The Killer is One of 13 (1973) dir. Javier Aguirre; starring Patty Shepard, Simon Andreu, Jose Maria Prada
Another Italian
giallo, this one a rather clumsy attempt at an Agatha Christie type mystery: 13 guests invited for the weekend to the secluded house of a wealthy widow who, after their first dinner, announces that one of them murdered her husband. The killer eventually starts knocking off those who seem closest to identifying him, but not before there is a great deal of talk. Probably over a half-hour of talk, mostly about who did what to whom, or declaring one's innocence, or how smooth the requisite playboy is. Note, the house had great sound-proofing because at least one of the victims screams but there's no indication anyone heard. Lastly, this movie goes all-in on a certain cliche
If you're not interested in
giallos, you can stop reading now.
Over the last few months of intermittently watching
giallos, I've learned a few things I thought I'd share:
1) Italians like ducks. Specifically, Donald Duck. The killer may or may not quack like Donald, but if not, there’s still the chance a Donald Duck toy will appear on screen at some point.
2) In ‘70s and ‘80s Italy the most outlandish, farfetched plans to inherit or just plain steal someone’s money will have a good chance of success, even though the plan requires precognitive skills to predict the target’s actions. On the plus side, this also works for the authorities and their schemes for catching criminals.
3) Wearing a long black coat with gloves and a slouch-brimmed hat deflects attention. Serial killers who wear this attire are
almost never seen, and those seen are
never recognized.
4) Speaking of attire, ‘70s-‘80s Italy was plagued by a surprising shortage of brassieres. Hardly a dress dropped or a top torn doesn’t reveal a lack of foundation garments. Oddly, that shortage doesn’t appear to have been quite as severe in the 1960s.
5) Killer’s usually start with a butcher’s knife – apparently guns were in short supply or just not sporting enough – but the killer will change it up if there’s something useful handy and especially if it takes more time and effort, and is noisier. Electric tools with long leads are much preferred.
6) Women under 40 who know there is a serial killer on the loose will invariably find the darkest, most secluded area of town to walk through. Corollary: If a woman under 40 knows she is being stalked, she will drive herself to the darkest, most secluded area – like the depths of a parking garage – and will be some distance from the car before reconsidering her choice. Perhaps this accounts for the scarcity of women over 40 in
giallos.
7) Italian women of the ‘70s and ‘80s will not defend themselves. Whereas the American women I knew at that time would brandish a fire poker or a lamp or a frying pan or a conveniently placed payloader or just kick the hell out of an assailant, Italian women of that vintage will fall back, hand to mouths and even present to their attacker a particularly vulnerable portion of their anatomy. Note 1: This seems to affect some of the males, too. Note 2: Admittedly, this echoes the behavior of 1930s-‘60s American women in movies.
Yup. I think that sums it up. Now, back to viewing ...
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