The Long Hair of Death (1964) I lunghi capelli della morte (original title)

Director:

Antonio Margheriti

Writers:

Ernesto Gastaldi (story)
Antonio Margheriti (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

30 December 1964 (Italy)

Genre:

Horror

Plot:

In a 15th-century feudal village, a woman is accused of witchcraft and put to death. Her beautiful older...

Plot Keywords:

Execution | Witchcraft | Revenge | Gothic Horror | 1400s

Cast

Barbara Steele	...	Helen Karnstein / Mary Karnstein
George Ardisson	...	Kurt Humboldt
Halina Zalewska	...	Elizabeth Karnstein
Umberto Raho	...	Von Klage (as Robert Rains)
Laura Nucci	...	Grumalda (as Laureen Nuyen)
Giuliano Raffaelli	...	Count Humboldt (as Jean Rafferty)
Nello Pazzafini	...	Monk (as John Carey)
Jeffrey Darcey	...	Messenger

Directed by
Antonio Margheriti		(as Anthony Dawson)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ernesto Gastaldi		story (as Julian Berry)
Antonio Margheriti		screenplay (as Anthony Dawson)
Tonino Valerii		screenplay (as Robert Bohr)

Produced by
Felice Testa Gay	....	producer

Original Music by
Carlo Rustichelli		(as Evirust)

Cinematography by
Riccardo Pallottini		(as Richard Thierry)

Film Editing by
Mario Serandrei		(as Mark Sirandrews)

Art Direction by
Giorgio Giovannini		(as George Greenwood)

Set Decoration by
Henry Fraser

Costume Design by
Humphrey Patterson

Makeup Department
Florence Clark	....	hair stylist
Edmund Stroll	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Fred Dexter	....	production manager
Paul Meredith	....	unit manager
Dean Morris	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Guy Farrell	....	assistant director
Roberto Pariante	....	assistant director (as Bob Parks)

Production Companies

• Cinegai S.p.A.

Distributors

• Transunivers Films (1970) (France) (theatrical)
• Artus films (2008) (France) (DVD)
• Midnight Choir (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Sinister Cinema (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Video Search of Miami (2009) (USA) (DVD) (dubbed)

Other Companies

• Digitmovies Alternative Entertainment  soundtrack

Also Known As:

"I lunghi capelli della morte" - Italy (original title)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Cinegai S.p.A.

Disappointing, though not bad..

Being a fan of Italian horror, particularly from the 50s and 60s, I was looking forward to this film having recently located a copy of it. However, it was somewhat disappointing. Most European horrors from this era don't move terribly fast, so a slow pace was neither surprising nor a problem in and of itself. This one, however, lacked something to keep it very interesting. The atmosphere wasn't bad; there was a castle and tomb that looked alright. The mood just didn't live up to expectations. It lacked the spooky feel of the greater films of this type such as Mario Bava's Black Sunday and Black Sabbath.

The plot, roughly, concerns a supposed witch burned at the stake in the late 1400s. She vows revenge, which it is assumed will take form in her two daughters, one of which being Barbara Steele (Black Sunday, Shivers, Castle of Blood). Barbara is as lovely as ever, particularly her long black hair. I prefer not to say more since I personally like seeing a film knowing as little as possible about it. The plot is nothing new anyway; originality in plot is rarely ever the reason fans of the macabre watch this type of film anyway.

For fans of gothic horror, and Barbara Steele, this is worth seeing though I would not say it is at the top of the list.