Fragments of Fear - A Giallo Podcast

The Sweet Body of Deborah (Guerrieri, 1968)

After a five-year absence, Fragments of Fear returns to the Italian thrillers of the 1960s with Romolo Guerrieri’s The Sweet Body of Deborah (1968). Carroll Baker and Jean Sorel star as newlyweds Deborah and Marcel, whose honeymoon in Geneva is disrupted by the apparent suicide of Marcel’s former lover and the accusation that he was responsible for her death, beginning an increasingly elaborate web of suspicion, threats and deception. Also starring Luigi Pistilli, Ida Galli and George Hilton, we examine The Sweet Body of Deborah's place within the developing giallo and its importance to the strand of conspiracy-driven thrillers that emerged before the genre’s boom at the beginning of the 1970s. Looking at Ernesto Gastaldi’s screenplay, we trace its links to Les Diaboliques, Libido and the subsequent cycle of films built around money, marriage, deception and increasingly elaborate double-crosses. Throughout the episode we also explore the film’s treatment of trust, money and eroticism, alongside its jet-set travelogue quality, moving between Geneva and the Riviera, and its playful visual style. As always, we delve into the film’s production history and key players while considering the wider influence of The Sweet Body of Deborah on the giallo that followed.

Crazy Desires of a Murderer (Ratti, 1977)

This month, Fragments of Fear delves into the Crazy Desires of a Murderer with Fillipo Walter Ratti’s Gothic whodunit of the same name. Purportedly from 1977, we look at the film’s ambiguous production date and account for some of the so called dated aspects of the film whilst examining how Crazy Desires slots into the gialli of the 1970s with its heady mix of Gothic and erotic elements. As always, we take a look at the film’s cast and crew, taking a moment to shine a light on some of the lesser known figures of the Italian genre cinema.

Deadly Inheritance (Sindoni, 1968)

Fragments of Fear returns to the sixties to discuss Vittorio Sindoni’s French styled thriller and prototype giallo, Deadly Inheritance. Throughout the episode we explore the placement of Sindoni’s film in relation to the gialli of the 1960s and beyond whilst looking at other key filmic elements from the significance of its rural setting in provincial France to its characterisation and usage of red herrings. We also take a look at the film’s production history, Sindoni as a director and some of the film’s lesser known cast.

My Dear Killer (1972)

Fragment of Fear’s latest episode focuses on Tonino Valerii’s sole entry in the giallo filone, My Dear Killer (1972). Deviating away from the Argento styled gialli of the time whilst retaining some of its hallmarks, we examine this more realistic take on the Italian giallo and assess the film’s effectiveness in terms of its stark thematic ideas and visual style. We also take a look at the central performance of giallo stalwart, George Hilton and his characterisation of protagonist Luca Peretti; looking at how it compares to his typical roles of the period. Focus is also placed on Valerii as a director and his career outside of his sole foray into the giallo as well as our usual discussions around production history, design and contextualisation.

Fashion Crimes (1989)

In the latest episode of Fragments of Fear, we return to the eighties once again to dissect Bruno Gaburro’s 1989 giallo, Fashion Crimes. Perhaps most notable for its leading role from Tenebrae alumni, Anthony Franciosa, we take a look at the actor’s career and assess the effectiveness of his character and the draw his casting has on the film. In our exploration of the film, we look at the film’s thematic ideas that tie back to the golden age of the giallo from fragmented memories and nonsensical crimes to innate psychic abilities. We also assess the film’s failings and missed opportunities, offering our thoughts on ways in which plot could potentially be rectified and improved upon. As always, we take a look at the film’s director, production history and place in the evolution of the Italian giallo.