The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)

An American expatriate in Rome witnesses an attempted murder. He learns later that it's connected to an ongoing murder spree in the city, and decides to do his own investigation, despite being personally targeted by the killer.

Director:

Dario Argento

Writer:

Dario Argento

Stars:

Tony Musante, Suzy Kendall, Enrico Maria Salerno

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tony Musante	...	Sam Dalmas
Suzy Kendall	...	Julia
Enrico Maria Salerno	...	Inspector Morosini
Eva Renzi	...	Monica Ranieri
Umberto Raho	...	Alberto Ranieri
Renato Romano	...	Professor Carlo Dover (as Raf Valenti)
Giuseppe Castellano	...	Monti
Mario Adorf	...	Berto Consalvi
Pino Patti	...	Faiena
Gildo Di Marco	...	Garullo
Rosita Torosh	...	4th Victim (as Rosa Toros)
Omar Bonaro	...	Police Detective
Fulvio Mingozzi	...	Police Detective
Werner Peters	...	Antique Dealer
Karen Valenti	...	Tina, 5th Victim

Storyline

In Italy, the American writer Sam Dalmas witnesses an attempt of murder of the owner of an art gallery, Monica Ranieri, a couple of days before returning home. Inspector Morosini, who is in charge of investigating the three previous murderers of the serial-killer, asks for help to Dalmas and takes his passport. Dalmas decides to stay with his girlfriend Julia and to help the police in the investigation. The killer threatens Dalmas and Julia by phone and the police overhears a strange noise in the tape. Soon the serial killer stalks Julia and Damas. Who might be the killer?

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Plot Keywords:

serial killer | mysterious villain | mysterious stranger | american in italy | girlfriend | 

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Taglines:

A stunning portrait in psycho-terror!

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

Italy West Germany

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

12 June 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Point of Terror

Filming Locations:

Via Pietro da Cortona 28, Roma, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Seda Spettacoli, Central Cinema Company Film (CCC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Entertainment Weekly ranked this Number Seven on their "Guilty Pleasures: Testosterone Edition" list in their March 30, 2007 issue.

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Goofs

The rare Siberian bird from which the title of the film comes from is actually a Crowned Crane native to Africa.

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Quotes

Sam Dalmas: Why did you wall up your house?
Berto Consalvi: To keep out the busybodies!

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Alternate Versions

When inspector Morosini meets Sam at the hospital after he's escaped from the hired killer, he asks him if he could recognize him. In the US version he says he couldn't, explaining he didn't see his face clearly; in the Italian version he says yes because "You don't easily forget a face like that"

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Connections

Version of Screaming Mimi (1958)

User Reviews

Argento makes a name for himself with this slickly directed Giallo.

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970) was the film that made Argento a european sensation. His murder/mystery T.B.W.T.C.P. was hailed as a success and made him a star. This tense film is about a american who's caught up in a mysterious murder case. He decides to play Sherlock Holmes and find out who did it. A cool soundtrack, nifty direction and camera work makes this one and interesting watch. Recommended for Giallo fans and admirers of Dario Argento.

A

P.S. Watch out for people in brown raincoats who are armed with shiny cutlery!