Sette orchidee macchiate di rosso (1972)

Director:

Umberto Lenzi

Writers:

Roberto Gianviti (screenplay)
Paul Hengge (credited on German prints)

Release Date:

24 February 1972 (Italy)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Giallo | Prostitute | Murder | Power Drill

Cast

Antonio Sabato	...	Mario
Uschi Glas	...	Giulia (as Uschi Glass)
Pier Paolo Capponi	...	Inspector Vismara
Rossella Falk	...	Elena Marchi
Marina Malfatti	...	Kathy Adams
Renato Romano	...	The Priest
Claudio Gora	...	Raffaele Ferri
Gabriella Giorgelli	...	Inez Tamborini
Aldo Barberito	...	Lt. Palumbo
Bruno Corazzari	...	Barrett
Franco Fantasia	...	Lt. Renzi
Petra Schürmann	...	Concetta di Rosa
Ivano Davoli
Linda Sini	...	Juanda
Nello Pazzafini	...	Raoul

Also Known As:

Seven Blood-Stained Orchids (International: English title) (dubbed version) (USA) (DVD title)
Edgar Wallace - Das Rätsel des silbernen Halbmonds (West Germany) (series title)
Puzzle of the Silver Half Moons
Rätsel des silbernen Halbmonds, Das (West Germany)
Sette volti per l'assassino (Italy)
Sieben Gesichter für die Mörderin (West Germany)

Runtime:

Finland:88 min | Germany:85 min | Greece:88 min

Country:

Italy | West Germany

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Spoleto, Perugia, Umbria, Italy

Company:

Flora Film

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Pastewka: Die Strategie der Schnecke (#2.2)" (2006)

Stylish, Tantalizing And Compelling - Lenzi Delivers An Excellent Giallo

Umberto Lenzi is a controversial director who is probably most famous for his shocking Cannibal Films "Cannibal Ferox" (1981) and "Mangiati Vivi" (1980). Memorable Films, of course, but Lenzi's most brilliant work dates back to the 70s, with tough-minded and ultra-violent Poliziotteschi (most memorably "Milano Odia: La Polizia Non Può Sparare" of 1974 and "Roma A Mano Armata" of 1976), as well as this excellent Giallo, "Sette Orchidee Macchiate Di Rosso" aka. "Seven Blood-Stained Orchids" of 1972. "Seven Blood Stained Orchids" is a complex-plotted, eerie and highly atmospheric film that is compelling in all aspects and and absolute must-see for every lover of Italian Horror films.

Several Women are brutally killed by a mysterious murderer, who always leaves little silver half-moon with the bodies of his victims. When Giulia (Uschi Glas) almost falls victim to the killer, her husband Mario (Antonio Sabato) begins to investigate himself, as the police are still clueless...

The film has a great, eerie atmosphere and is stunningly suspenseful from the very beginning. The excellent camera work, as well as beautiful settings, intense colors and a great score by Riz Ortolani make this a highly atmospheric Giallo, like every fan of the (sub-)genre should love it. I am not the biggest Uschi Glas fan (where I live, she is one of the most famous actresses, and mainly for incredibly cheesy films that elderly ladies tend to watch), but back in the day she sure was stunningly beautiful, and she also delivers a good performance. Antonio Sabato also fits in his role, and the supporting cast includes a bunch of familiar faces for fans of Italian genre-cinema. Beautiful Marissa Mell is one of the several sexy members of the female cast, and Pier Paolo Capponi, whom fans of Italian cinema should know for his role in Fernando Di Leo's Masterpiece "Il Boss" (1973), plays the investigating police detective. Even though the violence is tame for Lenzi-standards, there is one very brutal murder-scene, and the film is tantalizing from the beginning to the end.

As several other great Gialli, "Seven Blood-Stained Orchids" was sold in a cut or, more precisely, mutilated version as an Edgar Wallace film in Germany. People in German speaking countries, avoid any cut 'Edgar Wallace' versions of the film, and go for uncut international versions instead! All said, "Seven Blood Stained Orchids" is an excellent and particularly atmospheric Giallo that no lover of Italian cinema or suspense in general can afford to miss!