Black Belly of the Tarantula (1971)

Inspector Tellini investigates serial crimes where victims are paralyzed while having their bellies ripped open with a sharp knife, much in the same way tarantulas are killed by the black ... See full summary »

Director:

Paolo Cavara

Writers:

Marcello Danon (story), Lucile Laks (screenplay)

Stars:

Giancarlo Giannini, Claudine Auger, Barbara Bouchet

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Giancarlo Giannini	...	Inspector Tellini
Claudine Auger	...	Laura
Barbara Bouchet	...	Maria Zani
Rossella Falk	...	Franca Valentino
Silvano Tranquilli	...	Paolo Zani
Annabella Incontrera	...	Mirta Ricci
Ezio Marano	...	Masseur
Barbara Bach	...	Jenny
Stefania Sandrelli	...	Anna Tellini
Giancarlo Prete	...	Mario
Anna Saia	...	Maria's friend
Eugene Walter	...	Ginetto, the waiter (as Walter Eugene)
Nino Vingelli	...	Inspector Di Giacomo
Daniele Dublino	...	Entomologist
Giuseppe Fortis	...	Psychiatrist

Storyline

Inspector Tellini investigates serial crimes where victims are paralyzed while having their bellies ripped open with a sharp knife, much in the same way tarantulas are killed by the black wasp. As suspects keep dying, Inspector directs his attention to a spa all the victims had a connection with.

---

Plot Keywords:

tarantula | dysfunctional marriage | female nudity | mysterious killer | woman in jeopardy | 

---

Taglines:

With needles dipped in deadly venom the victims are paralyzed - so they must lie awake and watch themselves die!

---

Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

---

Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

9 June 1972 (USA)

Also Known As:

Black Belly of the Tarantula

Company Credits

Production Co:

Da Ma Produzione, P.A.C.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min 98 min (uncut)

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The shot where a man falls to his death from a building featured a falling mannequin. However, it strikes a window and breaks it during the plunge, which was an unintentional fluke. The blunder remains in the film.

---

Goofs

Crew member visible in second victim's clothes shop.

---

Connections

Referenced in The Editor (2014)

User Reviews

The Naked Belly of the Bond Girl

(Potential Spoilers)

If you dig naked Bond girls, overripe Ennio Morricone scores, and ridiculous giallo plots with garishly masked killers murdering half-dressed bimbinas in ridiculously elaborate ways, The Black Belly of the Tarantula is for you. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to currently be available in English (I saw an Italian-language version with Spanish subtitles). Still nobody watches these movies for the dialogue, and the plot still makes no sense even if you can more or less understand what's being said on screen. Besides, most gialli fans won't concern themselves too much with the plot or dialogue after the opening scene with a buck naked Barbara Bouchet. The only real complaint I had is that the killer turns out to be the most obvious red herring character in the movie. The point of having an obvious red herring character is that he or she is NOT supposed to actually be the killer. (I can't decide if the movie is especially inept or ham-handedly subversive). But did I mention the opening scene. . ?