The Long Hair of Death (1965)

In a 15th-century feudal village, a woman is accused of witchcraft and put to death. Her beautiful older daughter knows the real reason for the execution lies in the lord's sexual desire ... See full summary »

Director:

Antonio Margheriti (as Anthony Dawson)

Writers:

Ernesto Gastaldi (story) (as Julian Berry), Tonino Valerii (screenplay) (as Robert Bohr)

Stars:

Barbara Steele, George Ardisson, Halina Zalewska

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Barbara Steele	...	Helen Karnstein / Mary Karnstein
George Ardisson	...	Baron Kurt Humboldt
Halina Zalewska	...	Lisabeth Karnstein
Umberto Raho	...	Von Klage, prete (as Robert Rains)
Laura Nucci	...	Grumalda (as Laureen Nuyen)
Giuliano Raffaelli	...	Count Humboldt (as Jean Rafferty)
Nello Pazzafini	...	Monk, servante (as John Carey)
Jeffrey Darcey	...	Embougr, messaggero

Storyline

In a 15th-century feudal village, a woman is accused of witchcraft and put to death. Her beautiful older daughter knows the real reason for the execution lies in the lord's sexual desire for her mother. After confronting the lord on the matter, she, too, is killed. A much younger daughter is spared and taken in by her mother's killers. Once she is of age, as a horrible, deadly plague sweeps the land, she marries the lord's worthless son. Then, during a brutal thunderstorm, the older daughter mysteriously reappears and begins to avenge her mother's death.

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Plot Keywords:

giallo | supernatural power | psychotronic film | witchcraft | execution | 

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

30 April 1965 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Long Hair of Death

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinegai S.p.A.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Why Horror? (2014)

User Reviews

Gripping but Lots of Wasted Space

I've just recently discovered the Italian horror film. This one is pretty decent. I could have been much improved with a little effort at editing. Everything is set up nicely for revenge. You have the evil of witch burning as an innocent victim is set afire. She curses the people who put her there and we all know she'll be back. Nasty stuff begins to happen in the dukedom as the plague begins to decimate the population. The bad guys prosper pretty well, isolated from the rest of the rabble, but then a young woman (Barbaba Steele) returns. To keep her quiet, the patriarch of the castle pushed her off a cliff. She comes back to help her sister who has been forced into an ugly marriage with the young master. There are a series of efforts to kill this woman and things come to a satisfactory ending for the audience. The problem is the pacing. It drags on and on. There are these meandering trips through the castle, seemingly going nowhere. The whole effort to cover up a murder seems so convoluted. Let's just say there are simpler ways to go about these things, especially when you wield a lot of power. Still, I mostly liked it. Visually it is interesting and the acting is quite good.