to grasp why she seems stuck in the "short hair" and beach blanket bingo side of the 1960s.

A Quiet Place to Kill, one of her later films, ironically showcases Baker finally looking like she's paid attention to the passage of years. It's as if a hair and make-up artist just finally lost their patience with her and said "look, it's the 1970s, you're going to have to stop this pedal pusher garbage, now put on this wig!"

Oh, and the giallo itself is pretty middle of the road. Not my favorite but not terrible.