Scream of the Butterfly (1965)

Director:

Eber Lobato
(more)

Writers:

Alan J. Smith (original screenplay)
Howard Veit (additional scenes and dialogue)

Release Date:

15 December 1965 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A beautiful woman marries a rich man for his money, then embarks on an affair and plans to use her boyfriend to help murder her husband. |

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Bisexual | Adultery | Bubble Bath | Sex

Cast

Nélida Lobato	...	Marla Williams
Nick Novarro	...	David
Richard Beebe	...	Ron Vesario (Public Defender)
Robert Miller	...	District Attorney Michael Farmer
John Richards	...	Phil (Assistant District Attorney)
Leona Gage	...	Kathy
John Fife	...	Adair
Alan J. Smith	...	Christian
William Turner	...	Paul Williams
Britt Nelson
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ron Haydock	...	Party Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Eber Lobato
Howard Veit		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Alan J. Smith		(original screenplay)
Howard Veit		(additional scenes and dialogue)

Produced by
Alan J. Smith	....	producer
William Turner	....	producer
Howard Veit	....	producer

Original Music by
John Neel

Cinematography by
Ray Dennis Steckler

Makeup Department
Gork Phystri	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Joseph Bardo	....	production manager
Phil Jackson	....	unit manager

Camera and Electrical Department
Ray Dennis Steckler	....	camera operator (as Ray Steckler)
William G. Troiano	....	camera operator: second unit (as Bill Toriano)

Music Department
John Neel	....	conductor

Other crew
Mary Demos	....	script girl
Jane Keller	....	script girl
Eber Lobato	....	choreographer

Production Companies

• Essence Productions

Distributors

• Emerson Film Enterprises (1965) (USA) (theatrical)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (2003) (USA) (DVD) (special edition)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

78 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Lake Mead, Nevada, USA

Company:

Essence Productions

A lusty, busty B noir film surprises and delivers...

Surprisingly well written and well filmed, Scream of the Butterfly is a lusty, busty noir film full of surprises which ultimately delivers the goods....It wouldn't be surprising to discover that the leading lady was the original model for the classic and controversial Barbie doll, with her spun-gold beehive hairdo and over-developed bust and hips. Nearly all the performances are good, with the exception of the inept husband...surely someone who is supposedly wealthy could afford to get a better haircut than an out of date flat-top he might have sported as a teen, and could dress better than the Goodwill outfits he apparently favors. It's no wonder that Marla flips as soon as she sets eyes on the beautiful gigolo David, who's almost as much a stunner as that famous statue he's apparently named after (Nic Novarro does the role proud) The pace and turns of the story keep viewers interested and the plot has more than a few clever turns in it all the way up to the final minutes. The excellent music score is appropriate for crime and noir and it does justice to a well-executed script. This film was definitely a bit ahead of its time, correctly depicting the probability of David's conviction by a jury for murder unless temporary insanity was claimed. However, the only persons truly capable of deliberate homicide were Marla (who had already attempted to drown her husband) and the jealous lover who hated her. David's crime was unpremeditated and happened in the confusion of Marla's unnecessary and violent vituperative rage and could very well have been accidental.

With the few seconds of gratuitous t&a footage cut, this film would have gained wider mainstream distribution and the audience it deserves. Definitely worth your time if you enjoy a good noir murder and lust story.