A doppia faccia (1969)

Director:

Riccardo Freda

Writers:

Riccardo Freda (screenplay)
Lucio Fulci (story)

Release Date:

4 July 1969 (West Germany)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

A millionaire is unwittingly led into murder by his lesbian wife.

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian | Murder | Beautiful Woman | Lesbian Sex | Female Nudity

Cast

Klaus Kinski	...	John Alexander
Christiane Krüger	...	Christine
Günther Stoll	...	Inspector Stevens
Annabella Incontrera	...	Liz
Sydney Chaplin	...	Mr. Brown
Barbara Nelli	...	Alice
Margaret Lee	...	Helen Brown / Helen Alexander
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alice Arno	...	(hardcore inserts - French 1976 version)
Ignazio Dolce
Carlo Marcolino	...	Servant
Gastone Pescucci	...	Peter
Luciano Spadoni	...	Inspector Gordon
Claudio Trionfi

Also Known As:

Das Gesicht im Dunkeln (West Germany)
Double Face
Edgar Wallace: Das Gesicht im Dunkeln (West Germany) (series title)
Liz and Helen (International: English title) (TV title)
Puzzle of Horrors

Runtime:

Germany:81 min | Italy:88 min

Country:

West Germany | Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

France:X (re-release) | West Germany:18 | Germany:12 (re-rating) (2004)

Company:

Colt Produzioni Cinematografiche

Trivia:

Though not an adaption of original material by Edgar Wallace, this film was advertised in Germany as part of the famous Edgar Wallace Series. It was such a huge flop that the Producers at Rialto Film decided to delay any future plans to do further Edgar Wallace Films. Due to the great success of Dario Argento's "L'Uccello Dalle Piume Di Cristallo" (1969) which was advertised as an adaption of a story by Wallace's son Bryan Edgar, Rialto's series re-started in 1971.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Pastewka: Die Strategie der Schnecke (#2.2)" (2006)

Not bad, for Riccardo Freda

It has to be said that Riccardo Freda wasn't the greatest Italian director to ever live and, as such, his films don't tend to rank among the best of the genres he's worked in. Double Face is not one of the best Giallo's ever made, though it's a hell of a lot better than Freda's later The Iguana with the Tongue of Fire, and it's a pretty decent genre entry in its own right. As is the case with most Giallo films; the central focus of the plot is on murder, but rather than following a string of murders as many of these films do; this time the focus is on just one murder and the investigation into said crime. The plot centres on John Alexander, a successful business man whose wife just happens to be a lesbian. She is, unfortunately, killed in a car crash towards the start of the film and John then encounters Christine; a sexy and uninhibited blonde seductress who seems to have a keen interest in him. One thing leads to another, and John ends up seeing a blue movie starring Christine and, apparently, his wife! The mystery then builds as John comes to believe that his wife is still alive.

The stand out star of the film is definitely Klaus Kinski. It's quite odd seeing him in this role as I'm so used to seeing him play the bad/insane antagonist, whereas here he finds himself in the hapless victim role. Kinski keeps it together well and while this performance isn't as great as the ones where he gets to go over the top; it has to be said that he gives a solid performance in the lead role. He is joined by fellow German Christiane Krüger, who takes up the role of sexy leading lady well and the central cast is rounded off by Margaret Lee, who appeared in a handful of Giallo's, including Slaughter Hotel and The Killers Are Our Guests. The film is never overly exciting and sometimes it seems too content to just wallow in the plot; but there are some interesting scenes to help fill out the running time. The film is set in London, although it wasn't shot on location and that fact clearly shows. The final ten minutes are the best of the film as the plot finally reveals itself and mostly makes sense. Overall, I cant say that Double Face is one of the best Giallo's ever made; but it's good enough and certainly worth seeing.