“The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” is a thriller film Italian 1970, directed by Dario Argento. It is the first chapter of the director’s so-called “animal trilogy”, followed by “The Cat o’ Nine Tails” (1971) and “Four Flies on Gray Velvet” (1972). The film is notable for helping define Argento’s signature style in the crime genre and for giving him the nickname “Master of Thrills.”
The plot of “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” revolves around Sam Dalmas (played by Tony Musante), an American journalist who lives in Rome. While in a park, he witnesses a murder attempt on a woman in an art gallery. Failing to intervene in time, Sam becomes obsessed with the case and decides to investigate on his own.
His search brings him into contact with Police Inspector Morosini (played by Enrico Maria Salerno), who is initially skeptical of Sam’s investigative skills, but eventually accepts his help. Sam discovers that the murderer is a mysterious individual with a knife as sharp as a crystal blade, hence the film’s title. The killer has a predilection for blonde women and seems to have a personal motive for carrying out his murders.
“The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” is notable for its intricate storyline, twists and turns, and artistically crafted murder sequences. Argento showcases his ability to create tension and suspense, using vivid and colorful photography, accompanied by an enthralling soundtrack by Ennio Morricone.
The film has achieved good critical and commercial success and is considered a classic of the Italian Giallo. It helped solidify Dario Argento’s reputation as one of the masters of the genre. “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” also inspired numerous subsequent directors in the thriller field and paved the way for many more of Argento’s successes throughout his career.
Plot
The story of “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” follows the story of Sam Dalmas, an American journalist who lives in Rome. While in a park one day, Sam witnesses a murder attempt on a woman in an art gallery. Failing to intervene in time, Sam feels guilty for not being able to do anything to save the woman and becomes obsessed with the case.
Despite his initial hesitations, Sam decides to conduct a personal investigation to discover the identity of the culprit and the motives behind the murders. During his research, Sam comes into contact with Police Inspector Morosini, who is initially skeptical of Sam’s investigative skills, but eventually accepts his help.
As Sam delves deeper into the story, he discovers that the killer is a mysterious individual with a crystal-bladed knife, an unusual and distinctive weapon. The killer has a fondness for blonde women and seems to have a personal motivation for carrying out his murders.
During the investigation, Sam gets ever closer to the truth and realizes that he himself could be the killer’s next target. Tensions build as Sam tries to avoid becoming a victim while uncovering the identity of the mysterious killer.
The storyline of “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” is characterized by twists and revelations leading to a final climax full of suspense and action. The film deals with themes such as guilt, obsession and the struggle for survival. Dario Argento’s mastery in creating disturbing atmospheres and in building an intricate plot makes the film a classic of the yellow genre and a point of reference for Italian thriller cinema.
Movie Characters
Here are the main characters of the film “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage”:
Sam Dalmas (played by Tony Musante): He is the protagonist of the film, an American journalist who lives in Rome. After witnessing an assassination attempt, he becomes obsessed with the case and embarks on a personal investigation to discover the killer’s identity.
Giulia (played by Suzy Kendall): She is Sam’s girlfriend and supports him during his investigation. Although initially skeptical, she proves courageous and determined to try to help Sam solve the mystery.
Inspector Morosini (played by Enrico Maria Salerno): He is a police inspector who deals with the case of the murders. Initially wary of Sam’s detective skills, she eventually accepts his help and works with him to catch the killer.
Monica Ranieri (played by Eva Renzi): She is a woman who becomes another victim of the killer. Sam suspects she may have crucial information about her identity and motives, but sadly she is killed before she can reveal anything of significance.
Alberto Ranieri (played by Umberto Raho): He is Monica’s husband and an important scientist. His connection to the case becomes the subject of investigation by Sam, who suspects that there may be a link between the killer and Alberto’s scientific research.
Dr. Carlo Dover (played by Renato Romano): He is a friend of Sam’s and a fellow journalist. He too sets out to uncover the truth about the murders and provides support and information to Sam in his investigation.
These are just some of the key characters featured in the movie ‘The Bird with the Crystal Plumage’. Apart from them, there are other secondary characters who contribute to the plot and suspense of the film.
Production
“The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” was directed by Dario Argento, one of the most famous and influential Italian directors in the genre of thriller and horror. The film was produced by Seda Spettacoli and the production was handled by Salvatore Argento, father of Dario Argento.
The screenplay was written by Dario Argento himself, together with Bryan Edgar Wallace, who provided the original idea for the film. The soundtrack was composed by Ennio Morricone, a famous Italian composer, who helped create a tense and suggestive atmosphere through his music.
