The Fifth Cord

Giornata nera per l'ariete

Italy

1971

90 Min

Color

1.85:1

Italian

Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
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SCR Luigi Bazzoni, David McDonald Devine, Mario di Nardo, Mario Fanelli

CAST Franco Nero, Silvia Monti, Wolfgang Preiss, Ira von Fürstenberg, Edmund Purdom, Rossella Falk, Renato Romano

“I am going to commit murder,” intones the faceless killer. “I can imagine the thrill and pleasure I will experience as I stalk my victim. There must be no mistakes!” But when four trendy socialites are brutally murdered, an alcoholic reporter (a terrific performance by Franco Nero) begins to unravel a twisted trail of clues. Can this desperate journalist stop a depraved psychopath before he himself becomes the fifth victim?

The Fifth Cord has it all: kinky sex, shocking violence, stunning cinematography by Oscar winner Vittorio Storaro (Bird with the Crystal Plummage, Apocalypse Now), a classic score by Ennio Morricone, and much more. Pamela Tiffin (The Pleasure Seekers), Silvia Monti (Lizard in a Woman’s Skin), Edmund Purdom (Pieces), Agostina Belli (Revolver) and Ira von Furstenberg (5 Dolls for an August Moon) co-star in this superior giallo directed by Luigi Bazzoni. –Blue Underground

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Matt Burgess

21May12

Even though the plotting tends to get tedious and unsatisfying in places, this is one of the most exquisitely shot giallos ever - the attention to architecture and space alone is fucking awe-inspiring. And we actually get an interesting and fleshed out male protagonist (a rarity in the genre usually populated by empty and undeveloped anti-heroes) with Franco Nero's flawed, alcoholic journalist turned investigator

Mr. Arkadin

12May12

One of the most gorgeously shot and composed gialli I've ever seen (the opening credit sequence, with that slightly surreal, slightly creepy shot of the dancing couple looking over each other's shoulders to stare toward the camera, the eerie quality of their embrace [not to mention their eyes], really blew me away). The story and performances, though, don't quite achieve the same heights as the visuals. Still solid.

HKFanatic likes this

Simon James Constable

6Jan12

I reckon Argento got the idea for his nursery rhyme song preceding a murder in Deep Red from a bit near the end of this film.

HKFanatic

22Aug11

Franco Nero ("Django") in a giallo is reason enough to watch this film, but you add cinematography by future Oscar winner Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now, Last Tango in Paris, Dick Tracy) and a score by Ennio Morricone and suddenly you need to see this, right?

Mr. Arkadin likes this