A Lizard in a Woman's Skin (1971)
"Una lucertola con la pelle di donna" (original title)

A young woman is accused of murdering her debauched neighbor after dreaming it. Was she set up, or did she really do it?

Director:

Lucio Fulci

Writers:

Lucio Fulci (screenplay), Lucio Fulci (story),

Stars:

Florinda Bolkan, Stanley Baker, Jean Sorel

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Florinda Bolkan	...	Carol Hammond
Stanley Baker	...	Inspector Corvin
Jean Sorel	...	Frank Hammond
Silvia Monti	...	Deborah
Alberto de Mendoza	...	Sgt. Brandon
Penny Brown	...	Jenny (hippie girl)
Mike Kennedy	...	Hubert (hippie guy)
Ely Galleani	...	Joan Hammond (as Edy Gall)
George Rigaud	...	Dr. Kerr
Ezio Marano	...	Lowell (scientific squad)
Franco Balducci	...	McKenna
Luigi Antonio Guerra	...	Policeman
Erzsi Paál	...	Mrs. Gordon (as Ersi Pond)
Gaetano Imbró	...	Policeman
Leo Genn	...	Edmond Brighton

Storyline

Florinda Bolkan plays the daughter of a prominant English politician who keeps having recurring "nightmares" in which she makes love to a bisexual nympho who lives downstairs and conducts all-night LSD orgies. When the nocturnal wet dreams become murderous, the neighbor turns up dead, and Florinda is the main suspect. Did she actually commit the murder she dreamt about? Is she being framed by her philandering husband? Did Florinda actually make nightly visits downstairs aside from borrowing the occasional cup of sugar? How DID Florinda's letter opener end up stuck in the dead neighbor's chest anyway? The complex plot unfolds amidst red herrings, outlandish dream sequences, lesbian hanky panky, and ominous close-ups of Florinda Bolkan's guilt-ridden facial expressions every time someone mentions the murder. All this takes place in swinging late-1960's London.

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Plot Keywords:

murder | dream | lsd | dream sequence | lesbian | 

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Taglines:

WARNING! Not Recommended Viewing for Persons With Schizophrenic Tendencies!

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy Spain France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

20 March 1973 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lizard in a Woman's Skin

Filming Locations:

Alexandra Palace, Alexandra Palace Way, Muswell Hill, London, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

ESP 24,160,712 (Spain)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Apollo Films, Atlántida Films, Les Films Corona

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min 103 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene in which Carol encounters the disemboweled dogs in the clinic became quite controversial because of the startlingly realistic (and graphic) appearance of the fake prop dogs. Director Lucio Fulci was nearly sent to prison because it was believed that the dogs were real and Fulci had allowed animal cruelty on the film. However crew members were able to testify in court that the "dogs" were indeed fake and no animals had ever been harmed. Special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi even presented the dog props in court to convince the jury. This was the first time that an effects artist had to testify in court that their work was fake.

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Goofs

In the opening train sequence, one of the extras looks at the camera for a few seconds.

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Connections

Referenced in Shedding the Skin (2005)

User Reviews

Among Fulci's best

Carol Hammond is having bizarre recurring dreams which she is going to a psychiatrist to find the meaning of. In her subsequent later dreams she finds herself killing her promiscuous nubile neighbor.when the aforementioned neighbor is then found murdered in real life with Carol's penknife found at the scene she becomes a prime suspect. Shriek Show dropped the ball with this one somewhat. With the shorter American "Schizord" version getting a better transfer, while the original Italian version is relegated to the second disc. It doesn't look as good and is in full-screen. It's great to own this at all, but I was somewhat disheartened. That being said, this is one of Fulci's best, if somewhat dated, Giallos It keeps you guessing, and is never boring.

My Grade: B

Anchor Bay 2-DVD set Extras: Disc 1) USA "Schizoid" version; Radio spots; US Trailer; Trailers for "Zombi 2", "City of the Living Dead", "Touch of Death", "House of Clocks", "Sweet House of Horrors", "Demonia", and "Death Trance" Disc 2) 98 minute Italian version, 33 minute "Shedding the Skin" documentary, and Photo Gallery 1 Easter Egg: go to the 'Scene access', Go to chapter 4, then press right, in the lower-left of the screen you'll see a highlighted bat.Press play for 2 deleted scenes.

Eye Candy: Florida Bolken, Anita Strindberg; various extras show boobs and butts