Rent Death Walks on High Heels (1971)
3.3 of 5 from 58 ratings
1h 48min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Spanish-born model and actress Nieves Navarro stars as Nicole, an exotic dancer who finds herself terrorized by a black-clad assailant determined on procuring her murdered father's stolen gems. Fleeing Paris in hopes of evading her knife-wielding pursuer, Nicole arrives in England only to discover that death stalks her at every corner.
- Actors:
- Frank Wolff, Nieves Navarro, Simón Andreu, Carlo Gentili, George Rigaud, José Manuel Martín, Fabrizio Moresco, Luciano Rossi, Claudie Lange, Osvaldo Genazzani, Manuel Muñiz, Rachela Pamenti
- Directors:
- Luciano Ercoli
- Producers:
- Luciano Ercoli, Alberto Pugliese
- Writers:
- Ernesto Gastaldi, Mahnahén Velasco, Dino Verde
- Aka:
- La morte cammina con i tacchi alti / Death Walks Twice
- Studio:
- Arrow Films
- Genres:
- Classics, Thrillers
- Countries:
- Italy
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 06/03/2017
- Run Time:
- 108 minutes
- Languages:
- English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono, Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono
- Subtitles:
- English, English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Widescreen 2.35:1
- Colour:
- Colour
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Audio Commentary by Film Critic Tim Lucas
- Introduction to the Film by Screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi
- From Spain with Love - featurette comprising newly-edited archive footage of director Luciano Ercoli and actress Nieves Navarro, interviewed at their home in Barcelona
- Master of Giallo - screenwriter Gastaldi on 'Death Walks on High Heels' and how to write a successful giallo
- Death Walks to the Beat - a career-spanning interview with High Heels composer Stelvio Cipriani
- Original Italian and English Trailers
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Reviews (1) of Death Walks on High Heels
Spoilers follow ... - Death Walks on High Heels review by NP
Somewhat flighty exotic dancer Nicole (Nieves Navarro) finds herself pursued by a masked killer with unnaturally bright blue eyes. Much of this film’s running time is devoted to a partially clad Nicole taking her work home with her, first with hot-headed boyfriend Michel Aumont (Simon Andreu), and then with saucy, middle-aged Dr. Robert Matthews (Frank Wolff), into whose arms she runs when she suspects Michel might be her black-clad pursuer. This latest, more mature admirer looks after her far better than Michel did.
This giallo has much in common with other films of the genre – a sumptuous musical score (by Stelvio Cipriani), a lovely lady in jeopardy, and (far too) much softcore titillation which, to be honest, bungs up the plot and stifles much in the way of tension – at least in the first half. There are suspects galore – one handed Hallory (Luciano Rossi), the good doctor himself (who seems too good to be true) and silly old spurned Michel (who, if innocent, is right to feel unjustly jilted, despite his volatility). And shocks, too – main characters die when you least expect it. This causes a readjustment on behalf of the audience; when someone we have invested in from the beginning of the film, we are left with more peripheral characters who then take centre stage, and we have to reboot our interest in them. It’s good to have these shocks and surprises, but it takes a special skill for the story to continue with the same amount of interest. After some shaky moments, ‘Death Walks on High Heels’ just about manages it.
The locations, mostly set in the coast of England, are lovely. Such scenic backgrounds provide a heavy slate-grey canvas for the increasingly colourful goings-on. Things become so entangled as to threaten to topple into confusion, but a terrific twist and action-infused finale livens things up toward the end. Featuring some meticulously choreographed fight scenes and convincing gore, ‘Death Walks on High Heels’ is an enjoyable entry into the world of giallo.
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