Trailer

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)

GP   |    |  Horror, Mystery, Thriller

The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970) Poster

An American expatriate in Rome witnesses an attempted murder. He learns later that it's connected to an ongoing murder spree in the city, and decides to do his own investigation, despite being personally targeted by the killer.

7.2/10
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  • Werner Peters in The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
  • Suzy Kendall in The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
  • Suzy Kendall in The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
  • Reggie Nalder in The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
  • Enrico Maria Salerno in The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)
  • Rosita Torosh in The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970)

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Cast & Crew

Top Billed Cast

Director:

Dario Argento

Writer:

Dario Argento
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Awards

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
30 June 2003 | Lechuguilla
10
| Superior Thriller
Ominous music and lush cinematography override a sparse script to create a Jack-the-Ripper type thriller, which is deeply introspective, moody, and haunting.

Indeed, the script can be treacherous if used to try and solve this whodunit puzzle, which is best handled by removing psychological assumptions rather than by piecing together logical clues. Even so, the murder mystery plot is to some extent illogical.

The strength of the film though lies in its suspense, which is almost unbeatable. It rivals any of Hitchcock's works, to which it is repeatedly compared. The scene showing a knife chipping away at a wooden door is reminiscent of, and more frightening than, scenes showing bird beaks chipping away at a farmhouse door in Hitchcock's "The Birds".

I like the film too because it is so nostalgic. The reel-to-reel tape recorder and dozens of other props and visual cues, the references to philosophy and mysticism, the Morricone film score which at times sounds like the film scores from his spaghetti Westerns, all conspire to transport the viewer back to the Age of Aquarius.

The acting is fine. Tony Musante, Suzy Kendall, and Enrico Salerno are perfect for the roles they play.

This is one scary movie. Minor flaws notwithstanding, "The Bird With The Crystal Plumage" is top-notch entertainment for fans of suspense thrillers.

Critic Reviews

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "Hornitus Nevalis" bird species doesn't actually exist. The one seen in the film is played by a Grey Crowned Crane.

Quotes

Inspector Morosini: Right! Bring in the perverts!

Goofs

The rare Siberian bird from which the title of the film comes from is actually a Crowned Crane native to Africa.

Alternate Versions

Originally cut in the US by 20 seconds to achieve a US "G.P." rating with edits to a razor slashing (the Blue Underground DVD is uncut), and this print was then passed without further cuts for its original UK cinema release in 1970 (as "The Gallery Murders"). The film was re-released theatrically in the UK in 1983 (as "The Bird With the Crystal Plumage") and the full print submitted to the BBFC where it received 18 secs of cuts which removed all shots of a knife being traced over a woman on a bed and the slashing/removal of her nightdress and underwear. All video releases plus the 2005 Platinum Media DVD featured the same cut print, though the 2011 Arrow release finally presented the film fully uncut.

Storyline

Plot Summary

Synopsis (WARNING: Spoilers)

Genres

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Details

Release Date:

12 June 1970

Language

Italian

Country of Origin

Italy, West Germany

Filming Locations

Via Pietro da Cortona 28, Roma, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$500,000 (estimated)

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