Italian Giallo in Film and Television : A Critical History

Since the release in 1929 of a popular book series with bright yellow covers, the Italian word giallo (yellow) has come to define a whole spectrum of mystery and detective fiction and films. Although most English speakers associate the term giallo with the violent and erotic thrillers popular in the 1960s and 1970s from directors like Mario Bava, Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci and others, the term encompasses a wide range of Italian media such as mysteries, thrillers and detective stories—even comedies and political pamphlets. As films like Blood and Black Lace (1964) and Deep Red (1975) have received international acclaim, giallo is a fluid and dynamic genre that has evolved throughout the decades. This book examines the many facets of the giallo genre —narrative, style, themes, and influences. It explores Italian films, made-for-TV films and miniseries from the dawn of sound cinema to the present, discussing their impact on society, culture and mores. "Since 1929, with the release of a popular book series with bright yellow covers, the Italian word "giallo" (yellow) has come to define the whole spectrum of mystery and detective fiction and films. Although most English speakers associate the term "giallo" with the violent and erotic thrillers popular in the 1960s and 1970s from directors like Mario Bava, Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci and others, the term encompasses a wide range of Italian mysteries, thrillers and detective stories, from comedies to political pamphlets. As films like Blood and Black Lace (1964) and Deep Red (1975) have received international acclaim, giallo is a fluid and dynamic genre that has evolved and hybridized throughout the decades. This book examines the growth of the giallo genre in terms of themes, influences, narrative and style. It explores Italian films, made-for-TV films and miniseries from the dawn of sound cinema to the present, all contextualized within the film industry and through their impact on society, culture and mores."-- Provided by publisher Cover Also by Roberto Curti and from McFarland Acknowledgments Table of Contents Introduction 1. Telefoni Gialli: Detective Stories in Fiction, Stage, and Film, 1929-1943 2. A New Giallo for a New Italy: From the Post-War Years to the Boom, 1945-1961 3. Kriminal Tango: The Giallo's Evolving Imagery in the 1960s 4. The Drooling of the Devil: Tales of Sex and Intrigue, 1967-1970 5. On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts: The Cinema of Dario Argento, 1970-1975 6. The Name of the Game Is Kill: The Argento-style Giallo and Beyond, 1970-1980 Color Illustrations 7. Smoke and Mirrors: Other Perspectives in the Genre, 1969—1979 8. And Give Us Our Daily Murder: Made-for-TV Gialli in the 1970s 9. Murder Most Foul: The Changing Face of the Giallo in the 1980s 10. What Is Left of the Night? Different Shades of Giallo, 1990-1999 11. New Maps of Hell: Italian Giallo in the New Millennium Chapter Notes Bibliography Index