Italy, 1977
115m
35mm film, Eastmancolor
mono, Italian
An Italian horror film directed by Mauro Bologini. It is loosely based on real-life serial killer Leonarda Cianciulli who committed a string of murders in 1939-1940.
Plot Summary
After losing a dozen babies to stillbirth or infant death, Lea’s grip on reality is tenuous at best. She lavishes affection on her only surviving child, the now adult Michele who she believed survived thanks to a deal she made with Death. As the army close in to conscript Michele and he marries a young dance teacher, Lea decides that she needs to make further sacrifices to Death to keep him safe, murdering her friends and using their bodies to make soap and biscuits.
Credits
Crew
Director: Mauro Bolognini
© [not given on screen]
P.A.C. Produzioni Atlas Consorziate presents. Sandra Riccardi Infascelli presents a film by Mauro Bolognini
Produced by: Sandra Riccardi Infascelli
Screenplay and Dialogue by: Nicola Badalucco
Additional Dialogue: Angelo Dallagiacoma
Story by: Luciano Vincenzoni, Nicola Badalucco
Director of Photography: Armando Nannuzzi
Editor: Nino Baragli
Music and Songs: Enzo Jannacci
Sound: Piero Fondi
Costume Designer: Danilo Donati
Supervising Make-up: Gaspare Carboni
Make-up: Alfredo Tiberi
Supervising Hairdresser: Agnese Panarotto
Hairdressers: Giancarlo Marin, Ennio Casciolo
Special Effects: Adriano Psichiutta
Production Designer: Danilo Donati
Cast
Shelley Winters [Lea]
Max von Sydow (Lisa)
Renato Pozzetto (Stella)
Alberto Lionello (Berta)
Adriana Asti [Palma]
Rita Tushingham [Maria]
Milena Vukotic [Tina]
Mario Scaccia [Rosario]
Liù Bosisio [disabled neighbour]
Franco Branciaroli [Don Onorio]
Antonio Marsina (Michele)
Maria Monti [neighbour]
Laura Antonelli (Sandra)
Marco Modugno [student]
Alberto Squillante [carabiniere]
Giancarlo Badessi
Franco Balducci
Alternative Titles
A l’aube de la folie – Canada (French video)
Black Journal – France, UK, USA
Didysis virimas – Lithuania
Húsdarab – Hungary
Mémoires diaboliques – Canada (French)
A nagy főzés – Hungary
Pacto alucinante – Spain (video)
Presagio – Argentina
La signora degli orrori – alternative title
Sólo Dios sabe la verdad – Spain
Sztuka mięsa – Poland
Большое варево – Russia
References
Periodicals
- Bianco e Nero no.1 (October 1947) pp. 118-120; 153 – credits
- Cineforum no.170 (December 1977) pp.790-791
- Cineinforme no.283 (November 1977) p.23
- Rivista del Cinematografo vol.51 no.1 (January 1978) pp.34-35
Books
- Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby p.307
