Italian Giallo in Film and Television: A Critical History

by Roberto Curti

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476646459
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	06/03/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	509
File size:	26 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Roberto Curti is an Italian film historian and the author of books on Italian Gothic and giallo cinema, plus critical biographies of European filmmakers such as Riccardo Freda, Tonino Valerii, Elio Petri, Marco Ferreri, and Jesús Franco. He lives in Cortona, Italy.
Roberto Curti is an Italian film historian and the author of books on Italian Gothic and giallo cinema, plus critical biographies of European filmmakers such as Riccardo Freda, Tonino Valerii, Elio Petri, Marco Ferreri, and Jesus Franco. He lives in Cortona, Italy.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
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
Between pages 278 and 279 are 16 color plates containing 30 photographs
 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