Don't Look Now (1973)

A married couple grieving the recent death of their young daughter are in Venice when they encounter two elderly sisters, one of whom is psychic and brings a warning from beyond.

Director:

Nicolas Roeg

Writers:

Daphne Du Maurier (story), Allan Scott (screenplay) (as Alan Scott)

Stars:

Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland, Hilary Mason

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 9 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Julie Christie	...	Laura Baxter
Donald Sutherland	...	John Baxter
Hilary Mason	...	Heather
Clelia Matania	...	Wendy
Massimo Serato	...	Bishop Barbarrigo
Renato Scarpa	...	Inspector Longhi
Giorgio Trestini	...	Workman
Leopoldo Trieste	...	Hotel Manager
David Tree	...	Anthony Babbage
Ann Rye	...	Mandy Babbage
Nicholas Salter	...	Johnny Baxter
Sharon Williams	...	Christine Baxter
Bruno Cattaneo	...	Detective Sabbione
Adelina Poerio	...	Dwarf

Storyline

John and Laura Baxter are in Venice when they meet a pair of elderly sisters, one of whom claims to be psychic. She insists that she sees the spirit of the Baxters' daughter, who recently drowned. Laura is intrigued, but John resists the idea. He, however, seems to have his own psychic flashes, seeing their daughter walk the streets in her red cloak, as well as Laura and the sisters on a funeral gondola.

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Plot Keywords:

female frontal nudity | sex scene | giallo | pubic hair | dwarf | 

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Taglines:

It's utter MADNESS!

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R16

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is Tim Curry's favorite horror film.

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Goofs

When John climbs the scaffold, the camera follows him from the priest and up to the top of the church and he has gloves on the entire way. However, when the camera briefly switches from him to the workers below and back to him, his gloves are gone and do not return for the rest of the scene.

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Quotes

Heather: One of the things I love about Venice, is that it's so safe for me to walk.
John Baxter: Steps.
Heather: Thank you... The sound changes, you see, as you come to a canal. And the echoes from the walls are so clear... My sister hates it.
John Baxter: That's too bad.
Heather: She says it's like a city in aspic, wrapped over from a dinner party, where all the guests are dead or gone.

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Alternate Versions

The region 1 DVD released by Paramount contains the full love scene which was slightly trimmed for an "R" rating in the U.S.

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Connections

Referenced in Murder Most Horrid: Going Solo (1999)

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Soundtracks

I Colori di Dicembre
(uncredited)
Written by Pino Donaggio and Giorgio Calabrese

User Reviews

Shocking Red December

The Italian title of this Nicolas Roeg's classic is "A Venetian Shocking Red December" yep. I had seen this film dubbed into Italian, years ago. I was taken by the look and the atmosphere I remember being unnerved but I was appalled by the acting, specially Julie Christie's - one of my favorites of all time. Yesterday I saw the film again in its original English version. My goodness, what a difference! The film is even more frightening that I remembered. The atmosphere is asphyxiating. You can actually smell the rotting stench of the most beautiful city in the world. The ending leaves you breathless and the acting, well, listening to the actors real voices is another experience altogether. The pain and sudden burst of hope in Julie Christie is moving, very moving and very unsettling. Sutherland, as usual, is magnificent. The film, other than a solid cult status, remains virtually unknown by the public at large. "Don't Look Now" is a buried treasure that is bound to be re discovered and to all my countrymen, a piece of advise: avoid dubbed movies at all cost.

Details

Country:

UK Italy

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

18 November 1973 (UK)

Also Known As:

Inverno de Sangue em Veneza

Filming Locations:

Calle di Mezzo

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$108,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Casey Productions, Eldorado Films, D.L.N. Ventures Partnership

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1