The House of the Laughing Windows (1976)
"La casa dalle finestre che ridono" (original title)

The restorer Stefano is hired by the Mayor Solmi of a small village nearby Ferrara to restore a painting of St. Sebastian, made by the mentally disturbed painter Buono Legnani in the local ... See full summary »

Director:

Pupi Avati

Writers:

Antonio Avati (screenplay), Antonio Avati (story),

Stars:

Lino Capolicchio, Francesca Marciano, Gianni Cavina

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lino Capolicchio	...	Stefano
Francesca Marciano	...	Francesca
Gianni Cavina	...	Coppola
Giulio Pizzirani	...	Antonio Mazza
Bob Tonelli	...	Mayor Solmi
Vanna Busoni	...	Teacher
Pietro Brambilla	...	Lidio
Ferdinando Orlandi	...	Police Marshall
Andrea Matteuzzi	...	Poppi
Ines Ciaschetti	...	Concierge
Pina Borione	...	Paraplegic Woman
Flavia Giorgi	...	Poppi's Wife
Arrigo Lucchini	...	Grocer
Carla Astolfi	...	Chambermaid at Boarding House
Luciano Bianchi	...	Franchini the Librarian

Storyline

The restorer Stefano is hired by the Mayor Solmi of a small village nearby Ferrara to restore a painting of St. Sebastian, made by the mentally disturbed painter Buono Legnani in the local church. Stefano was recommended by his friend, Dr. Antonio Mazza, and he learns that Legnani was known as "The Painter of the Agony", since he used to paint near-death people. Further, he was presumed dead many years ago but his body has never been found. Stefano works in the church, where he meets the weirdo Lidio, and he has one night stand with the local nymphomaniac teacher that is leaving the village. Meanwhile Antonio investigates the life of Buono Legnani and tells Stefano that he had found a dark secret about the painter and the villagers. However, Antonio dies before meeting Stefano and the police conclude that he committed suicide. Stefano is intrigued by the mystery surrounds Legnani and decides to investigate more about the deranged painter. However, he in evicted of his hotel room and ...

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Plot Keywords:

painter | love | suicide | painting | deranged | 

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

16 August 1976 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The House of the Laughing Windows

Filming Locations:

Incir De Paolis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

A.M.A. Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

A Gothic horror film made terrifying by a foreboding atmosphere and genuinely surprising revelations in the plot.

The film is not a categorical giallo as it is often suggested as being, but rather it's more of a entry into the Gothic horror canon, with a incredibly strong sense of mystery that keeps the viewer intrigued even when the pacing becomes sluggish. The film is not exploitative (as most giallo films are) but mature, intelligent, and effective. Indeed, there is no nudity and little violence is present as the picture's primary focus is its complex, labyrinthine mystery that truly surprises the viewer with its unexpected turns of the plot. The film is also heavy on atmosphere, artfully directed by the award-winning Pupi Avati (of "The Story of Boys and Girls" and "Incantato" fame), which really intensifies the mystery, making it not only it spellbinding by also horrific and terrifying at times(especially near the end). The debits I perceive is that the narrative is a tad drawn out and some of the characters aren't as developed as one would hope, but the mystery is so good that it's easily to look past all these minor quibbles. Highly recommended to those who liked slow-burning Gothic mysteries such as "Don't look Now".