Renowned giallo author Ugo Palffy finds himself in the middle of a creative crisis as he struggles to come up with an idea for his latest novel and, more importantly, get it to his publisher on time. With barely a few hours to go before the deadline and hardly a word written, all hope seems … Continue reading Shiver/Brivido (1941)
Month: October 2020
Skyscrapers/Grattacieli (1943)
During a party held in the attic of a New York skyscraper, one of the drunk guests falls from a balcony onto the street below. Inspector Stoll, however, isn't convinced it was an accident and begins his investigation.
Knock-out (Harlem) (1943)
Filmed at the height of WW2, from late 1942 to early 1943, Carmine Gallone's Harlem is now considered a classic example of propaganda cinema. According to some accounts it was also the highest grossing film of the year. Curiously, the original edit of Harlem contained a number of scenes with an anti-American sentiment which … Continue reading Knock-out (Harlem) (1943)
Short Circuit/Cortocircuito (1943)
Predating Dario Argento's Tenebre by around forty years, Cortocircuito also features a series of murders which appear to have been carried out in the same way as they are described in a popular mystery novel. Although he could possibly be dubbed one of the early pioneers of the Italian giallo, in the traditional 'murder-mystery' sense … Continue reading Short Circuit/Cortocircuito (1943)
The Crime Pages/Cronaca Nera (1947)
Director Giorgio Bianchi started out as an actor during the silent era, starring in over two dozen films from 1929 to 1933. He then spent a number of years working as an assistant director, mostly in collaboration with Amleto Palermi, before going on to become a prolific director of comedies throughout the 1950s and 60s. … Continue reading The Crime Pages/Cronaca Nera (1947)
The Priest’s Hat/Il Cappello da Prete (1944)
Saddled with a string of gambling debts he cannot pay, the Baron of Santafusca is coerced into selling the family estate to a devious loan-shark. Produced by Sandro Ghenzi for Universalia, in association with Cines, The Priest's Hat was filmed in the Cinecittà studios in the summer of 1943 but only received its premiere in … Continue reading The Priest’s Hat/Il Cappello da Prete (1944)
The Opium Den/Fumeria d’Oppio (1947)
Found in possession of some of the victim’s jewelry, a young man is arrested and charged with the murder of an innocent woman who was robbed and killed in broad daylight. Living at the same inn, Za-la-Mort becomes sympathetic to his sister’s passionate pleas and vows to help her clear her brother’s name. While searching … Continue reading The Opium Den/Fumeria d’Oppio (1947)
Double Cross/Il Tradimento (1951)
Manu the Smuggler/Manu il Contrabbandiere (1948)
Lucio De Caro's Manu il Contrabbandiere is a French/Italian co-production from 1948, notable for being shot twice - once in French and once in Italian. The French version, with the title, Les Dessous Des Cartes, is credited to Andrè Cayatte. The cast changes from one version to another although most of the key players remain … Continue reading Manu the Smuggler/Manu il Contrabbandiere (1948)
Smugglers of the Seas/I Contrabbandieri del Mare (1948)
In a small seaside village near Naples they survive not just by fishing, but also by smuggling. Communal fishing motorboats with very powerful engines move in alongside the large ships and collect the precious merchandise thrown into the sea. The coastguard gives merciless chase. Amongst these duty-bound officers is brigadier Carlo who is the most … Continue reading Smugglers of the Seas/I Contrabbandieri del Mare (1948)
One Man and His Droid 
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