MY DEAR KILLER

MY DEAR KILLER (aka Mio caro assassino/1971. Director: Tonino Valerii.

Inspector Luca Peretti (George Hilton) is called in when a man named Paradisi (Francesco Di Federico) is beheaded by an excavator machine which he had rented to dig into a swamp. Peretti discovers that Paradisi was an insurance investigator, and had been assigned to a case where a little girl, Stefania, was kidnapped, with dire results. As Peretti tries to learn more about this case, there are a whole series of other killings, with the victims always being somehow involved with the kidnapping even in oblique ways. One teacher is attacked by an assailant wielding a portable saw. Peretti gathers the suspects together and confronts them with a surprise bit of evidence that the child herself was directly responsible for. 

George Hilton investigates

My Dear Killer is a complex, often fascinating giallo that seems a touch far-fetched at times but never goes completely over the edge. George Hilton [The Dark is Death's Friend] is fine as the detective, as is William Berger [The Murder Clinic] as one of the suspects. Both actors appeared in a number of international productions and horror films. Ennio Morricone's musical score is quirky and unnerving and adds much to the film's effectiveness. Director Tonino Valerii stages some sequences quite well and the film is undeniably creepy and suspenseful. Not quite on the Dario Argento level but interesting.

Verdict: Imperfect but effective giallo with some striking sequences and an interesting plot. ***. 

THE SWEET BODY OF DEBORAH

Carroll Baker and Jean Sorel

THE SWEET BODY OF DEBORAH (aka il dolce corpo di Deborah/1968). Director: Romolo Guerrieri. 

Deborah (Carroll Baker) marries handsome Marcel (Jean Sorel) after only knowing him a few weeks. Marcel had been practically engaged to a woman named Suzanne (Ida Galli) who committed suicide when he left her. Visiting his hometown, Marcel sees signs that his former lover is either still alive or someone is trying to make it look that way. Deborah begins to receive unsettling phone calls and fears for her life. Then there's the angry Phillip (Luigi Pistilli of A White Dress for Mariale), who was in love with Suzanne and is furious at the way Marcel treated her. After Deborah and Marcel rent a truly fabulous house, they run into their neighbor, Robert Simack (George Hilton of The Dark is Death's Friend), who seems to have his own agenda. But then maybe everyone in this movie does -- a sinister plot eventually unfolds ... 

Jean Sorel

The Sweet Body of Deborah is a smooth if minor bit of romantic suspense that has some plot similarities to, of all things, Midnight Lace with Doris Day. Baker is so beautiful, and her character seems so completely appealing,  that it's a wonder anyone would think all she had going for her was her money. As usual Baker and Sorel make a good and sexy team; the couple also appeared together in Paranoia. Galli, Hilton and Pistilli all appeared together in The Case of the Scorpion's Tale. 

Verdict: Reasonably absorbing Italian mystery with an attractive cast. **3/4. 

THE CASE OF THE SCORPION'S TAIL

George Hilton

THE CASE OF THE SCORPION'S TAIL (aka La coda dello scorpione/1971). Director: Sergio Martino. 

Lisa Baumer (Ida Galli) discovers that her wealthy husband has died in a plane crash, and flies from London to Athens to claim a one million dollar insurance policy. Insurance investigator Peter Lynch (George Hilton) rescues her when her late husband's former mistress, Lara (Janine Reynaud), and a hulking associate, threaten her it she doesn't turn over half the money. Peter is confused to learn that Lisa cashed the insurance check and has booked a flight out of the country. Meanwhile a figure in a black mask, outfit and gloves, is attacking assorted people involved in the case with knives. Peter teams up with reporter Cleo Dupont (Anita Strindberg) to get to the bottom of things. 

