Bird With the Crystal Plumage (1970) Yugoslavian Medium Poster
Dario Argento’s breakthrough debut, which influenced the visual approach in Giallos thereafter. It was an uncredited adaptation of Fredric Brown's novel The Screaming Mimi, which had previously been filmed in 1958 by Gerd Oswald. Although many of the style elements had been glimpsed before, notably in Bava’s work, it was Argento who cemented the use of their fetishistic, ritualistic nature, combining the suspense and blood-letting with bravura camerawork and music that was entirely his own.
Tony Musante plays an American in Rome who witnesses an attack in an art gallery. He’s trapped between two glass doors, and is unable to help the victim, but he’s certain he saw something that wasn’t right – he just can’t put his finger on it. It’s the essential premise of many of Argento’s films, and propels the action as Musante obsessively investigates, putting his girlfriend in mortal danger.
Artist: Unknown, although this poster is a retitling of the original Italian artwork. The title lettering came in two variants, red and yellow.
Condition: FINE / VERY FINE
Cast: Suzy Kendall, Eva Renzi, Umberto Raho, Enrico Maria Salerno, Reggie Nalder, Mario Adorf, with Argento as the murderer's hands, and the first of his five collaborations with Ennio Morricone.