Blood and Black Lace

Starring:Cameron Mitchell, Eva Bartok, Thomas Reiner, Ariana Gorini, Dante DiPaolo, Mary Arden, Franco Ressel, Claude Dantes, Luciano Pigozzi, Lea Lander, Massimo Righi, Francesca Ungaro, Giuliano Raffaelli, Harriet Medin, Mary Carmen, Heidi Stroh, Enzo Cerusico, Nadia Anty, Goffredo Unger, Paul Frees
Director: Mario Bava
Studio: Vci Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Though the original Italian title translates to "Six Women for an Assassin," the American title, Blood and Black Lace, is far more evocative of the psychosexual nature of this elegant slasher picture. The thin plot concerns a respected Italian fashion house, a murdered model, cocaine, and a tell-all diary that seems to implicate just about everyone connected with the house of style. The disappearance of the diary initiates a wholesale slaughter of the remaining models. Mario Bava's stylish exercise in mayhem lovingly delivers every elaborate killing with dreamy assurance. As the stalker, a faceless figure wrapped up in a trench coat, makes a move for his next gorgeous victim, Bava's prowling camera snakes through sets, rushes down hallways, and generally takes off like a low-budget Hitchcock flick on speed. By contrast, Bava runs through the police investigations with a perfunctory air--the lifeless scenes, which aren't helped by the flat English dubbing, feel like he's marking time between the murders--and when the identity of the black-clad killer is revealed it almost seems beside the point. As the narrative melts into a near abstract display of choreography and color (with an often troubling misogynist edge), exposition and psychological explanations seem oddly out of place in this elaborate dance of death. As a traditional thriller it lacks any genuine thrill, but as a piece of cinematic spectacle it has moments of dreamy, disconnected beauty. --Sean Axmaker

Description

An unscrupulous business operating under the guise of a top fashion house with exotic models running sexual favors, cocaine dealings and blackmail, becomes a murder scene—after someone is pushed to the edge. The saga begins when a beautiful model is brutally murdered, and her boyfriend, a known addict supplying her drugs, is suspected of the crime…but is he guilty or is someone waiting in the shadows setting him up? Languages: English, French & Italian. Subtitles:English & Spanish. DVD extras: Motion menus, Photo Gallery, Biographies, Commentary by Tim Lucas (Editor of the Video Watchdog), Interview with Mary Dawne Arden, Interview with Cameron Mitchell by David Del Valle, Bonus Music Tracks by composer Carlo Rustichelli, Original Theatrical Trailer, Dolby Digital 5.1, DVD-9/DVD-5.

Customer Reviews:

Color and style . . ........2007-02-20

Mario Bava's Blood and Black Lace is a stylish thriller that features innovative use violence, against a colorful cinematic palate. The suspense builds as a mysterious masked killer, brutally takes the lives of a number of high fashion models. The level of tension remains high, until the killer's identity is revealed at the two-thirds mark. The resolution to the tale, while serviceable, could have packed more punch. Had it finished with a kick, the way most horror/suspense films typically do today, the stature of the film might be more elevated.

While not concluding as boldly as it begins, Black Lace still makes quite an impact. The masked killer strikes silently and with sudden violence, killing in variety of ways, pausing only to write out the question, "Where is the diary?" As the key to this mystery, lies in the contents of a murdered model's diary.

Visually stimulating, and an important film in the genre, this is recommended viewing. Composer Carlo Rustichelli provides a cool soundtrack for the mayhem. Film historian Tim Lucas's rather dry commentary track, and an interview with star Cameron Mitchell both contain lots of good information.

Bloody lace.......2006-09-10

Some women want to strangle models, but most people don't actually go that far. That's not the case in "Blood and Black Lace," where models run, scream, and die in all sorts of gruesome ways. Mario Bava's classic giallo has some monotonous moments, but mostly it sticks to stylish slayings.

Just before a fashion show, the model Isabella is found dead in a wardrobe. The police investigate the fashion house's various models and managers, but can't find any solid evidence. And during the show, one of the other models finds Isabella's diary, which is loaded with scandalous information about drugs, lovers, abortions, and debts.

But then the diary is stolen, and trenchcoated killer waits until the models are alone -- and then he burns, strangles, drowns, and claws them. The police suspect the men -- designers and managers -- at the fashion house, but even detaining the suspects won't stop the gruesome murders...

At first glance, "Blood and Black Lace" seems like just another bloody slasher movie. Well, giallo is to slasher movies as fine cheese is to Velveeta, and "Blood and Black Lace" is a perfect example of a giallo, with the arty lighting, graphic violence, colourful sets, and of course those black gloved hands.

The plot is a pretty straightforward whodunnit -- it's not blatantly obvious who the killer is, but seasoned movie fans can probably guess. And while there are gruesome slayings, the killer doesn't just jump out and kill. Bava builds up the tension and fear (which the characters also demonstrate) until it's almost a relief when someone dies.

