A Diary of a Murderess (1975) La encadenada (original title)

Director:

Manuel Mur Oti

Writers:

Emilio Martínez Lázaro (screenplay)
Rafael Moreno Alba (story)
(more)

Release Date:

4 May 1975 (Italy)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

A beautiful young woman sets her sights on an aging millionaire. She seduces him, and moves into his mansion with him. She soon tires of him, though, and after she gets rid of him, she goes after his son |

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Sex | Female Nudity | Beautiful Woman

Cast

Marisa Mell	...	Gina / Elisabeth
Richard Conte	...	Alexander
Anthony Steffen	...	Richard
Richard Baron	...	Bernardo
Lili Muráti	...	Louisa
Carla Calò	...	Mother Superior (as Carol Brawn)
Beni Deus	...	Charles
Carmen Maura	...	Nun
Ketty Ariel	...	Nun
Juan Ribó	...	Mark

Directed by
Manuel Mur Oti

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Emilio Martínez Lázaro		screenplay
Rafael Moreno Alba		story
Manuel Mur Oti		screenplay
Mario Siciliano		screenplay (as M. Sirko)

Original Music by
Carlo Savina

Cinematography by
José Luis Alcaine
Alvaro Lanzoni		(only in Italian credits)

Film Editing by
Rosa G. Salgado

Set Decoration by
José Antonio de la Guerra

Production Management
Ignacio Gutiérrez-Solana	....	production manager (as Ignacio Gutiérrez)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jaime Bayarri	....	assistant director

Camera and Electrical Department
Alvaro Lanzoni	....	second camera operator

Other crew
Otello Colangeli	....	Italian version
Isabel Mulá	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Emaus Films S.A.
• Metheus Film

Distributors

• Sinister Cinema (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Something Weird Video (SWV) (1996) (USA) (VHS) (Frank Henenlotter's Sexy Shockers from the Vaults, Vol. 75)

Also Known As:

"La encadenada" - Spain (original title)

Runtime:

87 min | Spain:95 min

Country:

Spain | Italy

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain

Company:

Emaus Films S.A.

Trivia:

A flop when it came out, the critics didn't even bother to tear it apart. Thirty years later, it achieved some kind of Euro-trash cult status - mainly because of the rediscovery of Marisa Mell.

Mellifluous Mell saves the day

Despite its seen-it-a-million-times plot concerning a sexy con artist (Marisa Mell) who inveigles herself into a wealthy old man's morbid household, this Euro psycho-thriller is just creepy enough to be absorbing for most of its running time. The old guy (played by the moribund Richard Conte, whose huge earlobes dominate his scenes) has a mute son prone to violent fits whenever reminded of his deceased mama (whom the crook, naturally, resembles). To complicate matters, there's a bastard son and an ex-husband looking for a piece of the action. Most outrageous, though, is that fact that the mansion's most valuable asset is the Holy Grail itself -- a point which is stated so matter-of-factly that one wonders about the accuracy of the translation. The plot features a few neat twists, including a final sting in its tail that will revive you if you've given up on the picture. Of course, the main reason for watching is the dissolute but utterly luscious Mell (best known for her role in Bava's Diabolik), who dominates proceedings with her intelligent grace, knockout looks and subtle ruthlessness. Unfortunately, several nude scenes have obviously been shown from the American print with equal ruthlessness.