The Perfume of the Lady in Black (1974) Il profumo della signora in nero (original title)

Director:

Francesco Barilli

Writers:

Francesco Barilli (screenplay)
Francesco Barilli (story)
(more)

Release Date:

29 March 1974 (Italy)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Sylvia, an industrial scientist, is troubled by strange hallucinations related to the tragic suicide of her mother. |

Plot Keywords:

Hallucination | Mother | Hugging | Watching | Lust

Cast

Mimsy Farmer	...	Silvia Hacherman
Maurizio Bonuglia	...	Roberto
Aldo Valletti	...	Uno dei cannibali nella scena di chiusura
Mario Scaccia	...	Signor Rossetti
Jho Jhenkins	...	Andy
Nike Arrighi	...	Orchidea
Lara Wendel	...	Young Silvia (as Daniela Barnes)
Aleka Paizi	...	Signorina Cardini (as Alexandra Paizi)
Renata Zamengo	...	Marta - Silvia's Mother
Ugo Carboni	...	Man of the Sect
Roberta Cadringher	...	The Antique Dealer
Sergio Forcina
Gabriele Bentivoglio	...	Shop's boy
Luigi Antonio Guerra	...	Chemical worker
Carla Mancini	...	Elisabetta
Donna Jordan	...	Francesca Vincenzi
Orazio Orlando	...	Nicola
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Renato Chiantoni	...	Luigi - the porter (uncredited)
Margherita Horowitz	...	Signora Lovati (uncredited)

Directed by
Francesco Barilli

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Francesco Barilli		screenplay
Francesco Barilli		story
Massimo D'Avak		screenplay
Massimo D'Avak		story

Produced by
Giovanni Bertolucci	....	producer
Aldo U. Passalacqua	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Nicola Piovani

Cinematography by
Mario Masini

Film Editing by
Enzo Micarelli

Production Design by
Franco Velchi

Costume Design by
Piero Cicoletti

Makeup Department
Cesare Biseo	....	assistant makeup artist
Renata Magnanti	....	hair stylist
Manlio Rocchetti	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Attilio Viti	....	production supervisor

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

Art Department
Ezio Di Monte	....	assistant production designer
Nello Giorgetti	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Alberto Bartolomei	....	sound mixer
Christopher Cruise	....	dubbing director: English version
Mario Dallimonti	....	sound
Giovanni Fratarcangeli	....	boom operator
Bartolomeo Messina	....	dubbing sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Maurizio Scanzani	....	camera operator
Giorgio Urbinelli	....	assistant camera

Editorial Department
Aloisa Camilli	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Margherita Autuori	....	unit publicist (as Rossetti)
Clemente Giovannini	....	unit publicist (as Giovannini)
Renato Izzo	....	dubbing director
Enrico Lucherini	....	unit publicist (as Lucherini)
Bona Magrini	....	continuity
Silvana Olas	....	assistant administrator
Rolando Pieri	....	administrator
Matteo Spinola	....	unit publicist (as Spinola)
Francesco Vetrano	....	production secretary

Production Companies

• Euro International Film (EIA)

Distributors

• Sinister Cinema (2009) (USA) (VHS)
• Sinister Cinema (2009) (USA) (video) (DVD-R)
• Raro Video (2011) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Il profumo della signora in nero" - Italy (original title)

Runtime:

Italy:101 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Italy:VM18 | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Mincio Square, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Euro International Film (EIA)

Movie Connections:

References Le parfum de la dame en noir (1931)

A true hidden gem

How come this film isn't ranked among the finest European horror movies of all time? Francesco Barilli's "Perfume of the Lady in Black" is one hell of a stylish, elegant and altogether disturbing piece of Italian cinema, that is just as good if not better than the works of Dario Argento. And no, it is NOT a giallo, that is, unless you count Polanski's "The Tenant" a giallo. In the vein of Val Lewton's films of the 40's, "Perfume of the Lady in Black" is a psychological chiller which follows Mismy Farmer, giving a truly outstanding and intense performance, as a young woman who is either a victim of a voodoo cult, or a victim of her own distorted mind. Barilli not only manages to make it visually striking, but also creates an intelligent and creative script that delights itself making questions without always answering them. Unlike most Italian horror films of this period (with the exception of Avati's "The House with Laughing Windows" and Argento's "Deep Red"), this one aged very well, as there are hardly any unintentionally cheesy moments in it, and it's also genuinely frightening. Also, it relies mostly on atmosphere and slow build up than beautiful woman getting offed, even though the ending is particularly gruesome and unbelievably violent (considering there's hardly a drop of blood throughout), being somewhat nausea inducing, as it is sick, depraved and as downbeat as it can get. Nicola Piovani's haunting music score perfectly fits with the film's twisted poetic beauty. Overall, a definite horror classic, that, as I've said before, needs to be talked about more often. 10/10!