Giallo Filmography

This filmography is a work-in-progress attempt to identify the development of the giallo in Italian cinema – from the start of the sound era in 1931 to the early 1980s – utilising the Italian definition of a “giallo” which simply means a mystery or thriller. I must stress that not every film chosen can be considered a giallo in the purest sense – some titles are here simply because they contain elements which are of critical or historical interest.

There are two distinct periods – the first phase leads us right up to the 1960s when thrillers barely got a look-in at the cinema and only a handful were made each year (and usually much less than that). Then there is the second phase which covers the more widely documented, and far more popular giallo boom of the late 1960s and 1970s.

Having spent years (decades even, at this point) attempting to view these early gialli and document them here, this filmography will also incorporate the excellent dictionary/reference book Schermo Giallo (2023) (Guido Colletti, Alessandro Colombo, Emanuele Leotta, Antonella Romaniello, Francesco Tassara & Roberto Zanni) As often happens in my adventures in Italian genre cinema, just when you think you’ve tracked down everything of note, along comes a tome with a whole host of new titles to explore and try and track down – another rabbit-hole, if you will. And there is a LOT more in this book to wade through. All credit to those authors for their investigative work.

The very first giallo (or proto-giallo), as reported by a film critic of the time, is Guido Brignone’s Corte D’Assise, released in 1931.

This is a translation of a review for ‘The Missing Treaty/Il Tratto Scomparso‘ released two years later in 1933.

« The film is undoubtedly superior to the previous two attempts at the giallo genre Corte d’Assise and The Man With the Claw. The entire investigation, for example, up to the discovery of the thief was skilfully executed by Bonnard. (…) The acting is theatrical but effective. » [F. Sacchi / Corriere della Sera / 03/01/1934]

While some films from this period do still remain elusive (notably from the 1930s) thankfully most are available in some form or another – usually surviving via old domestic television recordings passed around amongst giallo aficionados over the decades.

The second part, focusing on the 1960s and beyond, is based almost entirely on Luca Rea’s giallo reference guide I Colori del Buio – with about half a dozen personal additions. As with my approach, Rea’s book also includes films which aren’t necessarily gialli through and through – but still contain something of interest which relates to the genre.

Italian Giallo Filmography

1930

Before the Jury/Corte D’Assise (Guido Brignone)

1931

The White Woman/La Donna Bianca (Jack Salvatori)

The Man With the Claw/L’Uomo d’Artiglio (Nunzio Malasomma)

The Devil’s Lantern/La Lanterna del Diavolo (Carlo Campogalliani)

1933

The 21:15 Train/Il Treno delle 21,15 (Amleto Palermi)

The Haller Case/Il Caso Haller (Alessandro Blasetti)

The Missing Treaty/Il Trattato Scomparso (Mario Bonnard)

1934