University of Virginia Library

Taut Mystery In Town

By Susan Hardwicke
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Ho-hum. Another thriller-chiller
murder mystery in town? No. Not
just another. "The Bird With the
Crystal Plumage" is strangely
different. The taut mystery
progresses slowly to its conclusion,
which has a psychological twist.

The setting is Italy, where Tony
Musante, who plays Sam, says
flatly, "nothing ever happens."
Unsurprisingly enough, something
does happen: an attempted murder,
which is part of the strange puzzle
the audience is challenged to fit
together.

The acting is generally good, but
not spectacular. Suzy Kendall
portrays Julia, Sam's English wife,
very well. Mr. Musante shows good
potential as the cool,
contemplative writer. But Eva
Renzi as Monica just doesn't come
off; she overplays the first and last
scenes while she underplays the
ones in the middle. Somehow she
doesn't convince anyone that she's
recovering from a near-fatal stab in
the solar plexus.

Distinguishing Feature

The most distinguishing feature
of "The Bird With the Crystal
Plumage" is its plot. In trying to
guess the killer, I was fooled twice,
like anyone else who attempts to
match wits with the author.
Obviously, writer-director Dario
Argento goes out of his way to
disguise the film's unique ending. I
personally challenge anyone with
an I.Q. of less than 200 or luck less
than amazing to guess the outcome.

It's herd to fall asleep watching
a movie like "Bird With the Crystal
Plumage," yet, as the film climbed
swiftly to its peak of suspense, the
sounds of whispery voices and
stealthy footsteps were drowned
out by a woman snoring nearby.
Too bad she missed the ending.

* * *

In contrast to "Bird," which
contains relatively few social
realities, an added feature was
included. Titled "The Paintings of
Juan Genoves," this excellent short
film gives life to the work of a new
Spanish artist. He paints people in
situations that are inevitable and
inescapable. His works, with titles
such as "The Prisoner" and "A Test
of Violence," depict those who
have been captive, crushed, and
beaten down unmercifully.

No Narration

The special effects are also
excellent. There is little music and
no narration, for the paintings
speak loud enough for themselves.
Bloodshed and terror are pictured
as horrible, but in such a way that
is astonishing rather than
deplorable.

Thus, we have two films which
offer violence in two non-violent
forms; one film shows the reasons,
and the other, the results.

(Now at the Cinema)