The Bird With the Crystal Plumage
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Gildo Di Marco, Giovanni Di Benedetto, Giuseppe Castellano, Mario Adorf, Omar BonaroPrimary Contributor: Suzy Kendall
Primary Contributor: Tony Musante
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 96 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1999-11-16
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Vci Video
Movie Reviews of The Bird With the Crystal Plumage
Movie Review: For fans of Italian cinema and of crime phenomena ...worth it.
Summary: 3 Stars
L'uccello dalle piume di cristallo (The Bird with the Crystal
Plumage) (1970) will attact fans of Italian cinema, in general,
and viewers fascinated by crime phenomena that affects each and
every society, particularly.
The story that will send chills down the spine of viewers a few
times, with the added special effects that, although minimal, are
completely effective, from their subtle use. In addition, several
outstandingly lovely and charming women are featured, coupled with
a consistent "style" from start to finish. This involves
individuals of the upper or wealthy classes, men and women,
surrounded by art, sculptures, paintings, beautifully furnished
large homes, with the protagonists geared in elegant clothes.
As a viewer having visited Portugal and Spain, so much of what is
filmed in Italy feels intensely real, such as the streets, the
automobiles (Fiat, Alpha Romeu, etc), the architecture of the
buildings and streets, the cobble stone pavements, the windows, the
large contrast between of city to rural when they're not very
distant from one another. Even the exact design of the ladders
shown on film, (that are cut unprocessed direct from trees) are
seen quite often in Europe vs. plastic or aluminum imports lately.
The pacing of the action is entirely successful, and the surprise
twisted ending is a totally unexpected, and powerful, as a kind of
horror climax, done to perfection.
The acting is campy, friendly and collegial, featuring above all a
book author and writer, played by Tony Musante, and the police
detective accomplishing his duties, with Enrico Salerno.
That said, the movie would have had an even greater impact, had the
soundtrack and transfer from film to DVD been done at least 5 times
better. There was no effort by the Director in capturing live audio
from the actors during the scenes, having chosen instead a complete
dialog overdub done afterwards, albeit by the original Italian
actors. The inconsistency is perceptible but not a major
distraction.
In terms of the soundtrack, it's a split decision by the jury,
considering the frequent unexplained and annoying use of a mantra
or chant from hippies used randomly, over the course of the film,
by Ennio Morricone. In other moments, the choices are acceptable,
and appropriate and even "modern" such as the muted horn,
Miles-David fusion style, etc.
The DVD release is letterbox, 16 x 9, which is great, yet the
transfer seems to be timid on color, and resolution, unlike some
other transfers I've seen, (ie. the outstanding ones from Enzo G
Castellari.)
In sum, the film adheres to a special police-detective style that
it either created or wanted to target in terms of viewer niche.
It's reminiscent of Damiano Damiani's The Most Beautiful Wife, or
How to Kill a Judge, for example, in terms of editing and montage.
Worth the rental or buy.
Summary of The Bird With the Crystal Plumage
An American writer (Tony Musante - Toma, TV series) traveling in Rome is the only witness to an attempted murder by a sinister man in a raincoat and black leather gloves, though he is powerless to do anything to stop him. With a feeling that something is not quite right about the scene he has witnessed and the police's inability to make any progress, he launches his own personal investigation -- and nearly loses his life in the process. While this modern day Jack-the-Ripper type is slithering through the dark byways of Rome slicing up pretty girls, director Dario Argento is carving up the emotions of terrified viewers. Dark deeds are mixed with black comedy worthy of Hitchcock in a film of almost unbearable tension and nail-biting suspense. Italian Director/Screenwriter Dario Argento specializes in stylish thrillers. His works include "Deep Red", "Suspiria", "Inferno", "Demons" and "Creepers". Bonus Features: Interactive Menus| Biographies| Theatrical Trailer| Previews| New Dolby Stereo Surround Track| Enhanced 16x9 Transfer| Bonus: Contains the complete Original Music Sound Track. Specs: DVD9; Dolby Digital Stereo Surround; 98 minutes; Color; 2.35:1 Aspect Ratio; MPAA - R; Year - 1970; SRP - $14.99.Sam Dalmas (Tony Musante) is an American reporter living in Rome who witnesses what appears to be a murder. Trapped by a glass wall, he can't intervene, but does manage to scare off the killer. Wounded, the victim survives, and Dalmas's curiosity drives him to look further into the story, but he soon finds himself and his girlfriend in jeopardy and stalked by the would-be murderer. Director Dario Argento's debut film is a remarkable work, more restrained than many of his later films. Based on an obscure 1950s pulp novel, Bird draws heavily on Hitchcock, as well as on American novelists such as Dashiell Hammett and Cornell Woolrich. At the same time, its execution makes it a highly original, inventive, and fast-paced film that plays with the conventions of the thriller genre. As was often the case with Hitchcock's work, Dalmas is a spectator to the original crime, reflecting the voyeuristic role of the film audience. He's an ordinary guy who unravels the circumstances of the crime until he comes across the most unlikely scenario, a device also reminiscent of Hitchcock. The score, editing, and camera work, however, give the film a distinctly Italian stamp, and established Argento as a stylish, innovative director to watch. The scene in which Dalmas is chased through the streets by a gun-toting assassin, in particular, is a little gem of suspense. Modern-day thrillers should hope to live up to this film's intelligence, energy, and intricate plot twists. --Jerry Renshaw
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