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IMDbPro

The Whip and the Body

Original title: La frusta e il corpo
  • 19631963
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 27m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
The Whip and the Body (1963)
The ghost of a sadistic nobleman attempts to rekindle his romance with his terrorized, masochistic former lover, who is unwillingly engaged to his brother.
Play trailer3:24
1 Video
49 Photos
HorrorRomance
The ghost of a sadistic nobleman attempts to rekindle his romance with his terrorized, masochistic former lover, who is unwillingly betrothed to his brother.The ghost of a sadistic nobleman attempts to rekindle his romance with his terrorized, masochistic former lover, who is unwillingly betrothed to his brother.The ghost of a sadistic nobleman attempts to rekindle his romance with his terrorized, masochistic former lover, who is unwillingly betrothed to his brother.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
4.2K
YOUR RATING
    • Mario Bava
    • Ernesto Gastaldi(story and screenplay)
    • Ugo Guerra(story and screenplay)
    • Luciano Martino(story and screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Daliah Lavi
    • Christopher Lee
    • Tony Kendall
    • Mario Bava
    • Ernesto Gastaldi(story and screenplay)
    • Ugo Guerra(story and screenplay)
    • Luciano Martino(story and screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Daliah Lavi
    • Christopher Lee
    • Tony Kendall
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 59User reviews
    • 74Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:24
    Watch Trailer

    Photos49

    Christopher Lee and Daliah Lavi in The Whip and the Body (1963)
    Christopher Lee and Daliah Lavi in The Whip and the Body (1963)
    Christopher Lee and Daliah Lavi in The Whip and the Body (1963)
    Harriet Medin in The Whip and the Body (1963)
    The Whip and the Body (1963)
    Daliah Lavi in The Whip and the Body (1963)
    The Whip and the Body (1963)
    Daliah Lavi in The Whip and the Body (1963)
    Christopher Lee in The Whip and the Body (1963)
    Gustavo De Nardo in The Whip and the Body (1963)
    The Whip and the Body (1963)
    The Whip and the Body (1963)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Daliah Lavi
    Daliah Lavi
    • Nevenka
    Christopher Lee
    Christopher Lee
    • Kurt Menliff
    Tony Kendall
    Tony Kendall
    • Christian Menliff
    Evelyn Stewart
    Evelyn Stewart
    • Katia
    • (as Isli Oberon)
    Harriet Medin
    Harriet Medin
    • Giorgia
    • (as Harriet White)
    Gustavo De Nardo
    Gustavo De Nardo
    • Count Vladimir Menliff
    • (as Dean Ardow)
    Jacques Herlin
    Jacques Herlin
    • Priest
    Luciano Pigozzi
    Luciano Pigozzi
    • Losat
    • (as Alan Collins)
      • Mario Bava
      • Ernesto Gastaldi(story and screenplay)
      • Ugo Guerra(story and screenplay)
      • Luciano Martino(story and screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      This is one of the few European movies that Sir Christopher Lee made without providing his voice for any of its language tracks, as he had returned home to Switzerland by the time shooting wrapped (as a result, he is dubbed in the English version by Dan Sturkie). He would quickly regret not dubbing his voice for this movie, as he considered it to be the best of his European movies, and ensured that he provided his voice for at least the English versions of all of of his later movies.
    • Goofs
      Kurt leaves muddy footprints every time he walks between the house and the crypt yet no one following his footprints ever gets their shoes dirty.
    • Quotes

      Kurt Menliff: [to Nevenka] You haven't changed, I see. You've always loved violence.

    • Alternate versions
      The version on the US DVD 2000 release from VCI Home Video does not include 2 brief shots:
      • A shot of Christopher Lee riding his horse along the beach at the beginning of the film.
      • A fade to black following Nevenka's journey to a window and her scare from hearing a vine snap against the window.
    • Connections
      Featured in Eurotika!: Blood and Black Lace: A Short History of the Italian Horror Film (1999)

    User reviews59

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Mario Bava: I worship thee!
    Irresistible and genuine Gothic scares, combined with atmospheric camera-work and breath-taking scenery… Welcome to yet another visual masterpiece directed by the greatest horror genius of all time: Mario Bava! "The Whip and the Body" isn't the man's most mentioned achievement, it's not even in my personal Bava-top 3 and yet I still rated it a solid 9 out of 10. That should give you somewhat an idea of how excellent his total repertoire in fact is. "The Whip and the Body" is a unique film in many ways, but particularly because of the controversial substance it dared to bring forward. Don't forget that the year of release was 1963 and Mario Bava unscrupulously introduces characters with taboo-fetishes like S & M. The story is terrifically set in the 19th century, where Kurt Menliff returns to his eminent family after being banished for several years. The family's hate towards Kurt's vile behavior is only surpassed by their fear and only the gorgeous Nevenka has a secret desire towards his wicked sexual preferences. In a particularly astonishing sequence, he whips her repeatedly (and roughly...) before continuing with making love. Terror overcomes the Menliff family when Kurt is found murdered in his room and when the tormented Nevenka begins to see his appearance in nearly every chamber of the castle. As it usually is the case in Bava's films, the plot contains quite a few holes and illogical moments, but they're totally forgivable if you acknowledge the intensity and power of the wholesome. Especially praiseworthy is Mario Bava's unequaled talent to turn totally natural things into terrifying atmosphere-elements… Blowing wind, pouring rain, footprints covered in mud...all these ordinary things turn into suspicious omens in the hands of this masterful filmmaker. With his skilled cinematographic eye, Bava perfectly knows how to raise an unbearable tension that grabs you by the neck immediately and it doesn't let go until the very last scene fades away. All the other typical Bava-trademarks are clearly present as well, namely an authentically creepy score, a minimum of stylish gore (burning, rotting corpses!!) and – last but not least – a stunning use of color shades. Mario plays with colors like he invented them and this emphasizes the spook-effect even more. "The Whip and the Body" is a more than just a shocking horror film. It's an offbeat love-story, a Gothic poem AND an unsettling horror tale all in one! If you love beautiful cinema, don't miss "The Whip and the Body".
    helpful•37
    9
    • Coventry
    • Jun 7, 2005

    Details

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    • Release date
      • December 10, 1965 (United States)
      • Italy
      • France
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Tor Caldara, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Vox Films S.p.a.
      • Leone Film
      • Francinor
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 27 minutes
      • Mono

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