Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key (1972)
"Il tuo vizio è una stanza chiusa e solo io ne ho la chiave" (original title)

Oliviero is a burned-out writer, living at his estate near Venice, his dead mother dominating his imagination. He is also a degenerate: sleeps with his maid and his ex-student, hosts ... See full summary »

Director:

Sergio Martino

Writers:

Adriano Bolzoni (screenplay), Ernesto Gastaldi (screenplay),

Stars:

Edwige Fenech, Anita Strindberg, Luigi Pistilli

Cast

Credited cast:
Edwige Fenech	...	Floriana
Anita Strindberg	...	Irina Rouvigny
Luigi Pistilli	...	Oliviero Rouvigny
Ivan Rassimov	...	Walter
Franco Nebbia	...	Inspector
Riccardo Salvino	...	Dario
Angela La Vorgna	...	Brenda
Enrica Bonaccorti	...	Hooker
Daniela Giordano	...	Fausta
Ermelinda De Felice	...	Bordello Owner
Marco Mariani	...	Libraio
Nerina Montagnani	...	Mrs. Molinar
Carla Mancini
Bruno Boschetti
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dalila Di Lazzaro	...	Girl who strips on a table in party's

Storyline

Oliviero is a burned-out writer, living at his estate near Venice, his dead mother dominating his imagination. He is also a degenerate: sleeps with his maid and his ex-student, hosts Bacchanalia for local hippies, and humiliates his wife Irina in front of strangers. She lives in terror. When a young woman is murdered, police suspect Oliviero. Things get complicated when his young, beautiful, and self-confident niece, Floriana, pays an unexpected visit. A silver-haired stranger observes. More women die, and thoughts of harming Irina give Oliviero new inspiration. What's Floriana's game and who's the observant stranger? Watching all is a black cat named Satan.

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Plot Keywords:

black cat | police | maid | niece | cat | 

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

4 August 1972 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Your Vice Is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key

Filming Locations:

Elios Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lea Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is a reference to Sergio Martino's earlier giallo Blade of the Ripper ("The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh"), in which the same phrase appears in a mysterious note apparently sent by a killer.

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Connections

Referenced in Hair (1979)

User Reviews

Excellent Italian giallo.

Luigi Pistilli plays Oliviero Rouvigny,a writer who humiliates his wife Irena and any other female that crosses his path.One of Oliviero's mistresses is viciously murdered while waiting to meet him and so the investigating inspector considers the ex-writer a prime suspect.As the killings continue Mr. Rouvigny's guilt becomes nearly unquestionable, however the truth is not that simple."Gently Before She Dies" is obviously influenced by the writings of Edgar Allan Poe.The film is very tense and suspenseful and there is enough gore,nudity and sleaze to satisfy fans of Italian gialli.The soundtrack by Bruno Nicolai is prefect and the acting is great with Luigi Pistilli,Edwige Fenech,Ivan Rassimov and Anita Strindberg to boost.This wonderful giallo is not easy to find,but if you are a fan of Italian horror you can't miss it.