Product Description: Studio: Wea-des Moines Video Release Date: 10/25/2005 Run time: 96 minutes
Amazon.com: Dario Argento takes sole writing credit for his directorial debut but The Bird with the Crystal Plumage is actually an unofficial adaptation of Fredric Brown's novel The Screaming Mimi. Sam Dalmas (Tony Musante), an American novelist in Italy, is a helpless spectator to a vicious attack in an art gallery. Initially a suspect, Sam becomes the key witness to the attempted murder, the fourth in a month but the first survived by the victim. Something about the attack haunts him and so he launches his own investigation as the murders continue, the killer finally turning on Sam. Argento exhibits a sure hand in his first film, creating an easy to follow thriller spiced with tightly choreographed murder scenes and leavened with character humor (his colorful cast includes a genial stuttering pimp and an eccentric artist who lives in a house with no doors). But it's his gift for arresting images and cinematic inventiveness that gives this thriller its edge, from the opening murder where Sam impotently watches the bleeding victim while trapped in a veritable glass cage to the killer's naked eye peering through a peephole at Sam's girlfriend (Suzy Kendall) as she hysterically searches for an escape from the killer's pounding attempts to break into her apartment. Future Oscar winner Vittorio Storaro shot the film and Ennio Morricone provides an unusual, often eerie score arranged for human voices. While less baroque than Argento's later work, it's a fine first film and a standout in the giallo genre. --Sean Axmaker
Mixed Feelings About This Blu Bird ^ OK, first off, this is a review of the Blue Underground Blu-Ray edition of Bird With the Crystal Plumage. I was excited when I heard that Blue Underground -- a company with a great track record for releasing quality discs of obscure, Euro horror/cult/genre films -- was getting into the HD biz. But after checking out this title in Blu Ray, as well as a few of the company's other titles in HiDef...I gotta say I'm a little underwhelmed. If you've never seen Argento's ground-breaking Bird, then by all means, get this Blu disc. First off, it's cheaper than the SD release and if you rent this off Netflix, you're bound to get a low-quality, non-anamorphic transfer. But for those hard core fans who've already plunked down the cash on the 2-disc special edition, I'd recommend against a double dip. The enhanced bit rate doesn't really reveal any more depth or detail than the previous BU release and although the sound is marginally better and there are a few other extras including a commentary track with the ubiquitous Kim Newman, I can't say it's really worth it. I'm hoping that BU will up the ante with their upcoming Django BD.
For fans of Italian cinema and of crime phenomena ...worth it. ^ L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage) (1970) will attact fans of Italian cinema, in general, and viewers fascinated by crime phenomena that affects each and every society, particularly.
The story that will send chills down the spine of viewers a few times, with the added special effects that, although minimal, are completely effective, from their subtle use. In addition, several outstandingly lovely and charming women are featured, coupled with a consistent "style" from start to finish. This involves individuals of the upper or wealthy classes, men and women, surrounded by art, sculptures, paintings, beautifully furnished large homes, with the protagonists geared in elegant clothes.
As a viewer having visited Portugal and Spain, so much of what is filmed in Italy feels intensely real, such as the streets, the automobiles (Fiat, Alpha Romeu, etc), the architecture of the buildings and streets, the cobble stone pavements, the windows, the large contrast between of city to rural when they're not very distant from one another. Even the exact design of the ladders shown on film, (that are cut unprocessed direct from trees) are seen quite often in Europe vs. plastic or aluminum imports lately.
The pacing of the action is entirely successful, and the surprise twisted ending is a totally unexpected, and powerful, as a kind of horror climax, done to perfection.
The acting is campy, friendly and collegial, featuring above all a book author and writer, played by Tony Musante, and the police detective accomplishing his duties, with Enrico Salerno.
That said, the movie would have had an even greater impact, had the soundtrack and transfer from film to DVD been done at least 5 times better. There was no effort by the Director in capturing live audio from the actors during the scenes, having chosen instead a complete dialog overdub done afterwards, albeit by the original Italian actors. The inconsistency is perceptible but not a major distraction.
In terms of the soundtrack, it's a split decision by the jury, considering the frequent unexplained and annoying use of a mantra or chant from hippies used randomly, over the course of the film, by Ennio Morricone. In other moments, the choices are acceptable, and appropriate and even "modern" such as the muted horn, Miles-David fusion style, etc.
The DVD release is letterbox, 16 x 9, which is great, yet the transfer seems to be timid on color, and resolution, unlike some other transfers I've seen, (ie. the outstanding ones from Enzo G Castellari.)
In sum, the film adheres to a special police-detective style that it either created or wanted to target in terms of viewer niche. It's reminiscent of Damiano Damiani's The Most Beautiful Wife, or How to Kill a Judge, for example, in terms of editing and montage. Worth the rental or buy.
Excellent release. ^ A great genre pick, this Giallo typifies what would become the standard for Argento's work in the late 1970's and 1980's.
Great twists, interesting characters and beautiful music and colors. A must-own for fans.
off to a flying start . . . ^ Stylishly shot, with suspenseful plot twists, multiple murders, and oddball characters, The Bird With the Crystal Plumage (1970), is the directorial debut, of Italian horror specialist Dario Argento (Susperia).
The giallo is set in Rome, where a serial killer is suspected in the deaths of several women. American author Sam Dalmas (Tony Musante), is passing by and art gallery, when he sees a woman stabbed by a mysterious figure with a coat and hat. Wounded but alive, Monica Ranieri (Eva Renzi), is the wife of the gallery's owner. Sam cooperates with Police Inspector Morosini (Enrico Maria Salerno), who is convinced that the American knows something that can help solve the case. After he nearly gets his head smashed in, Sam begins to actively investigate, with the help of his girlfriend Julia (Suzy Kendall). An eerie painting provides a clue to the killer, who continues to slice and dice. As Sam and Julia get more deeply involved, the level of danger becomes more acute.
Employing some unusual camera angles, and creative editing with mostly implied gore, Dario Argento weaves a fairly complex tale, that holds together pretty well, although how the killer accomplishes some rather remarkable tasks is not explained. Comparisons to Hitchcock may be a bit of a reach, as the "Master of Suspense's" style was very different, and did not rely on continuous violence, or contrived terror. This is still a very strong start for Argento, and first of his so called "animal trilogy", which also includes the films Cat O'Nine Tails (1971), and Four Flies on Grey Velvet (1971).
Some gialli do not quite live up to the hype, but if you are new to the genre, The Bird With the Crystal Plumage is a good place to start. While there are some gray areas, it is overall a well executed thriller, with the requisite twist ending. Ennio Morricone's unnerving, "la la la" soundtrack, adds a chilly atmosphere to the proceedings, and isolated and available as a bonus feature.
Argento classic on Blu-ray at last. ^ After Blue Underground's dreadful release of Stendhal Syndrome they needed to up the ante with this one. What we get is a very nice print of Argento's directorial debut, the colours are particularly vibrant and whilst not as pristine as some Blu-ray releases, the picture quality is an improvement on the older dvd releases of this title.
The movie itself is a classic example of the giallo movie. Based on the novel The Screaming Mimi by Edgar Wallace, Argento treats us to one of the most impressive debuts ever committed to celluloid, and one of my personal favourite giallos. Argento is often accused of being committed purely to style, and whilst his movies are among the most stylish and beautifully shot, there is also a great deal more substance to his work than he is credited with.
This disc is naturally highly recommended to fans of Dario Argento, but also to fans of the giallo and quality European cinema in general.
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