The Sensuous Doll (1972) User Reviews

Unfairly overlooked and unusual giallo

[Andreas_W333 · 6/10 · 4 August 2021]

A depressed and alcoholic painter develops a relationship with a doll - does it come to life or are we watching something completely different unfold?

Farley Granger (who at this point did four memorable giallo thrillers in two years time - Something is creeping in the dark, Amuck, So sweet so dead and this one) stars alongside Krista Nell, Erika Blanc and other great stars from this period. This one is a surreal and odd film that to this day doesn't have a release worthy the film. I had an old American VHS release (really looking like something you'd rent in the adult movie department) before I upgraded to the Retromedia DVD (Eurofiends from beyond the grave) which is a raw transfer from what I presume would be a french or canadian negative and squeezed onto the same disc with the the movie Satanik so the resolution is not the best, but ok. Still I would love to see this movie in high definition as it actually is a better movie than many others in the genre but the current editions doesn't do the film justice. Also worth noting, this movie was released in a hardcore (inserts) version in europe, although I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Really, hope to see Vinegar Syndrome pick this one up for their Forgotten Giallo series, and give it the treatment it deserves. 6/10 on my giallo scale.

Weird but interesting

[BandSAboutMovies · 5/10 · 12 September 2021]

Also known as The Sensuous Doll and Sweet Spirits (or in Italy, La rossa dalla pelle che scotta AKA The Redhead with Hot Skin), this one is...well, I don't even know if I'd call it a giallo. I'd actually say that it has to fit in there because what else would you call it? A mannequin movie?

Farley Granger is John Ward, a starving - and drunken - artist who transforms a faceless mannequin that he gets from a gaggle of hippies (is that the right word for a group of them?) into a work of art that eventually becomes a real living and breathing woman that he starts to abuse, so she starts sleeping around. Seeing as how that woman is Erika Blanc, you can see how much I hate our protagonist.

Of course, by the end, he's offering up his soul for one more night in her bed. So is this a supernatural film? Whatever it is, it's way darker than the 80s would make a mannequin film. Or two on the move.

Do you think Farley Granger muttered to director Renzo Russo (The Kinky Darlings), "You know, I deserve better than this. I was in two Hitchcock movies!"? I'm sure that Erika Bella was like, "Yeah? I was in The Devil's Nightmare and A Man for Emmanuelle! So there!"

I'd like to think so.

Strange, but definitely worth a look

[lazarillo · 15 December 2005]

If you are a fan of Eurostarlet Erica Blanc, you will probably enjoy this movie in which Blanc plays a role very similar to the sexy succubus she played in "The Devil's Nightmare". Blanc plays an artist's mannequin come to life who starts out as a mute fantasy figure but soon turns into nightmarish femme fatale who tortures the artist with her increasingly blatant infidelities. The movie kind of reminded me of the later (and, of course somewhat better) Roman Polanski film "Bitter Moon" where a beautiful woman starts out as subservient to a shallow cad, but soon gains the upper hand to the point that you actually start to feel sorry for the guy.

The narrative is the typical Italian nonsense of the period where you're never sure if what is happening is real, supernatural, or a complete figment of the protagonist's imagination. Second-string Eurobabe Krista Nell is in the confusing prologue for some reason (only long enough to get naked, but I'm sure no one will complain). Blanc takes off her clothes a lot too, but compared to modern-day "erotic thrillers" (which it sometimes vaguely resembles)this movie is pretty tame. Unlike that garbage, however, this one does hold your interest beyond just the prurient, and even badly-dubbed, Erica Blanc and the male lead, American-expatriate Farley Granger, act circles around the performers of more modern-day erotic fare. This is pretty strange but worth seeing if you get a chance.

The Red Headed Corpse:The Uncut 82 Minute Version.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 7/10 · 24 October 2014]

Gathering up a number of Gialli DVDs to watch for the IMDb's Horror board's October Challenge,I suddenly heard 1 of the DVDs shaking around like crazy.Checking each of the DVD,I began to fear that it would be unplayable,due to how many dents it was covered in.Placing the disc in the player,I was relived to discover that the DVD was playable,which led to me getting ready to uncover the red headed corpse.

The plot:

Struggling to find any inspiration,a small time artist called John Ward pays a visit to a group of hippies partying in a park,who give Ward a large broken doll in response to Ward's request for inspiration.Returning to his house,Ward discovers that he has brought back more than he bargained for,when the doll transforms into a beautiful woman.Delighted at uncovering a new desire for painting which he never had before,Ward finds himself beginning to question his own sanity,when the doll starts to bring back subconscious memories over Ward's 'troubled' relationship with his former wife.