But one of the biggest necessities for a giallo is visual style. The fashion house is lushly palatial, and the murders are elaborately choreographed chases, with weird lighting and lots of luxurious surroundings. The second murder, for instant, is like hide-and-seek in an antiques store. The only problem is a misogynistic edge, such as when the women have their shirts ripped halfway off.

None of the characters really stand out much -- they're the Models, the Creepy Boyfriends, the Skeptical Police, the Weird Landlady, and a handful of others. So it's a credit to the actresses like Mary Arden and Eva Bartok that they are able to make us feel sorry for their characters.

"Blood and Black Lace" is a beautiful, bloody guilty pleasure, and a perfect example of a giallo horror movie. Good stuff.

Weak Story.......2006-04-08

This is a pleasant film to look at as far as the pretty girls and the colorful scenes.

However that's about all the good things I can say about it.

I can think of a lot better things that the pretty girls in this movie could have done besides getting their faces burned off, getting killed by a walking suit of armor, etc..

There's a diary involved but what exactly is in this diary I still have no idea. Maybe I lost something with the English dubbing. Once I lost the point about the diary there was no hope of understanding the plot.

There's some cocaine use involved somewhere but where that all fits in I don't know.

The ending is anticlimactic and really not possible from a logical point of view. I don't want to ruin the 'suspense' by
telling what happens.

Based on reading the high praises of other reviewers I may not be sophisticated enough to appreciate this movie.

Give me "Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman" or "Brides Of Blood" any day over this movie.

Jeff Marzano

Recommended further viewing:

Horror Hotel
IT ! (The Terror From Beyond Space)
Invasion Of The Saucer Men
Not Of This Earth (original)
Phantasm
The Blob (with Steve McQueen)
The Brain That Wouldn't Die
The Flesh Eaters
The Fly / The Return Of The Fly / The Curse Of The Fly
The Four Skulls Of Jonathan Drake
The Hideous Sun Demon
The Hypnotic Eye
The Incredible Shrinking Man
The Indestructible Man
The Manster
The Thing (from another world)
The Thing That Couldn't Die
The Twilight Zone Collections

Don't let go of your old copy, this is a mixed blessing........2006-02-06

1 star is for the DVD, 5 stars for the movie. I don't need to say anything about the film; those familiar with Bava's work know this is among his masterpieces. I'm writing this review to clear up some things about this new "Unslashed" edition. On the positive side, this version is Anamorphic widescreen and it does present noticeably more picture information on the right and left sides of the frame (the old VCI version was leterboxed a 1.66:1, where as this one is 16 x 9). Now the bad news. The color and contrast have been boosted/altered to the point that the image appears blurrier, grainier and more damaged than the previous version. Also, the interior sets (especially in the fashion house) have a putrid yellow/green hue to them not present in the old version. The soundtrack is horribly remixed, making the dialogue sound like it was recorded in a tin can and it pops quite a bit through the opening of the film. The French and Italian audio channels are reversed. None of these audio problems are present on the old version by the way. To top it off, the dvd menus are gaudy and offputting, trying to make this seem like a bloody slasher pic. In summution, the extra picture information just doesn't outweigh all of the drawbacks of this edition. My advice is to hold on to your old release until something better comes along. Thanks for reading. -JWH-

Vintage Bava!.......2006-01-04

Italian Giallo's are an acquired taste. If you like one, most likely you'll like most of them if they're done correctly. Mario Bava was a pioneer when it came to Giallo's his original ideas and terrific use of light, colors and shadows would be seen for years in future Giallo's.

Bava's "Blood and Black Lace" is a prime example of what a Giallo should contain. Simple plot; An unknown, masked and crazed killer is running about, slashing beautiful super models. Of course with any Giallo, made in the 60's and 70's, you can expect bad acting and terrible dubbing but because of Bava's brilliance you don't care. His legendary tactics are portrayed brilliantly throughout the film. The amazing use of colors and shadows and, the key element to almost any Giallo, the black gloved hands of the killer.

Bava's influence would be seen in many more great Giallo films, including films by the phenomenal Dario Argento. Like Argento, Bava films are an acquired taste and if you're not a fan of the Giallo style films, more than likely you will not enjoy Bava's "Blood and Black Lace". However if you're an avid fan of the director or The Giallo films from the 60's and 70's you'll find this more than enjoyable. Recommended for fans of The Giallo style only.

Average customer rating:

Naked and Dead on Blood/Black Lace

Manufacturer: Sub Rosa Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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Glori-Anne Gilbert Showin' Pink

ASIN: B000FGG5HG
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Average customer rating:

Color and style . . .
Bloody lace
Weak Story
Don't let go of your old copy, this is a mixed blessing.
Vintage Bava!