Anita Strindberg

The Case of the Scorpion's Tail is a pleasant surprise, one of the few giallo films that has a truly interesting and twisty plot along with a few surprises. In that way it reminds one of a Dario Argento film except for the fact that Sergio Martino's direction is nowhere near as stylish as Argento's. However, there are still some good scenes in this, such as a suspenseful attack upon Lara in her gothic-like townhouse, and an exciting finale that reveals the true perpetrator. George Hilton, an attractive actor from Uruguay who appeared in a number of giallo films such as The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh, gives a strong performance, as does the quite beautiful Swedish actress Anita Strindberg, as well as Reynaud as the bitchy Lara, Luigi Pistilli as Inspector Stavros, Alberto de Mendoza as an Interpol agent; and others. The title has to do with a pair of cufflinks found at a crime scene. If this movie only had somewhat better characterization and a much better musical score, it really would have been a contender, but it's quite entertaining as it is. NOTE: Not to be confused with The Night of the Scorpion or The Black Scorpion!

Verdict: Superior giallo. ***.  

THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDJ

George Hilton and Edwige Fenech

THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDJ (aka Lo strano vizio della Signora Wardh/1971). Director: Sergio Martino. 

In order to get away from her abusive lover, Jean (Ivan Rassimov), Julie  (Edwige Fenech) married her more pliable husband, Neil Wardh (Alberto de Mendoza), first secretary at the American embassy. Jean is still pursuing her when she meets the cousin, George (George Hilton), of her friend Carol (Conchita Airoldi), and with some initial reluctance begins an affair with him. Meanwhile a mad razor slasher is running around the city of Venice where they all live, brutally murdering young women. The latest victim, who went to a park to confront a man blackmailing Julie over her affair, is Carol. Unable to deal with it all, Julie runs off to Spain with George, where her final fate awaits her ... 

the underground garage sequence

The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardj is better-known in shortened versions under the titles Next! or Next Victim! or Blade of the Ripper. Although listed on imdb.com as being 81 minutes long, Strange Vice actually runs 97 minutes (and could have used a little trimming frankly). Still, it's an intriguing giallo film under any title. There is a terrific sequence in an underground parking garage where the killer pursues Julie, and another suspenseful sequence in the gardens of the Schonbrunn Palace. And, of course, the umpteenth shower murder sequence, although this is not done with much elan. Sergio Martino's direction is adequate but not exactly stylish. 

Ivan Rassimov

Edwige Fenech, who made a career starring in movies like this and stripping to her birthday suit at the drop of a hat, is adequate as the unsympathetic heroine, but she was never hired for her acting skills. Born in Uruguay, George Hilton has a certain presence and appeared in a large number of foreign productions, as did Ivan Rassimov, who was actually born in Italy. He was also in Planet of the Vampires. Sergio Martino also directed Torso. 

Verdict: A twisty and unpredictable script will keep you guessing. ***.  

THE DARK IS DEATH'S FRIEND

Devil's deal: George Hilton; Antoine Saint-John

THE DARK IS DEATH'S FRIEND (aka L'assassino e costretto ad uccidere ancora/1975). Director: Luigi Cozzi. 

Giorgio (George Hilton) has started to realize that it is getting more difficult to control his wealthy, suspicious wife, Norma (Terre Velazquez). One evening Giorgio happens upon a strange man (Antoine Saint-John) as the latter is disposing of the body of his latest blond victim. Giorgio offers the stranger a large of sum of money if he will make Norma the man's next victim. The stranger accepts the offer, but after he puts Norma's body in the trunk of his car, he discovers a young couple, Luca (Alessio Orano) and Laura (Cristina Galbo), have driven off in  his mercedes! 

Alessio Orano and Cristina Galbo

The Dark is Death's Friend begins so well, with an excellent initial premise, but then pretty much collapses into tedium. Most of the film is actually taken up with the uninteresting antics of Luca and Laura as they make their way in the stolen car to the seashore and break into an empty villa. The stranger follows them to this house. A blond that Luca picks up when he goes to get food is savagely stabbed to death by the stranger, a brief spurt of action. The picture simply has no urgency and very little suspense. One plus is that the dubbing is not only very well done, but the voices have been chosen with great appropriateness, aside from Laura, whose nattering becomes very annoying. Nando de Luca has written effective credit music, but the rest of the score is very uneven. French actor Antoine Saint-John has a very distinctive presence and gives the best performance. 

Verdict: Starts well, then becomes routine. **.