Blood and Black Lace (1964)

Blood and Black Lace – Sei donne per l’assassino (1964)

French title: Six femmes pour l’assassin

German title: Blutige Seide (Bloody Silk)

“Sei donne per l’assassino” also means “Six Women for the Murderer.”

The Christian Haute Couture fashion house is a den of models, dirty tricks, blackmail, drug trafficking… and MURDER.

After establishing a model for giallo with La Fille qui en savait trop/The Girl Who Knew Too Much (1963), Mario Bava set out to consolidate the rules with these lingerie of death. In doing so, he created one of the most influential films ever made, an Italian classic that would launch the giallo genre, provide a prototype for horror films, and have a considerable impact on filmmakers as diverse as Dario Argento and Martin Scorsese. Or, we could say it was the first “Italian thriller,” an intense, almost masterpiece of suspense that anticipated the “Dario Argento” genre… which I’m not crazy about, I admit! But I love this film.

Restored from the original negative and presented in its original, uncut Italian version, there was a double format that allowed fans to rediscover “Blood and Black Lace” and offered newcomers an ideal introduction to a major cult film.

And to think that I saw it sixty-two years after it was made! It just goes to show that it’s never too late.

Countess Christiana runs a successful fashion agency with her managing director Max. Unfortunately, it becomes the scene of a sinister murder.

Several models are murdered within a few days of each other. Inspector Silvestri is put in charge of the investigation. But neither at the agency nor at Isabella’s lover’s, the antique dealer Franco, does he find any useful clues, let alone a motive for the murder.

Model Nicole accidentally discovers Isabella’s diary. But this means a death sentence for her, because a few hours later, she too is brutally murdered by the killer. And the murderer is far from finished with his misdeeds…

With this world-class film, the director was a magician of horror cinema!

Mario Bava’s first true and exceptional giallo! Very sadistic and sexually charged for the year 1963.

The film has its flaws, has aged slightly badly, and is not entirely perfect, despite a solid script. Nevertheless, it remains Magnificent!

This film has its flaws, has aged slightly badly, and is not entirely perfect, despite a rock-solid script. Nevertheless, it remains magnificent!

I had read this less-than-enthusiastic review of a DVD: “No original soundtrack!
Unfortunately, the original soundtrack was only available in the first edition (the collector’s edition in a velvet box set). This is a reissue for department stores. The film has gone down in history, but unfortunately this edition has not.
The rating is for the film.”
Indeed, the rating was three stars.

I didn’t really understand this story and comment until I saw a second one: “Why no original soundtrack?
I don’t understand why they didn’t include the original soundtrack in a new edition of such a classic… Without the original soundtrack, it doesn’t work for me. Too bad!”

Apparently, some versions have taken a few liberties. Instead of improving the film, they’ve ruined it.

In any case, I really liked it. My girlfriend, who hates giallo films, recommended this one to me. Beautiful colors, good actors and actresses, great story, good suspense, excellent dialogue. The colors are also pleasant and well chosen. Lots of bright red, of course!

I love the opening credits, where we see the main characters and their names. And the music really adds something special.
I’ll finish my review by quoting a friend who always knows how to express herself cinematographically: “The aesthetics of terror

It’s fascinating to see how Bava magnifies colors, just as he did so well with black and white in Black Sunday. The sets and Bava’s artistry in staging tension truly create an unparalleled aesthetic of terror.

Particularly well-crafted suspense, confined spaces, a palpable threat, and a few scenes of rare violence make this film a true gem of the genre.”

Gorgeous models… dirty tricks… blackmail… drug trafficking… and now murder!
You have everything you need to dive into this film if you haven’t seen it yet…