Sei donne per l'assassino (1964)

Director:

Mario Bava

Writers:

Marcello Fondato (story)
Giuseppe Barilla (collaboration) ...

Release Date:

7 April 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The greatest shocks ever filmed

Plot:

Italian thriller about a shadowy killer in black murdering fashion models through brutal methods.

Plot Keywords:

Killer | Model | Killing | Diary | Masked Killer

Cast

Cameron Mitchell	...	Max Marian
Eva Bartok	...	Contessa Cristina Como
Thomas Reiner	...	Inspector Silvester
Ariana Gorini	...	Nicole
Dante DiPaolo	...	Frank Sacalo
Mary Arden	...	Peggy Peyton
Franco Ressel	...	Marquis Richard Morell
Claude Dantes	...	Tao-Li
Luciano Pigozzi	...	Cesar Losarre
Lea Lander	...	Greta (as Lea Krugher)
Massimo Righi	...	Marco
Francesca Ungaro	...	Isabella
Giuliano Raffaelli	...	Zanchin
Harriet Medin	...	Clarice (as Harriet White Medin)
Mary Carmen	...	Model (as Mara Carmosino)

Also Known As:

6 Femmes pour l'assassin (France)
Blood and Black Lace (USA)
Fashion House of Death
L'atelier de la peur (France)
Six Women for the Murderer (International: English title) (literal title)

Runtime:

88 min | USA:84 min

Country:

Italy | France | Monaco

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:MA (2009) | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | France:-18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

A.T.C. Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Emmepi Cinematografica

Trivia:

A landmark film in Italian cinema, as Sei donne per l'assassino was the film that began the 'giallo' genre. The giallo genre remains Italy's longest running cinematic movement.

Quotes:

Inspector Silvester: Perhaps the sight of beauty makes him lose control of himself, so he kills.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Trapped Ashes (2006)

Brilliant Giallo Classic!

Mario Bava's "Sei Donne Per L'Assassino" aka. "Blood And Black Lace" of 1964 is a brilliant and tantalizing Giallo classic that no Horror fan can afford to miss. Mario Bava is one of the greatest Horror directors of all-time, and this particular film is perfection in every aspect, be it the unique atmosphere and stylish color-play or the great score. In addition, it is also one of the most influential Italian Horror films, as this really is the film that made the Giallo what it became. Bava had basically invented Giallo cinema one year earlier, with "La Ragazza Che Sappeva Troppo" in 1963, and he defined the Genre with this masterpiece one year later.

The employees of a modeling agency lead by owner Cristina (Eva Bartok) and manager Max (Cameron Mitchell) are living in fear after a young mannequin named Isabella is brutally murdered. While Inspector Silvester (Thomas Reiner) is investigating the murder in an environment affected by glamor and cocaine, one by one of the beautiful young models are brutally slaughtered by a masked killer. The police believe that the murders are the bloody deed of a homicidal sex-maniac. Of course, everybody is suspicious...

"Blood And Black Lace" is what a good thriller should be. Dark, obscure and thrilling from the beginning to the end, this is a visually very imposing film that places emphasis on colors, especially on the color red. The soundtrack, a great recurring jazzy (but somehow mysterious) theme of the bolero/dancing music kind, fits perfectly into the movie, and makes the whole flick even more suspenseful. The acting differs, I especially liked the performances of Eva Bartok, Cameron Mitchell and Franco Ressel, and although some of the other performances may be a little exaggerated, all they all fit the roles perfectly. The English dubbing of this movie is unfortunately bad, and I therefore strongly recommend to go for the (subtitled) Italian Version. Directed by one of the Horror genre's greatest icons, Mario Bava, "Blood And Black Lace" is a Giallo classic, that every true lover of cinema should see. Bava is THE director with the greatest talent to combine beauty and terror, and "Blood And Black Lace" is one of the movies that prove what a brilliant man he was. This is absolutely stunning, elegant and pure perfection in all aspects, and not only is it a brilliant film a such, it is also one of the most influential masterpieces ever in Horror cinema. In short: Brilliant, mesmerizing and essential cinema that no Horror fan can afford to miss! 10/10