SPOILER WARNING - There is information in this post which may upset you if you have not seen the movie. If this troubles you = Please do not read on..
SPOILERS AHEAD...
I couldn't agree more with the user aboves comments. This is a first rate giallo directed with clinical precision by Duccio Tessari. Raf Vallone's performance as the troubled father is incredibly moving. The plot isn't really typical of a giallo; A retired parent (Vallone) investigates the disappearance of his retarded daughter, last seen at home. As he searches for clues, so do the police, headed by the police commissioner (excellently played by American actor Frank Wolff, in one of his last roles). Both parties follow their own different lines of investigation meeting up in the final reel for the inevitable bloody conclusion.
Aside from innumerable Italo-Westerns, Tessari only directed one other pure giallo 'Una Farfalla con Le Ali Insanguinate' (The Bloodstained Butterfly). Also a fine example of the genre and his talents, but it's nowhere near as well executed as 'La Morte...'. Whilst 'Butterfly' looks great and really does deliver the giallo goods the performances always seemed quite lacking to me. In 'La Morte..' it's the performances that hold it all together, rather than the other way around.
If anyone has the chance to re-release this film (The Death Occurred Last Night) Please do! It was available in Italy on the CHV label during the 80's and 90's, sadly, now it is almost impossible to find in any format. 'The Bloodstained Butterfly' is readily available (in Italian language only) on DVD.
SPOILERS AHEAD...
I couldn't agree more with the user aboves comments. This is a first rate giallo directed with clinical precision by Duccio Tessari. Raf Vallone's performance as the troubled father is incredibly moving. The plot isn't really typical of a giallo; A retired parent (Vallone) investigates the disappearance of his retarded daughter, last seen at home. As he searches for clues, so do the police, headed by the police commissioner (excellently played by American actor Frank Wolff, in one of his last roles). Both parties follow their own different lines of investigation meeting up in the final reel for the inevitable bloody conclusion.
Aside from innumerable Italo-Westerns, Tessari only directed one other pure giallo 'Una Farfalla con Le Ali Insanguinate' (The Bloodstained Butterfly). Also a fine example of the genre and his talents, but it's nowhere near as well executed as 'La Morte...'. Whilst 'Butterfly' looks great and really does deliver the giallo goods the performances always seemed quite lacking to me. In 'La Morte..' it's the performances that hold it all together, rather than the other way around.
If anyone has the chance to re-release this film (The Death Occurred Last Night) Please do! It was available in Italy on the CHV label during the 80's and 90's, sadly, now it is almost impossible to find in any format. 'The Bloodstained Butterfly' is readily available (in Italian language only) on DVD.