La coda dello scorpione (1971)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Sergio Martino

Writers:

Ernesto Gastaldi (screenplay)
Eduardo Manzanos Brochero (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 August 1971 (Italy)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

The Case of the Scorpion's Tail begins with the mysterious death of a millionaire and spirals into the murder of his suddenly rich wife, which draws the attention of a dogged investigator, who follows a trail of blood to the bitter end.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Millionaire | Unfaithful Wife | Police | Plane

Cast

George Hilton	...	Peter Lynch
Anita Strindberg	...	Cléo Dupont
Alberto de Mendoza	...	John Stanley
Ida Galli	...	Lisa Baumer (as Evelyn Stewart)
Janine Reynaud	...	Lara Florakis
Luigi Pistilli	...	Inspector Stavros
Tom Felleghy	...	Mr. Brenton
Luis Barboo	...	Sharif
Lisa Leonardi	...	Hostess (as Annalisa Nardi)
Tomás Picó	...	George Barnet

Also Known As:

Case of the Scorpion's Tail
La cola del escorpión (Spain)
Scorpion's Tail
Tail of the Scorpion

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Italy | Spain

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Greece

Company:

Copercines, Cooperativa Cinematográfica

Trivia:

70mm blow-up version released in Spain.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Lisa Baumer: Hello, this is Lisa. Yes, it's alright. Yes, his plane will be leaving in a few minutes. You know I'm dying to see you. Soon, hurry darling, I'll be waiting. Bye.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Sono otoko, kyôbô ni tsuki (1989)

Suspenseful Giallo, One Of Martino's Best

"The Case of the Scorpion's Tail" has all the elements that are necessary in order to make an effective giallo movie. The story is standard giallo. When a man dies in a plane crash his wife (Ida Galli) collects a $1 million life insurance policy. The widow heads to Greece for the payout but a series of gruesome murders follow her. There are plenty of suspects, including a tenacious investigator (George Hilton) from the insurance agency and the widow's lover. Director Martino keeps the story moving at a fast pace while the viewer tries to guess the identity of the killer. Anita Strindberg (also memorable in "Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key" and "Who Saw Her Die?") is a stunning-looking heroine. It's one of Martino's best films.