Bluebeard (1972)

A World War I pilot whom everybody envies as a "ladykiller" actually is one - after he beds the women he's after, he murders them.

Director:

Edward Dmytryk

Writers:

Ennio De Concini (story), Edward Dmytryk (story)

Stars:

Richard Burton, Raquel Welch, Virna Lisi

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Burton	...	Kurt Von Sepper
Raquel Welch	...	The Nun
Virna Lisi	...	The Singer
Nathalie Delon	...	Erika
Marilù Tolo	...	Brigitt
Karin Schubert	...	Greta
Agostina Belli	...	Caroline
Sybil Danning	...	The Prostitute
Joey Heatherton	...	Anne
Edward Meeks	...	Sergio
Doka Bukova	...	Rosa
Jean Lefebvre	...	Greta's Father
Erica Schramm	...	Greta's Mother
Karl-Otto Alberty	...	Von Sepper's Friend (as Karl Otto Alberty)
Kurt Großkurth	...	Von Sepper's Friend (as Kurt Grosskurth)

Storyline

Baron von Sepper is an Austrian aristocrat noted for his blue-toned beard, and his appetite for beautiful wives. His latest spouse, an American beauty named Anne, discovers a vault in his castle that's filled with the frozen bodies of several beautiful women. When confronted with this slight oddity, Bluebeard explains to Anne that he found an easier alternative to divorce when he grew bored with his previous wives. In order to avoid being Bluebeard's next frozen bride, Anne must find a way to outwit her murderous hubby.

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Plot Keywords:

lesbian sex | dysfunctional marriage | suspicion | secret | serial killer | 

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Taglines:

Bluebeard loved all his wives passionately... to death!

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

France Italy West Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Barba Azul

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gloria Film,Barnabé Productions,Geiselgasteig Film

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Elizabeth Taylor celebrated her 40th birthday with a lavish bash while this was filming in Hungary. .

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Guiron (1991)

User Reviews

Unholy matrimony

Richard Burton with his impressive skill and unforgettable voice surely did many more demanding and better roles than Baron Bluebeard. As limited as the role for him may have been, he really seems to make it his own and it's hard to imagine anyone else of his stature at the time quite reach the same result. Maybe Marlon Brando could have been as good or better. As charming, as vulnerable, as ruthless, as big a star and all at the same. I don't know about the box office, but actor and story wise the producer made a good deal.

Poor Richard must have had some hard time with the actresses. All wives the most beautiful actresses around and not too shy. It's a bit shame that the repeating formula in baron's life and in the movie requires to get rid of them so quickly and mostly misses their acting skills leaving only Joey Heatherton linger around longer. Some of these actresses could have even filled in the main role better.

Bluebeard is an old fairy tale and a very cruel one as the original old tales used to be. So, this is a fairy tale for adults. The feeling is increased more by the fabulous castle, imaginative deaths and so forth. But placing the time of the story in the era of Nazi regime (though the marks and symbols used in the film are not genuine) gives it also another dimension. By taking on new wives to only to destroy them because of his own incompetence and false pride Bluebeard can be seen as a symbol of certain powers and what they have done (or are doing) to other countries and people. I'm not sure if the filmmakers really meant it that way, but that's how I see some of it.

If this film is mostly forgotten now, I think it's unjustly so and deserves new viewings. What it might miss in horror or suspense, it wins at least in wickedly dark humor and some tasty acting.