The Bird With the Crystal Plumage (Two-Disc Special Edition)
by Dario Argento
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Enrico Maria Salerno, Eva Renzi, Suzy Kendall, Tony Musante, Umberto RahoDirector: Dario Argento
Cinematographer: Vittorio Storaro
Writer: Dario Argento
Editor: Franco Fraticelli
Producer: Artur Brauner
Producer: Salvatore Argento
Writer: Fredric Brown
DVD: Region Code 0
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; Italian (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Color, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 96 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-10-25
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Blue Underground
Movie Reviews of The Bird With the Crystal Plumage (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Movie Review: Further Showcase of Argento's Genius
Summary: 5 Stars
Dario Argento's first film, 1970's The Bird with the Crystal Plumage is a brilliant achievement. Terrific not only in its genre, but as a film of any kind.
This is only the second film I've seen by Argento, after the masterpiece Deep Red. This film clearly bares the mark of the same creator as the aforementioned film, employing a similar plot and artistic structure. I'm no Argento aficionado so this opinion could be flawed, but The Bird with the Crystal Plumage is the blueprint for the style and artistry that finally culminated with Deep Red.
Tony Musante plays Sam, an American living in Rome with his girlfriend Julia. Due to return to America in just a couple days, Sam witnesses a woman brutally attacked in a gallery. After being questioned by police, Sam's passport is confiscated and he is almost murdered on his way home. He soon becomes obsessed with the case and begins investigating it himself.
There are two things this film does brilliantly. It builds genuine, edge-of-your-seat tension, something Argento seems to excel at as a director, and it expertly exploits our fear of the dark.
Fear of the dark is one of the most universal fears out there. Argento knows this and employs this knowledge in many scenes. A particularly effective one is when the killer attacks Julia in her apartment after cutting the power.
As I said, this is Argento's first film and it's apparent he had a pretty set standard for his filmmaking technique. Stylistically and artistically, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage showcases a master talent with a unique vision. Ironically, Argento doesn't even fulfill his full potential with this film.
That said, few film debuts are as good as this, and even fewer horror films are as good as this one. Due to Argento's creative direction, the brilliant use of cinematography, and an atmospheric musical score by the legendary Ennio Morricone; The Bird with the Crystal Plumage is a highly inventive, highly effective thriller.
As I said about Deep Red, it makes one remember that horror films can be made by people who know how to make films and that horror can be considered an art form when in the right hands. It doesn't match the artistic achievement of Deep Red but it's still a masterpiece of its genre and a great film.
A-
Side-note; my only complaint is not about the film itself, but rather the DVD. The edition I have is bogus! There's no menu, no special features, no subtitles, and no Italian-audio. The English-dubbing is not awful, but it is an annoyance and I would much rather see the film in its intended form. Still worth a watch though!
Summary of The Bird With the Crystal Plumage (Two-Disc Special Edition)
The Stunning Debut By Dario Argento The Italian Master Of TerrorIn his first film as writer/director, Dario Argento (SUSPIRIA, DEEP RED, TWO EVIL EYES) single-handedly created the giallo genre and instantly emerged as the filmmaker critics worldwide hailed as 'The Italian Hitchcock'. Tony Musante (TRAFFIC, OZ) and Suzy Kendall (CIRCUS OF FEAR, TORSO) star in this pulse-pounding suspense thriller about an American writer in Rome who witnesses - and is helpless to stop - a brutal assault, the cunning vengeance of a maniac, and the heart-stopping horror that lives - and kills - deep in the dark.
Blue Underground is proud to present this legendary shocker remastered in High Definition from its original camera negative - including recently discovered never-before-seen footage of explicit violence - remixed in 6.1 DTS-ES and 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX. Exclusive Extras in this 2-Disc Special Edition include four all-new featurettes with Argento, Oscar® winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, legendary composer Ennio Morricone, co-star Eva Renzi and much more!
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