Tenebre.
Don’t Torture a Duckling was my introduction to the genre and remains it’s peak, in my mind.
Deep Red.
As an incidental aside, Lawrence, the correct plural of giallo is gialli.
Torso, by Sergio Martino
More gratuitous TNA than you can shake a stick at.
BLACK BELLY OF THE TARANTULA, DEEP RED, BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, SEVEN DEATHS IN A CATS EYE, OPERA, CASE OF THE SCORPION’S TAIL,
There’s dispute over Suspiria which I would call the most beautiful and non-sensical. Death Laid An Egg is probably my favorite all around, though. Lunacy, that film.
Speaking of Death Laid An Egg. The Frightened Woman is also pretty insane.
Sorry, I couldn’t get the hyperlinks to work. Here’s the sloppy URL
http://zombiedom.blogspot.com/2009/03/thin-line-between-laughter-and-fright_19.html
http://zombiedom.blogspot.com/2009/03/giulio-questi-and-chicken-factory.html
dont torture a duckling, four flies on grey velvet, i have been netflixing these all year and cannot get enough.
Similar directors who consistently made terrific films.
Lucio Fulci
Dario Argento
Mario Bava
Eddie Romero
Umberto Lenzi
Herschell Gordon Lewis
Blue Undergound is an above-average distributor of Giallo and other cult pictures.
Here are two of my favs that Blue Underground has resurrected and put out on the market:
Black Belly of the Tarantula
http://cinemauprising.blogspot.com/2009/02/gooey-giallo-black-belly-of-tarantula.html
The Pyjama Girl Case
http://cinemauprising.blogspot.com/2009/03/exploitation-sleaze-pyjama-girl-case.html
Both are gorgeoulsy photographed, yet suitably sleazy as befitting the genre.
Cheers,
Steve
CinemaUprising.Blogspot.com
Ah, Giallo! Moody music, fine sceneries, dedicated policemen and beautiful naked women- what’s not to like?
Black Belly of the Tarantula – got to be among the best, with the cast full of Euro hotties who’s who.
The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh
Tenebre
Profondo Rosso
Bird With the Crystal Plumage
Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I have the Key.
@Noel – I commend you for picking one of my favs – The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh…blood and sex. haha.
and Strip Nude for Your Killer. That is the best title as well.
So far, I’ve only seen Deep Red, Suspiria and Black Sabbath. I loved all of them and I’m really looking forward to seeing more, I need some good recommendations.
There’s a new movement sprung up in Wales- Giallo Gallois. A closely guarded group, serving up a veritable gazpacho of garish gaudy-gore, with gizzards, gullets, gavortings and garrotings aplenty. Beware, these things are not for foolish fainthearts
My fave Italian is Suspiria.
I should have fun with this since giallo films are my favourite kind of cinema. I currently consider Argento’s “The Bird With the Crystal Plumage” to be the greatest giallo of all time, followed very closely by “Profondo Rosso” and eventually “Tenebre” which was lesser in comparison but still great. I don’t consider “Suspiria” a giallo, although it did have elements of gialli; particularly in the death scenes. If I considered it one it would be my number one, without question.
Anything Mario Bava of course!
Suspiria
Tenebre (Argento is amazing!)
What Have you done to Solange?
Can’t we make a new category just called “Your Favorite Flamboyant Giallo Title?”
Some good ones here:
http://www.braineater.com/misc/giallo_intro.html
At any rate, BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE and HOUSE WITH LAUGHING WINDOWS top my list. HWLW isn’t a strict crime thriller, but it’s an excellent example of low-budget and Italian horror.
Was really disappointed by BLOOD AND BLACK LACE, but would love to see a good print or at least a decent DVD of it.
would santa sangre count? its bad ass. otherwise those argentos that others already mentioned…suspiria, deep red, (and i dont think opera gets enough play with argento fans)
New York Ripper by Lucio Fulci (the killer talks like Donald Duck when he kills)
Bird With The Crystal Plumage, Deep Red, Tenebre, Suspiria by Dario Argento
Well, strictly speaking, Santa Sangre might not be considered a giallo film. But it was certainly marketed that way. Dario’s brother Claudio produced it, and the North American trailers emphasized the “Dario Argento Presents” angle.
Haven’t watched it yet, but TENEBRE/UNSANE is in my DVD player, paused on the opening POV of the book and fireplace. This is going to be good.
Beyond all the sterling examples listed, i also rank :
Lizard in a Woman’s Skin — Fulci
All the Colors of the Dark — Martino
What Are Those Strange Drops of Blood Doing On Jennifer’s Body? — Carnimeo
The Fifth Cord — Bazzoni
Joey.
Ernest & Julio
Looks like all the best ones were already named but let me add:
Who Saw Her Die?
Dressed to Kill (might as well be one)
I was going to add Case of the Bloody Iris but I think that might be the same film as What are Those Strange Drops of Blood doing on Jennifer’s Body?
French Sex Murders is not one of the best but it’s, uh, interesting.
Giallo I consider my specialty.
My favourites
1. The Bird With the Crystal Plumage
2. Opera (aka Terror at the Opera, but the uncut version)
3. Blood and Black Lace (one of the pioneers)
4. Deep Red
5. Don’t Torture a Duckling
6. Who Saw Her Die
7. The House With Laughing Windows
8. Black Belly of the Tarantula
9. The Case of the Scorpion’s Tail
10. Bay of Blood (aka Twitch of the Death Nerve)
But there are many others (Tenebre is one, or What Have You Done to Solange) and some other Italian horror films could be there but aren’t really giallos in the true definition of the term like Suspiria, The Beyond, Lisa & the Devil, and so on.
There was something about those films up to the late 80’s that defined pure cinema to me.
Suspiria is one of the best films of the 70s.
For anyone in NYC, Argentos screening at BAM next weekend (FOUR FLIES, SUSPIRIA, INFERNO) all rule. Then SUSPRIA plays again at Anthology the following weekend.
lawrence
If you like Giallo’s.