Sei donne per l'assassino (1964)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Mario Bava

Writers:

Giuseppe Barilla (writer)
Mario Bava (writer)
(more)

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)
Heidi Stroh	...	Bleach Blond Model
Enzo Cerusico	...	Gas Station Attendant
Nadia Anty	...	Model
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Frees	...	Multiple characters (uncredited) (voice: English version)
Goffredo Unger	...	Masked killer double (uncredited)

Directed by
Mario Bava

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Giuseppe Barilla		writer (as Joe Barilla)
Mario Bava		writer
Marcello Fondato		screenplay
Marcello Fondato		story

Produced by
Alfredo Mirabile	....	producer
Massimo Patrizi	....	producer

Original Music by
Carlo Rustichelli

Cinematography by
Ubaldo Terzano
Mario Bava		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
Mario Serandrei		(as Mark Suran)

Costume Design by
Tina Grani

Makeup Department
Marisa Laganga	....	hair stylist
Emilio Trani	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Benito Caripi	....	production manager
Franco Grifeo	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Priscilla Contardi	....	assistant director
Cristina Grieco	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Vittorio Trentino	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Mario Mancini	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Lina Caterini	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Luciana Loschiavo	....	script supervisor
Piero Speziali	....	accountant

Production Companies

• Emmepi Cinematografica
• Les Productions Georges de Beauregard
• Monarchia
• Top Film

Distributors

• Les Films Marbeuf (1964) (France) (theatrical)
• Cosmopolis Films (1964) (France) (theatrical)
• Allied Artists Pictures (1965) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Suomi-Filmi (1968) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Media Home Entertainment (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• Sinister Cinema (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• VCI Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• e-m-s the DVD-Company (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• VCI Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Big Sky Video (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
• Epoca (Argentina) (video)

Other Companies

• Digitmovies Alternative Entertainment  soundtrack

Also Known As:

6 Femmes pour l'assassin (France)
Blood and Black Lace (USA)
Blutige Seide (West Germany)
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 | West Germany

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)

The giallo- in living color

Mario Bava's "Blood and Black Lace" is known for being Bava's first color giallo (the first giallo period "The Girl Who Knew too much" was directed by Bava the previous year) as well as being the film that introduced gialli to American audiences, making it one of the most influential horror films ever made and therefore a must see for fans of Italian Horror. In addition to being extremely influential, Bava's tale of murders committed at an Italian fashion studio is a fine and well made film that should please Bava's fan base.

First and foremost the cinematography is excellent. Bava was undeniably a skilled photographer and this film showcases his talents very well as even though this film was shot on a very low budget it still looks great. The bright colors also give this film a nice dreamlike edge that greatly works to the film's advantage. Even though "Blood and Black Lace" looks beautiful it still contains plenty of shocking and sadistic violence for its era. My favorite scene is when one of the girls is severely burned with a hot furnace. Speaking of girls, this movie delivers in that department as well with plenty of hot women walking around wearing skimpy outfits or just underwear all the time. The only downside to this is that because this was made in the mid-1960's there is no nudity in this one. Despite that though, "Blood and Black Lace" is still a fine, fun and influential film well worth seeing.