Double Dose of Martino at the Music Box

January 13, 2024 by Jon Kitley in Movie Events and tagged All the Colors of the Dark, Edwige Fenech, George Hilton, Island of the Fishmen, Ivan Rassimov, January Giallo, Music Box Theatre, Sergio Martino, Slave of the Cannibal God, The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh, Torso | Leave a comment

I know we had previously announced that Italian director Sergio Martino was going to be at the Music Box Theatre on the 22nd for a screening of his 1973 epic Torso as the last film in this year’s January Giallo series. But the Giallo Gods have smiled upon us once again and have the Music Box has added another Martino classic, The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh (1971), starring George Hilton, Edwige Fenech, Ivan Rassimov, and Alberto de Mendoza, which I would consider a very essential title in the giallo sub-genre. This screening will be taking place on Tuesday the 23rd, at 7pm.

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January Giallo at the Music Box

December 27, 2022 by Jon Kitley in Movie Events and tagged All the Colors of the Dark, Caroll Baker, Clint Eastwood, Dan Hedaya, Edwige Fenech, Eloy de la Iglesia, Erika Blanc, Florinda Bolkan, Geneviève Bujold, George Hilton, Helga Liné, Ivan Rassimov, January Giallo, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Lizard in a Woman's Skin, Lucio Fulci, Music Box Theatre, No One Heard the Scream, Sergio Martino, So Sweet So Perverse, Umberto Lenzi | Leave a comment

Back in January of this year, Chicago’s Music Box Theatre offered up a series of Italian films from the giallo sub-genre, giving fans a chance to see some amazing titles on the big screen. Next month, they are continuing that tradition, giving us 5 more titles, but not just from Italy this time, showing the international influence of this intriguing sub-genre. You’ll still get 3 titles from Italy, once again showcasing some of the best gialli from that country, but also one from Spain and even one from here in the US, starring a very famous actor/director. Check out the titles and the dates below and start making your plans. These will all be screening in the main theater, with 3 from 35mm and 2 from DCP. For all the latest info about this series, just click HERE.

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Horror History – Edwige Fenech

February 15, 2016 by Jon Kitley in Horror History and tagged Edwige Fenech, Horror History | 1 Comment

Edwige Fenech
Born Dec. 24th, 1948

If you have watched more than a handful of Italian giallos, then chances are you’ve seen Edwige Fenech in action. And she is one that is hard to forget. Born in France, she started her career in beauty contests, eventually moving into modeling. In 1967, she made her film debut in the comedy All Mad About Him. She continued to work making films, mostly comedies, in France, Germany, and Italy. Her first real thriller was Top Sensation (1969), that co-starred another Italian sex symbol Rosalba Neri. She appeared in Mario Bava’s 5 Dolls for an August Moon (1970), then the following year starred in her first film with director Sergio Martino, the 1971 film The Strange Vice of Mr.s Wardh (aka Blade of the Ripper). She would go on to star in quite a few giallos in the next few years, many of them for Martino, titles such as All the Colors of the Dark (1972), The Case of the Bloody Iris (1972), Your Vice is Locked Room and Only I Have the Key (1972), and even with director Ruggero Deodato in Phantom of Death (1988).

In the ’80s, she became a television personality, hosting a talk show for a while. After a while, she moved into movie producing, which she has been doing since. She even co-produced the 2004 version of The Merchant of Venice starring Al Pacino.

Seeing Fenech’s name in any movie was always an extra bonus. Such a great talent and just beautiful to watch, she is one of the reasons that Italian giallos are still as popular these days as they were back then. Of course, it might have also helped since she was usually in some form of undress during the movie….a lot.