The shooting of the film took place mainly in Rome, Italy. Dario Argento carefully chose several locations to create the setting for the film, including the Villa Sciarra park, the Modernissimo art gallery and the Trastevere district. The film’s cinematography was handled by Vittorio Storaro, who helped create a vivid and colorful visualization of the scenes.
“The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” was released in Italian cinemas in 1970 and was a success with both critics and audiences. The film garnered positive reviews for its intricate plot, gripping suspense, and artistically crafted murder sequences.
The production of “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” laid the foundation for Dario Argento’s successful career in thriller cinema and established his distinctive style. The film was the first in Argento’s so-called “animal trilogy”, which also included “The Cat O’Nine Tails” and “Four Flies on Gray Velvet”, both of which were released within the next two years.
Distribution and Reception
“The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” was released in Italian cinemas on February 19, 1970. The film achieved good success with both critics and audiences, helping to consolidate Dario Argento’s reputation as a director in the thriller genre.
Critically, the film was praised for its intricate plot, gripping suspense, and eerie atmosphere. In particular, Argento’s direction and Vittorio Storaro’s cinematography were praised for their ability to create a tense and evocative atmosphere. Ennio Morricone’s score was also praised for the way it helped heighten the film’s suspense.
“The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” was a commercial success, grossing well at the box office. The film appealed to a thriller-loving audience and helped boost Dario Argento’s popularity as a director.
The film also made a lasting impact on the thriller film scene. His distinctive style and ability to build tension and suspense have influenced numerous subsequent directors in the genre. “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” is considered a classic of Italian cinema and one of Argento’s most representative films.
Following its release, the film was also screened and distributed internationally, earning Dario Argento an international reputation as one of the masters of thrill-seeking. It helped introduce Italian thriller cinema to international audiences and paved the way for many more of Argento’s successes throughout his career.
Style
“The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” is a film that stands out for its distinctive style, which helped define the cinema of Dario Argento. The director is known for his visual and sensorial approach to his films, and this is also evident in this first work of his career.
One of the key elements of Argento’s style is the use of vivid and colorful photography. In “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage”, cinematographer Vittorio Storaro creates a palette of intense colors that contribute to creating a suggestive and disturbing atmosphere. The contrasts between light and shadow, the play of light and the well-groomed visual details are recurring elements that give the film a strong aesthetic component.
Another characteristic element of Argento’s style is his ability to create tension and suspense. Through the use of precise framing, tight editing, and fast editing sequences, Argento builds a pounding pace that keeps the viewer on the edge of his seat. The murder sequences are done with great skill, with particular attention to detail and their artistic representation.
The soundtrack by Ennio Morricone is another distinctive element of the style of “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage”. Morricone’s music combines perfectly with the images, creating an even more intense and enthralling atmosphere. Its musical themes fit perfectly into the different scenes, helping to emphasize the suspense and emotion of the film.
Finally, the film also features a bold and innovative use of directorial techniques, such as the use of unusual shots and unusual camera angles. These elements add a distinctive visual dimension to the film and testify to Argento’s creativity and originality as a director.
Overall, the style of “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” is characterized by a combination of captivating visual aesthetics, emotional tension and meticulous attention to detail. This distinctive style helped define Dario Argento’s work and influenced Italian and international thriller cinema.
Director
The director of “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage” is Dario Argento. Born on September 7, 1940 in Rome, Italy, Argento is an Italian director, screenwriter and film producer. He is considered one of the masters of thriller cinema and of the horror genre, known for his stylistically distinctive and tense films.
Argento began his film career in the 1960s as a screenwriter and film critic. He wrote screenplays for various Italian directors, but became known for his skills in the genre of thriller and horror when he started directing his own films.
The Bird with the Crystal Plumage was his directorial debut in 1970 and marked the beginning of a long and influential film career. Argento went on to direct several other successful films, including “Profondo rosso” (1975), “Suspiria” (1977), “Tenebre” (1982) and “Opera” (1987).
The director is known for his distinctive visual style, which combines vibrant photography, bold use of color, meticulous attention to detail, and a focus on suspense and tension. His films often explore dark themes, violence and mystery, creating eerie and surreal atmospheres.
Dario Argento has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival for “Profondo rosso” and the David di Donatello for Lifetime Achievement in 2001. His work has influenced many subsequent directors in the genre of thriller and horror, making him a leading figure in the Italian and international film scene.
