DEVIL WITH SEVEN FACES, THE

aka Il diavolo a sette facce (US)
1971
Italy
Osvaldo Civirani for Cine Escalation
Director: Richard Kean [Osvaldo Civirani]
Story & screenplay: Tito Carpi, Osvaldo Civirani
Music: Stelvio Cipriani (C.A.M.), with vocals by Nora Orlandi
Cinematography: Walter Civirani {Eastmancolor}
Editor: Mauro Contini
Set design: Giorgio Postiglione
Cameraman: Pasquale Rachini, Enrico Cortese, Luciano Tonti, Antonio Annunziata
Filmed: Exteriors shot in Amsterdam
Release information: Registered 09.12.71. Italy (10.12.71, 89 mins), USA (1977)
Cast: Carrol Baker (Julie Harrison / Mary Harrison), George Hilton (Tony Shane), Lucretia Love (Margareth), Luciano Pigozzi (Steve Hunter, a private detective), Franco Ressel (Inspector Rinker), Daniele Vargas (James Marlowe), Ivano Staccioli (Louis), Stephen Boyd (Dave Barton, a lawyer), Carla Mancini, Gianni Pulone, Roberto Messina, Maria Ricotti

BACKGROUND

Seeing as The Devil With Seven Faces managed to completely disengage my interest, I frankly can't be bothered to write a review. Instead, I'll simply replicate the notes that I made whilst watching it, and leave you to fill in the gaps. It must be said, however, that these probably say more about me that the film itself...

STORY& CRITIQUE

Carroll Baker plays Julie. Everyone seems to be photographed from the waist down before doing something irrelevant. Carroll keeps on getting hassled by trousers. Steven Boyd looks really pissed. Hmmm, fancy a martini. Japanese guy walks around carrying VERY LARGE knives - he's a practical joker. Like the soundtrack. George Hilton wears black shirts and stares suspiciously into the distance while embracing Carroll. A couple of lowlifes appear. Hey, that's Al Collins under that toupee! Nice martini.

Bloody hell, this is dull. There's no development of tension - things just happen (the difference, I suppose, between a hack like Civirani and a GOOD hack like Lenzi or Martino). Wonder what the time is. Inspector Winkle!!! I wonder who Carla Mancina is in this - is she the old bint who was dead in the attic but isn't there anymore, if she ever was?

Prospective landlady pointing at grandfather clock: "Do you want me to have it repaired"
Carroll: "No, I have a wristwatch...and an alarm clock!"

Lucretia Love's hair changes every time she appears on screen. God, I'm tired and I've another thirty minutes yet. There seems to be a problem with the editing, scenes take too long to start happening and then hold for seconds after the events have passed. Shit, it's a giallo without any murders - there's a first. There's some nice photography. Nice climax chase through reeds. Hold on, so the whole plot relies on the fact that the husband doesn't recognise his ex-wife? The end - thank god.