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

Director:

Lucio Fulci

Writers:

Lucio Fulci (screenplay)
Lucio Fulci (story)
(more)

Release Date:

20 March 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Biting, Gnawing TERROR Claws At Your Brain!

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Dream | LSD | Dream Sequence | Lesbian

Cast

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
Anita Strindberg	...	Julia Durer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Adams	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Jean Degrave	...	St. Paul's Clinic Director (uncredited)
Basil Dignam	...	The Commisoner (uncredited)
Ursel Eberz	...	Policewoman Beth (uncredited)
Piero Nistri	...	L'amante di mrs Gordon (uncredited)

Directed by
Lucio Fulci

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Lucio Fulci		screenplay
Lucio Fulci		story
Roberto Gianviti		screenplay
Roberto Gianviti		story
José Luis Martínez Mollá		screenplay
André Tranché		screenplay

Produced by
Edmondo Amati	....	producer
Renato Jaboni	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone

Cinematography by
Luigi Kuveiller

Film Editing by
Giorgio Serrallonga		(as Jorge Serralonga)

Art Direction by
Román Calatayud

Set Decoration by
Roberto Granieri

Costume Design by
Maurizio Chiari

Makeup Department
Franco Di Girolamo	....	head makeup artist
Gloria Fava	....	assistant makeup artist
Rosa Luciani	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Luis Méndez	....	production manager
Agostino Pane	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Giorgio Gentili	....	assistant director

Art Department
Nedo Azzini	....	set designer
Claudio De Santis	....	assistant set designer

Sound Department
Ken Barker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Salvatore Billitteri	....	post-synchronization supervisor
Massimo Iabone	....	sound (as Massimo Jaboni)
Graham V. Hartstone	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Eugenio Ascani	....	special effects
Carlo Rambaldi	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Antonio Annunziata	....	first assistant camera
Enrico Bellacci	....	chief electrician
Giovanni Bonivento	....	second assistant camera (as Gianni Bonivento)
Santiago Gómez	....	third assistant camera
Spartaco Pizzi	....	key grip
Ubaldo Terzano	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Giorgio Desideri	....	assistant costume designer (as Giorgio Desidero)

Editorial Department
Rita Antonelli	....	assistant editor
Lea Piras	....	assistant editor
Vincenzo Tomassi	....	supervising editor

Music Department
Bruno Nicolai	....	conductor

Other crew
Enrique Bellot	....	production secretary
Roberto Carpentieri	....	production secretary
Roberto Giandalia	....	script supervisor
Gianfranco Bellini	....	voice dubbing: George Rigaud (uncredited)
Pino Colizzi	....	voice dubbing: Jean Sorel (uncredited)
Pino Locchi	....	voice dubbing: Stanley Baker (uncredited)
Rita Savagnone	....	voice dubbing: Florinda Bolkan (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Apollo Films
• Atlántida Films (co-production)
• Les Films Corona (co-production)

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1971) (USA) (theatrical) (dubbed)
• American International Pictures (AIP) (1973) (USA) (theatrical) (retitled re-release) (dubbed)
• DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Shriek Show (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Atlántida Films (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Filmways Australasian Distributors (1973) (Australia) (theatrical) (95m version) (as "Schizoid")
• Cine Video Hellas (????) (Greece) (VHS)
• Cinefear (????) (USA) (VHS)
• First Line Films (1984) (worldwide) (all media)
• Lucifer Video Enterprises (????) (Greece) (VHS)
• Shout! Factory (2013) (USA) (DVD)
• Shout! Factory (2013) (USA) (DVD) (as 'Schizoid')
• Umbrella Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Una lucertola con la pelle di donna" - Italy (original title)
"Schizoid" - Australia (reissue title), USA (reissue title)
"Lizard in a Woman's Skin" - USA (dubbed version)

Runtime:

France:101 min | Italy:98 min | Spain:89 min | USA:95 min | USA:103 min (DVD version)

Country:

Italy | Spain | France

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

France:-18 | Italy:VM18 | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | USA:R | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Iceland:16 | USA:Unrated (DVD) | Australia:R | UK:18 (2010)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Apollo Films

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.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When people are taking pictures of Julia Durer's body, her eyebrow moves.

Movie Connections:

Edited into ¿Quién es Florinda Bolkan? (2010)

An early giallo that tops most of the others.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Lucio Fulci made better giallos than Dario Argento. I'm sorry, but this early classic is truly stunning. From the opening scene in the train, to the final twist at the end, it will leave your arm hairs standing at attention.

It's gory, it's thrilling, it's creepy and it's moody. It absolutely captures the early 70's psychedelic 'thing' without being cheesy. It's basically a psychological study of a woman who seems deeply troubled but, then again, may just be delusional. Until the end, we really have no idea which is the case, but when we find out, we're surprised. The plot is genius.

"A Lizard in a Woman's Skin" is a true must-see for giallo fans. It's a recommended-see for horror fans. It's a probably-should-see for gore fans. And it's a better-be-on-your-shelf for Fulci fans. Classic movie fans and critics? Stay away. This is a film that you were not born to GET and you shouldn't attempt to.

By the way, my favorite Ennio Morricone soundtrack second only to "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly." 9 out of 10, kids.