The Diabolical Dr. Z (1966) Miss Muerte (original title)

Director:

Jesus Franco

Writers:

Jesus Franco (original screenplay)
Jean-Claude Carrière (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

15 February 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Horror

Plot:

Woman seeks to avenge her father's death by using a local dancer, with long poisonous fingernails, to do her bidding. |

Plot Keywords:

Barefoot | Women Killing Women | Sequel | Dead Woman With Eyes Open | Dead Woman Carried

Cast

Estella Blain	...	Nadja
Mabel Karr	...	Irma Zimmer
Howard Vernon	...	Dr. Vicas
Fernando Montes	...	Philippe
Marcelo Arroita-Jáuregui		(as Marcel Arroita)
Cris Huerta
Alberto Bourbón		(as Albert Bourbon)
Guy Mairesse	...	Hans Bergen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ana Castor	...	Barbara (uncredited)
Alberto Dalbés	...	(uncredited)
Jesus Franco	...	(uncredited)
Antonio Jiménez Escribano	...	Dr. Zimmer (uncredited)
José María Prada	...	(uncredited)
Lucía Prado	...	(uncredited)
Daniel White	...	Inspector Green (uncredited)

Directed by
Jesus Franco

Writing credits
Jesus Franco		(original screenplay) (as David Kuhne)
Jean-Claude Carrière		(adaptation)
Jean-Claude Carrière		(dialogue)

Produced by
Michel Safra	....	producer
Serge Silberman	....	producer

Original Music by
Daniel White

Cinematography by
Alejandro Ulloa

Film Editing by
Marie-Louise Barberot
Jean Feyte

Production Design by
Antonio Cortés		(as Tony Cortes)

Makeup Department
Raymond Ferrer	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Demollière	....	assistant director (as R. Demollière)

Camera and Electrical Department
Clemente Manzano	....	camera operator

Editorial Department
Arlette Lalande	....	assistant editor
Monique Teisseire	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Odette Darrigol	....	production secretary
Nicole Guettard	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Ciné-Alliance
• Hesperia Films S.A.
• Spéva Films

Distributors

• Mercurio Films S.A. (1966) (Spain) (theatrical)
• U.S. Films (1967) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Astral Films (1967) (Canada) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (1997) (USA) (VHS) (Frank Henenlotter's Sexy Shockers from the Vaults, Vol. 87) (reissue)
• Mondo Macabro (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Miss Muerte" - Spain (original title)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

Spain | France

Language:

Spanish | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Unrated (DVD rating) | West Germany:18

Company:

Ciné-Alliance

Movie Connections:

Edited into Mad Ron's Prevues from Hell (1987) (V)

...and to think I've been hailing 'Vampyros Lesbos' as Franco's best

Jess Franco is easily one of the most prolific directors in all cinema. To date he has 181 film directing credits to his name and almost as many aliases. It's quite obvious to me that when the man gets an idea in his head it's going on film no matter what! Some of these ideas work well and some don't, but regardless they're always shot with a passion and with a style that only Franco can produce.

'The Diabolical Doctor Z' is a rather early film from Franco and was shot in very effective black and white. The story actually doesn't have much to do with the good doctor, but more so instead with his twice as diabolical daughter who has revenge on her mind and is willing to use crazy robotics, poisoned fingernails, and a mind controlled exotic dancer to get it. Nice performances all the way around the board.

I'm no Franco expert, but of all his films that I've seen this is easily his most stylistic and atmospheric. There's one scene midway through where a man is being stalked while walking through a foggy street that's just shot so well and so effectively I'll never ever get it out of my mind (and I'd never want to). Absolutely beautiful! By the way, Mondo Macabre did a fantastic job with the transfer on the DVD. It couldn't look better if it was shot today.

This is a film that no Franco fan or anyone interested in his films should miss. This one has it all and so much more. I highly recommend it!