View on the film:

For the uncut version of the title,writer/director Renzo Russo includes about 15 minutes of sex scenes,which along with having an alluring appearance,also give the movie an excellent,disjointed dream-like atmosphere,thanks to Russo inserting the scenes at moments which make the viewer unsure over the full 'reality' of the scenes.Along with the disjointed sex scenes,the screenplay by Russo brilliantly unravel Ward's mind at a slick pace,with Ward's easy- going life slowly being peeled away to reveal the Giallo darkness hidden within.

Looking gorgeous as the 'perfect' doll and in the films steamier scenes,Erika Blanc gives an excellent performance as the doll,with Blanc showing the doll's behaviour to change from the emotions which Ward showers upon it.Finding himself attempting to get to grips with the doll,Farley Granger gives an excellent,scrambled performance as Ward,with Granger showing Ward's mind to become very fragile,as he sets his sights on the red headed corpse.

I really enjoyed it.

[christopher-underwood · 7/10 · 14 October 2013]

My own copy of this boasts a wonderful box front depicting Farley Granger and Erika Blanc, the one currently shown here, was, I believe the video box and is terrible. So having reviewed the box what about the film! I really enjoyed it. I didn't really think all the, is she real, did she really, is it in his head, business really worked, although it was novel that the person who maybe crazy was not Carol Baker but the guy, Farley Granger.

I don't really rate Granger either so, on the face of it, my score looks rather high. Thing is Erika Blanc is on top form, seducing anything that moves and slipping out of one fantastic costume after another. Soundtrack is also fine, sweet sub Morricone and typical for the period. This is not a top notch giallo but if you love this sort of thing or Blanc or both then it is unmissable.

Confusing; but stylish and interesting

[The_Void · 7/10 · 1 September 2009]

I saw The Red-Headed Corpse because somewhere down the line I'd heard it was a Giallo. Well, it's Italian and could be described as a thriller; although for me it certainly doesn't tick many of the 'Giallo' boxes. However, it's an interesting and surreal film that I would certainly rate as worth a look. The film plays up the surreal atmosphere as much as possible - and it's one of those where you're never really sure exactly what's going on, and whether what we're seeing is actually happening or just a figment of the lead character's imagination. Luckily, it's all rather interesting. The plot focuses on troubled artist John Ward. He's an alcoholic and suffering in the wallet department because nobody will buy his paintings. He meets a drifter in a park one night who gives him a mannequin (err...naturally?). John takes the mannequin home, and it promptly takes on a life of its own; in the sexy form of Erika Blanc, who proceeds to take over John's meagre life.

Erika Blanc is clearly the best thing about the film. The actress takes on the seductive central role and does really well with it. She's at her best when getting her claws into the various male members of the cast, and that happens often. However, I'm not sure if the version I saw was cut because I didn't see so much as a naked breast from her! (Other than the ones featured in her likeness on canvas). She is joined by Farley Granger, who is at home in his role as an alcoholic artist. The pair shares a good on screen chemistry, and it's their interactions with one another that provide the film with its most interesting moments. It's lucky they are so good too, because the film would have fallen flat on its face if it were forced to rely only on the central plot! It soon becomes clear with regards to the plot that it's easier just to sit back and let the film get on with it, rather than giving yourself a headache trying to work it out. In spite of that, however, this is still a stylish Italian film and I'm sure fans of this stuff will appreciate it.

Intriguing reverse-giallo

[exoticafan · 11 March 2003]

I found this video, used, at a Mom-and-Pop video store in an obscure little town in Oregon (like vinyl and book aquisitions, look for out-of-the-way places). The video box boasted the Private Screenings label, usually known for releasing European and American soft-core features from the 60s and 70s. What interested me was the presence of Erika Blanc and Farley Granger. The box itself boasted an annonymous tart that had no connection with the movie.

What evolves is a (poorly edited) Italian giallo told in basically reverse order. Granger is an alcoholic artist bereft of inspiration, who may (or may not) be visited by a mute beauty borne of a lifeless mannequin (?) Granger had previously been involved with temptress Erika Blanc, and may (or may not) have murdered her. To tell more would reduce the fun quotient. Beware the Private Screenings release if you can. At least two scenes have been cut, and a rearranged sequence throws the narrative out of whack. Still, an interesting find and worth the hunt, especially for fans of Euro-babe Erika Blanc.

"You're Just Like All The Others! A Pig! A Disgusting Pig!"...

[azathothpwiggins · 22 October 2021]

THE SENSUOUS DOLL stars Farley Granger as a drunken painter who, after watching a group of free-loving hippies, is given a "female" mannequin to take home. At first, it's just a mannequin in a red wig. When he starts working on it, he also starts talking to it... a lot!

Lonely? Loony? Both?

Not-too surprisingly, said mannequin becomes a living woman (Erika Blanc), leading to jealousy, suspicion, and death.

This is a very strange movie. It approaches the level of BABA YAGA in its weirdness. While Granger spends most of his screen time looking stunned, Ms. Blanc has never looked or acted better!

Odd, but fun...