So, this is a hole in an ostensible horror fan’s c.v., but: I’d never seen a Dario Argento film, at least not all the way through, ’til last night. I watched Suspiria, a gothic potboiler Argento calls a “fairy tale for adults.” I had fun imagining my own silly taglines: Imagine if Vincente Minnelli and Henry James had a kid, and he directed films.
This was absolutely silly, if taken as plot, and only when you could make any sense of it at all. In other words, close to incoherent in terms of narrative. There are a few things that catch us viewers up–oh yes, the dour sinister headmistress! the strange help at the boarding school!–but mostly I stopped caring or paying any attention to the occasional moments when Argento stopped to try and explain things.
Instead, revel in–relish–the absurdly lush compositions and colors. The film’s brighter, its colors deeper, its production design more baroquely detailed and intricate than almost any film I’ve ever seen. You could pause any shot and just sink in. And the compositions and editing are equally beautiful. Take the film as a kind of rich, strange dream–and it’s dazzling. Even the “brutal” deaths are depicted in such florid composed fashions, it’s more like the gory Renaissance paintings of saints than a typical slasher flick.
I’m going to see more of this guy’s stuff. Note to the interested: It stars Jessica Harper, whose weird little-girl head and huge eyes seemed to intrigue many a strange director. Udo Kier pops up, looking way younger and not quite as inhuman.
I almost posted this under Gio’s post on The Leopard… simply to get some conversation going about Italian film. G named a number of big name filmmakers–in the context of a very interesting reading of Italy’s impact on film. I’m curious where Argento’s movies, or any of the gialli, fit into the cultural context….
as i said in my leopard post, i have seen precious few italian films, especially classics. dunno if DA counts as a classic auteur — he is a classic of sorts, but he comes later than the Big Ones and does genre stuff — but i haven’t seen any of his films either. again, italians don’t naturally watch a whole lot of italian cinema. i think frisoli (and others too, but i know michael knows italian cinema) is much better qualified than i to comment on this topic. sorry!
Hoo-Hah! I think you’ll begin to appreciate Argento’s themes more as you watch more of his stuff. To keep in the vein of starting with Suspiria, I’d recommend going for Phenomena next, as it treads some similar ground of the girl’s school, and stars Jennifer Connelly.
I’ll say that Suspiria really is one of the best though, so don’t get too disappointed when the other’s don’t match up to this one in artistry.
If you’d rather not jump around in time as much (Phenom. and Suspiria are about 8 years apart), then try Deep Red, starring David Hemmings; it’s the more Hitchcock inspired side of DA.
And never forget that despite Gio’s post above, the story credit for Once Upon a Time in the West is credited to Dario Argento, Bernardo Bertolucci & Sergio Leone. Not a “classic auteur” indeed.
Though Gio’s statements about Italians not caring for Italian cinema intrigue me, and I might try to say something else about this when I have less work and more drink.
Argento’s Opera is certainly worth seeing–again, ludicrous plotting with lush visuals. One of his films whose title I can’t remember is a favorite of mine, mostly because it strangely takes place in Minneapolis (you can see the Grain Belt beer sign on the Hennepin bridge in one scene) and Piper Laurie gets her head cut off. but if I have to make a choice I think I might go with Mario Bava and the zombie king Fulci.
i’m going to need this statement backed up with some statistical evidence of box-office trends in italy over the last 46 years. also, do they watch italian cinema unnaturally? while engaging in incest and cannibalism?
then again if their popular cinema is anything like their football, who could blame the poor italians?
what team are you supporting, big shot?
I’ve been looking through the amazing world of music bloggers lately; people who have uploaded hundreds of rare, out of print albums. Some amazing stuff; old 60s lounge, jazz, exotica, soundtracks. Not sure if anyone here is interested in them at all, but just came across one that specializes in horror soundtracks – or rather James Horner, Vangelis, Jerry Goldsmith, Goblin (Dario Argento), and the like.
http://italianhorror.blogspot.com/
Once you find a couple of these, they tend to link to a dozen others and with a few clicks you can certainly find something you never knew was out there, but now find necessary. My favorite find this week is an album of hip German pop and dance songs from 66 to 74:
http://1sound.blogspot.com/2006/09/in-kraut.html