Italy, 1981
92m
35mm film, Technovision, Eastmancolor, 2.35:1
Italian
An Italian horror film directed by Lucio Fulci. Production began on 11 August 1980 and the film was released in Italy on 4 April 1981.
Plot Summary
In a small English village, psychic researcher miles wanders through fog-enshrouded cemeteries at the dead of night talking to tombstones. American photographer Jill gets involved with a series of strange killings being investigated by a puzzled Inspector Gorley, and is the only one to recognise the strange psychic connection between Miles and his black cat, which seems to be responsible for the ghastly crimes.
Credits
Crew
Director: Lucio Fulci
Selenia Cinematografica
Production Executive: Renato Angiolini
Producer: Giulio Sbarigia
Production Manager: Ennio Onorati
Unit Managers: Antonio De Padova, Tommaso Pantano
Script: Biagio Proietti
Story: The Black Cat by Edgar Allan Poe
Screen Story: Biagio Proietti
2nd Unit Director: Roberto Giandalia
Assistant Director: Victor Tourjansky, David Del Bufalo
Director of Photography: Sergio Salvati
Camera Operator: Franco Bruni, Roberto Forge-Davanzati
Assistant Camera: Maurizio Lucchini
Gaffer: Alfredo Fedeli
Key Grip: Ennio Brizzolari
Stills: Gianfranco Massa
Editor: Vincenzo Tomassi
1st Assistant Editor: Rita Antonelli
2nd Assistant Editor: Pietro Tomassi
Colour: LV – Luciano Vittori
Prints: Eastmancolor
Labs: Telecolor
Music: Pino Donaggio
Music Director: Natale Massara
Conductor: Natale Massara
Sound Recordist: Ugo Celani
Boom: Eros Giustini
Dubbing Editor: Nick Alexander
Additional Sound Effects: Fernando Casa, Alvaro Gramigna
Recorded at: Fono Roma for Cinitalia Roma
Costumes: Massimo Lentini
Seamstress: Palmina Tacconi
Make Up: Franco Di Girolamo
Make Up Assistant: Rosario Prestopino
Hair: Maria Pia Crapanzano
Special Effects: Paolo Ricci
Titles and Opticals: Penta Studio
Production Designer: Francesco Calabrese
Art Director: Massimo Antonello Geleng
Set Furnishings: GRP – Cimino
Carpets and Drapes: Alfredo D'Angelo
Script Continuity: Daniela Tonti
Cat Trainers: Pasquale Martino (Rome), Animals Unlimited (London)
UK scenes shot with the collaboration of Filmex Ltd, London
Locations: North West London, England, UK
Studios: RPA Elios; Cine International Studios; Incir De Paolis Studios
Stunt Coordinator: Nazzareno Cardinali
Cast
Patrick Magee (Professor Robert Miles)
David Warbeck (Inspector Gorley)
Mimsy Farmer (Jill Trevers)
Al Cliver (rn: Pier Luigi Conti) (Sergeant Wilson)
Dagmar Lassander (Lillian Grayson)
Bruno Corazzari (Ferguson)
Geoffrey Copleston (Inspector Flynn)
Daniela Dorio [real name: Daniela Doria] (Maureen)
Alternative Titles
The Black Cat – UK, US title
The Black Cat (Gatto Nero) – publicity title
Le chat noir – French title
El gato nero – Spanish title
O Gato Preto – Portugese title
Il gatto di Park Lane – working title
Les griffes de la terreur – alternative French title
Musta kissa – Finnish title
Het mysterie van de zwarte kat – Dutch title
References
Periodicals
Delirium no.4 pp.19-21 – review, credits
Delirium no.26 (2021) pp.6-11 – illustrated interview with Pino Donaggio (Melodies of madness and monsters by Michael Gingold)
European Trash Cinema no.13 pp.18-19 – review
Famous Monsters no.166 p.71 – review
Fangoria no.10 p.61 – review
Fangoria no.29 p.12 – review
Giallo Guide 1987 – review
Halls of Horror no.27 p.17 – note
L'Ecran Fantastique no.21 pp.58-60 – review
Mad Movies no.21 p.39 – review
Mad Movies no.22 p.23 – review
Popular Video October 1982 – review
Video Watchdog no.33 pp.10-11 – review
Books
Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror p.363 – review, credits
Beyond Terror by Stephen Thrower pp.278 – review, credits
Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby pp.373-75, 384, 387
Hoffman's Guide to SF, Horror and Fantasy Movie 1991-1992 p.151 – credits, review
Horror and Science Fiction Films II by Donald C. Willis p.33 – credits
Italian Gothic Horror Films, 1980-1989 by Roberto Curti pp.55-60
Spaghetti Nightmares p.164 – credits
