IMDb > The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany credits
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guidemessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsmemorable quotes
Did You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970) More at IMDbPro »L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo (original title)

Photos (See all 17 | slideshow) Videos (see all 2)
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage -- A writer is stalked by a serial killer after witnessing a murder attempt on one woman's life.

Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   8,114 votes »
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Dario Argento
Writer:
Dario Argento
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Bird with the Crystal Plumage on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 June 1970 (USA) See more »
Genre:
Mystery | Thriller See more »
Tagline:
A stunning portrait in psycho-terror! See more »
Plot:
A writer is stalked by a serial killer after witnessing a murder attempt on one woman's life. Full summary » | Full synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
See more »
Awards:
1 win & 1 nomination See more »
NewsDesk:
(13 articles)
The Bird With The Crystal Plumage Blu-ray review
 (From Shadowlocked. 11 June 2011, 2:25 AM, PDT)
Geek shows and movies on UK TV in the coming week
 (From Den of Geek. 30 September 2010, 9:10 AM, PDT)
Cult Cinema: The Strange Vice Of Mrs. Wardh (1971)
 (From Flickeringmyth. 29 August 2010, 3:44 AM, PDT)
User Reviews:
Brilliant early Argento See more (87 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order)

Tony Musante ... Sam Dalmas
Suzy Kendall ... Julia
Enrico Maria Salerno ... Inspector Morosini
Eva Renzi ... Monica Ranieri
Umberto Raho ... Alberto Ranieri

Renato Romano ... Professor Carlo Dover (as Raf Valenti)
Giuseppe Castellano ... Monti
Mario Adorf ... Berto Consalvi
Pino Patti ... Faiena
Gildo Di Marco ... Garullo
Rosita Torosh ... 4th Victim (as Rosa Toros)
Omar Bonaro ... Police Detective
Fulvio Mingozzi ... Police Detective
Werner Peters ... Antique Dealer
Karen Valenti ... Tina, 5th Victim
Carla Mancini ... Girl watching TV
Bruno Erba ... Police Detective
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Dario Argento ... Murderer's Hands (uncredited)
Giovanni Di Benedetto ... Professor Rinaldi (uncredited)
Silvio Klein ... Policeman (uncredited)
Reggie Nalder ... Needles, Yellow Jacket Assassin (uncredited)
Annamaria Spogli ... Sandra Roversi, 3rd Victim (uncredited)
Maria Tedeschi ... Old Lady in Fog (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Dario Argento 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Dario Argento 
Fredric Brown  novel "The Screaming Mimi" (uncredited)

Produced by
Salvatore Argento .... producer
Artur Brauner .... executive producer: CCC Filmkunst (uncredited)
 
Original Music by
Ennio Morricone 
 
Cinematography by
Vittorio Storaro 
 
Film Editing by
Franco Fraticelli 
 
Production Design by
Dario Micheli 
 
Costume Design by
Dario Micheli 
 
Makeup Department
Giuseppe Ferranti .... makeup artist (as Pino Ferrante)
Lidia Puglia .... hair stylist
 
Production Management
Rudolf Hertzog .... production manager (as Rudolph Hertzog Jr.)
Umberto Sambuco .... production supervisor
Camillo Teti .... production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roberto Pariante .... assistant director
 
Sound Department
Luciano Anzellotti .... sound effects
Massimo Anzellotti .... sound effects editor
Alberto Bartolomei .... sound mixer
Carlo Diotavelli .... sound
Eugenio Fiori .... boom operator
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Muova Dial .... still photographer
Enrico Umetelli .... camera operator
Arturo Zavattini .... camera operator
 
Editorial Department
Cesarina Casini .... first assistant editor
Sergio Fraticelli .... second assistant editor
Neri Nazzareno .... final colorist (uncredited)
 
