What (1963) La frusta e il corpo (original title)

Director:

Mario Bava

Writers:

Ernesto Gastaldi (screenplay)
Ugo Guerra (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

10 December 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery

Tagline:

The most deliriously romantic horror picture ever made!

Plot:

In the 19th century, a sadistic nobleman terrorizes the members of his family. He is found dead, but his ghost soon returns to haunt the residents of his castle.

Plot Keywords:

Castle | Ghost | Gothic Horror | Funeral | Beyond The Grave

Cast

Daliah Lavi	...	Nevenka Menliff
Christopher Lee	...	Kurt Menliff
Tony Kendall	...	Christian Menliff
Ida Galli	...	Katia (as Isli Oberon)
Harriet Medin	...	Giorgia (as Harriet White)
Gustavo De Nardo	...	Count Menliff (as Dean Ardow)
Luciano Pigozzi	...	Losat (as Alan Collins)
Jacques Herlin	...	Priest

Directed by
Mario Bava		(as John M. Old)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ernesto Gastaldi		screenplay and dialogue (as Julian Berry)
Ugo Guerra		screenplay and dialogue (as Robert Hugo)
Luciano Martino		screenplay and dialogue (as Martin Hardy)

Produced by
Ferdinando Baldi	....	associate producer (as Free Baldwin)
Federico Magnaghi	....	producer (as Tom Rhodes)
Elio Scardamaglia	....	supervising producer (as John Oscar)

Original Music by
Carlo Rustichelli		(as Jim Murphy)

Cinematography by
Ubaldo Terzano		(as David Hamilton)
Mario Bava		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Renato Cinquini		(as Rob King)

Casting by
Priscilla Contardi		(as Priscilla Huston)

Art Direction by
Ottavio Scotti		(as Dick Grey)

Set Decoration by
Riccardo Domenici		(as Gus Marrow)

Costume Design by
Anna Maria Palleri		(as Peg Fax)

Makeup Department
Raffaele Cristini	....	assistant makeup artist (as Raf Christie)
Franco Freda	....	makeup artist (as Frank Field)

Production Management
Ferdinando Baldi	....	unit manager (as Free Baldwin)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ernesto Gastaldi	....	assistant director (as Julian Berry)
Sergio Martino	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Peter Jakson	....	sound
Rex McCrea	....	boom operator

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Baer	....	assistant camera
Robert Schafer	....	still photographer
Ubaldo Terzano	....	camera operator (as Art Balsam)

Editorial Department
Lina Caterini	....	assistant editor (as Kathy Line)

Music Department
Luca di Silverio	....	soundtrack album producer

Other crew
Joe M. Seery	....	production secretary

Production Companies

• Francinor-PIP
• Leone Film
• Titanus

Distributors

• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (1967) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Big Sky Video (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
• Epoca (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Futuramic Releasing (1965) (USA) (dubbed)
• Midnight Choir (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• VCI Entertainment (2011) (USA) (all media)
• VCI Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• e-m-s the DVD-Company (2005) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Digitmovies Alternative Entertainment  soundtrack

Also Known As:

"La frusta e il corpo" - Italy (original title)
"The Whip and the Body" - USA (informal literal English title)
"The Whip and the Flesh" - International (English title)

Runtime:

France:85 min | Italy:91 min | UK:78 min | USA:87 min | West Germany:86 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:16 | France:-18 | Italy:VM14 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:18 | UK:X | Germany:12 (re-rating) (2005) | Australia:MA (2009) | France:Unrated (2011) (tv rating)

Filming Locations:

Tor Caldara, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Francinor-PIP

Trivia:

Christopher Lee's voice was dubbed by another actor even though the film was shot in English.

Quotes:

Kurt Menliff:I have never had a warmer welcome.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Eurotika!: Blood and Black Lace: A Short History of the Italian Horror Film (#1.3)" (1999)

Mario Bava: I worship thee!

Irresistible and genuine Gothic scares, combined with atmospheric camera-work and breath-taking scenery… Welcome to yet another visual masterpiece directed by the greatest horror genius of all time: Mario Bava! "The Whip and the Body" isn't the man's most mentioned achievement, it's not even in my personal Bava-top 3 and yet I still rated it a solid 9 out of 10. That should give you somewhat an idea of how excellent his total repertoire in fact is. "The Whip and the Body" is a unique film in many ways, but particularly because of the controversial substance it dared to bring forward. Don't forget that the year of release was 1963 and Mario Bava unscrupulously introduces characters with taboo-fetishes like S & M. The story is terrifically set in the 19th century, where Kurt Menliff returns to his eminent family after being banished for several years. The family's hate towards Kurt's vile behavior is only surpassed by their fear and only the gorgeous Nevenka has a secret desire towards his wicked sexual preferences. In a particularly astonishing sequence, he whips her repeatedly (and roughly...) before continuing with making love. Terror overcomes the Menliff family when Kurt is found murdered in his room and when the tormented Nevenka begins to see his appearance in nearly every chamber of the castle. As it usually is the case in Bava's films, the plot contains quite a few holes and illogical moments, but they're totally forgivable if you acknowledge the intensity and power of the wholesome. Especially praiseworthy is Mario Bava's unequaled talent to turn totally natural things into terrifying atmosphere-elements… Blowing wind, pouring rain, footprints covered in mud...all these ordinary things turn into suspicious omens in the hands of this masterful filmmaker. With his skilled cinematographic eye, Bava perfectly knows how to raise an unbearable tension that grabs you by the neck immediately and it doesn't let go until the very last scene fades away. All the other typical Bava-trademarks are clearly present as well, namely an authentically creepy score, a minimum of stylish gore (burning, rotting corpses!!) and – last but not least – a stunning use of color shades. Mario plays with colors like he invented them and this emphasizes the spook-effect even more. "The Whip and the Body" is a more than just a shocking horror film. It's an offbeat love-story, a Gothic poem AND an unsettling horror tale all in one! If you love beautiful cinema, don't miss "The Whip and the Body".