Blood and Black Lace
Starring: Cameron Mitchell , Eva Bartok , Thomas Reiner , Ariana Gorini , and Dante DiPaolo
Director: Mario Bava
Manufacturer: Vci Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

The Whip and The Body
The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh
The Black Belly of the Tarantula
The Bird With the Crystal Plumage
The Mario Bava Collection, Volume 1 (Black Sunday / Black Sabbath / The Girl Who Knew Too Much / Kill Baby Kill / Knives of the Avenger)

ASIN: B00000IO3X
Release Date: 2000-10-24

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Color and style . . ........2007-02-20

Bloody lace.......2006-09-10

Weak Story.......2006-04-08

Don't let go of your old copy, this is a mixed blessing........2006-02-06

Vintage Bava!.......2006-01-04

Mario Bava Box Set: Blood And Black Lace/ Kill Baby Kill/ Whip And The Body

Average customer rating:

Horror from the past influences the present
Colourful Film, Chopped & Cropped...
Blood and Black Lace disc won't play on some players

Mario Bava Box Set: Blood And Black Lace/ Kill Baby Kill/ Whip And The Body
Starring: Giacomo Rossi-Stuart , Erika Blanc , Fabienne Dali , Piero Lulli , and Luciano Catenacci
Director: Mario Bava
Manufacturer: Vci Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

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Sci-Fi & Fantasy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Horror | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00004Z4S6
Release Date: 2000-11-28

Customer Reviews:

Horror from the past influences the present.......2002-04-22

For all you Mario Bava fans out there - here is a beautiful box set of 'must have' movies! The list of cinematographers, directors, writers, and actors influenced by the mastery of Bava would be impossible to put in this small space. Suffice it to say that 'greats' such as Fulci, Argento, Scorcesi, Miner, Carpenter, Craven and others owe a huge debt of gratitude to the first influential European horror director to combine ALL the attributes necessary to produce spectactular, beautiful, meaningful horror that we all crave. The Whip and the Body was the first horror/ghost story to combine a disfunctional family, cousinly love, and sadism (cool taboo subjects back then) into a superbly acted, filmed flick. The use of lighting, shading, colors, and sound rank at the top in cinema history that movies today can only TRY to duplicate. Experts have agreed that this movie was a 'how to' on color manipulation. Blood and Black Lace was the forerunner of all the so-called 'bodycount' movies. Yes, Friday the 13th, Halloween, Scream (again, the list goes on and on)-- they all got their ideas from THIS movie. Kill Baby Kill (one of my all-time favorites) inspired the supernatural revenge ideas that prevailed in later years (The Shining, The Changeling, The Church, Magic...and on and on). This DVD set ROCKS, folks! Buy it while it's still available - you won't regret it. I gave it 5 stars because i couldn't go any higher.

Colourful Film, Chopped & Cropped..........2001-06-13

Mario Bava is obviously the granddaddy of the 80s Body Count Boom and Italian Giallo, having done "Blood and Black Lace" and "Twitch of the Death Nerve", and invented both the faceless mad killer and setpiece death sequences in the process. This film is probably my favourite of his as he gives the threadbare plot an awesome stylistic veneer. Candy coloured sets, moody music, great camera angles, awesome tracking shots and some suspenseful sequences.

I got the DVD of this film to preserve those colours and to get the awesome array of extras that VCI packaged with them (Alternate credit sequences, photo galleries, a great soundtrack option, informative commentry and many trailers). However, I had read that this film was uncut and in its proper screen ratio and that is a complete lie!

Here in Melbourne we have a free-to-air station that broadcasts oddities like uncut widescreen Dario Argento films, Hong Kong Movies, Sweet Sweetback's Baaaadass Song, Manga etc. [They don't call Australia 'The Lucky Country' for nothing : ) ] Anyways, they showed this film a few years ago and not only was it matted significantly wider (1.85 : 1, as opposed to the DVD's 1.66 : 1), but it also had an extra bit during the "hot stove" sequence, where the killer not only pulled the woman's face off the stove and showed it to the camera, but then stuck it back on again.

I'm not saying that this DVD is now worthless, because the extras packaged with it are fantastic and well worth the money, BUT if you think that this version is UNCUT and FULLY WIDESCREEN, you are WRONG.

Blood and Black Lace disc won't play on some players.......2001-01-15

WARNING! The Blood and Black Lace disc has a known problem with not being able to play in a Philips/Magnavox 825 and various Pioneer players including: DV-414, DV-515, and DVL-909.

Average customer rating:

Color and style . . .
Bloody lace
Weak Story
Don't let go of your old copy, this is a mixed blessing.
Vintage Bava!

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Mystery & Suspense | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Whip and The Body
The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh
The Black Belly of the Tarantula
The Bird With the Crystal Plumage
The Mario Bava Collection, Volume 1 (Black Sunday / Black Sabbath / The Girl Who Knew Too Much / Kill Baby Kill / Knives of the Avenger)

ASIN: B00005YLIY
Release Date: 2000-10-24

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Color and style . . ........2007-02-20

Bloody lace.......2006-09-10

Weak Story.......2006-04-08

Don't let go of your old copy, this is a mixed blessing........2006-02-06

Vintage Bava!.......2006-01-04

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