Music Department
Bruno Nicolai .... conductor
 
Other crew
Lida Chitarrini .... script girl
Roberto Pietti .... dialogue director
Robert Rietty .... dialogue director
Angelo Tavazzi .... administrator
Luciano Vittori .... title designer
Anna Eugeni .... voice dubbing: Suzy Kendall (uncredited)
Adriano Micantoni .... voice dubbing: Mario Adriano (uncredited)
Gigi Pirarba .... voice dubbing: Tony Musante (uncredited)
Silvano Tranquilli .... voice dubbing: Raf Valenti (uncredited)
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
"L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo" - Italy (original title)
"Point of Terror" - USA (alternative title)
"The Phantom of Terror" - USA (reissue title)
See more »
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
98 min | Argentina:105 min | Germany:101 min | Netherlands:92 min | USA:96 min | Finland:97 min (1972) | Belgium:108 min (VHS version)
Country:
Italy | West Germany
Language:
Italian
Color:
Color (Eastmancolor)
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Argentina:16 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Italy:VM14 | Norway:16 (1971) | Sweden:15 (cut) | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2005) | UK:18 (video rating) (1983) | UK:X (original rating) | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:16 | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:MA | USA:Not Rated (DVD rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Singapore:PG | New Zealand:R16 | Hong Kong:IIB
Filming Locations:
Agnano, Naples, Campania, ItalySee more »
Company:
Central Cinema Company Film (CCC)See more »

Did You Know?

Trivia:
Director trademark: [Dario Argento] Character recalls clues from memory.See more »
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: At Wilkinson foundation near the beginning of the movie, the silhouette of a cameraman can be seen in the displays glass.See more »
Quotes:
Inspector Morosini:Bring out the perverts!See more »
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Midnight Movie Review: Halloween Horror Top 25, nr. 18: Giallo (#1.8)" (2010)See more »

FAQ

What significance does the title "The Bird With the Crystal Plumage" have in relation to the film?
What are the differences between the British BBFC-18 DVD version and the uncut version?
See more »

User Reviews

   (Review this title)
14 out of 20 people found the following review useful.
Brilliant early Argento, 26 January 2005
Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls

The first film that fully credits Dario Argento as the sole director turned out a compelling murder-mystery, stylishly completed with an excellent score, sublime photography and gripping moments of suspense. In other words, an authentic giallo like only a real Italian master can deliver them! As it is common standard in this type of horror films, the actual climax (usually this means the killer's identity and motives) is slightly inferior to the creation of setting and atmosphere. Yet, in this adaptation of Wallace's novel the plot twists are credible and the finale is satisfying. The story focuses on an American novelist who moved to Italy due to a severe writer's block. One night, he witnesses an attempted knife-murder in an art gallery. Even though he and his girl are becoming the main target of the serial killer at large, our hero finds himself to be more and more obsessed with the tracking down the murderer. Dario Argento is known especially for his violent and explicit horror titles, but this first film of his completely depends good old fashioned suspense and involvement. You almost get the feeling that the killer is on YOUR tale. The comparison between Argento and Alfred Hitchcock surely isn't exaggerated…at least not when it comes to "Bird with the Crystal Plumage. Really all aspects about it are impressive. Even the dialogue and acting, normally critical letdowns in Italian horror productions, are convincing. The film is given the finishing touch by a few extremely ingenious details like an eccentric, cat-eating painter and a stuttering pimp! Viva la giallo!!

Was the above review useful to you?
See more (87 total) »

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
how would you rate this? splattaflix
Question about the end [spoiler] untd77
Dont rent from Netflix zongaboy626
Any information on the VCI Blu-Ray? DerpinAround1
Arrow Release - is it that bad? peter_t_2k3
Re: Murder painting cheer600
See more »

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Cat o' Nine Tails Black Belly of the Tarantula The Case of the Scorpion's Tail Deep Red What Have You Done to Solange?
IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
 IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Mystery section IMDb Italy section

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Edit page' button will take you through a step-by-step process.