M...like Murderer - Early Giallo pearl with Sergio Ciani and Mary Arden
This black and white film by Angelo Dorigo is a small discovery. This giallo from the early days of the genre is about the murder of a very wealthy family tyrant named John Prescott, who made his money from dubious diamond deals. It's a good thing that all of the depraved relatives were staying in the property anyway. Of course, this makes everyone suspicious, but you can also have the will read out straight away. This is done by the strapping Giacomo (Sergio Ciani, 1935-2015), loyal secretary (and perhaps also a willing lover!?!) of the late tyrant. And the will has it all. In order to inherit anything at all, all family members have to stay in the scary villa for a month. And in the end, no more than three of the mixed poke may have survived. That's an announcement! And then the punching and stabbing begins! They have always hated each other. There is the sharp-tongued Angela (Mary Arden, 1933-2014): blonde as an angel, but so spoiled! The weak George (Ivano Staccioli, 1927-1995) with his provocative wife Adriana (Nana Aslanoglu, 1936-2014), who desperately wants to complete her rise from striptease dancer to lady of the castle. There is the opaque Armando (Ivano Davoli, 1931-2010), who has difficulty resisting the charms of beautiful women. And finally Aunt Marta (Giovanna Galletti), who devotedly looks after the weak-minded Julian (really good: Charlie Charun), but perhaps also had a bone to pick with her murdered brother. They are all entangled with each other, all watching each other. While the clever Inspector Matt (Gilberto Mazzi) is still investigating the murder of old Prescott, the first further deaths occur. Who will ultimately be left to inherit the enormous inheritance?
This film impresses with its eerie atmosphere and the polished dialogues, which are surprisingly spiteful. The actors are also convincing in their roles. A big surprise is the Italian Hercules Sergio Ciani (Hercules - Rächer von Rome), who also cuts an excellent figure as a schemer in a suit. He turns out to be a good actor, who was later used, not without good reason, in Giorgio Strehler's Teatro Piccolo. Mary Arden is known from the Giallo classic "Blutige Seide" (1964) by Mario Bava. Ivano Davoli was also seen alongside Uschi Glas and Antonio Sabato in "Das Rätsel des silbernen Halbmonds / The Mystery of the Silver Crescent" (1972) by Umberto Lenzi. And Ivano Staccioli appeared as John Heston in the Brad Harris sandal film "Goliath: Kampf der Maccabeer". The great thing about the film is that all the actions arise from the characters themselves. This much can be revealed: There is not - as is often the case in Giallo - one slasher who is responsible for everything. This absolutely messed up family structure is ruined above all by itself. Watching this is a truly diabolical pleasure!
The only drawback: the interrogation scenes by the inspector in the middle of the film are told a bit too long. But that doesn't diminish the amazing quality of this gem, which never made it beyond the Italian cinema screens.
Don't let that put you off! Just enjoy this eerily beautiful family constellation of the most screwed up kind!
