Italy, 1981
85m (USA – cut version); 89m (Argentina); 91m; 93m (USA – uncut version)
35mm film, Techniscope, Eastmancolor, 2.35:1
mono, Italian
An Italian horror film directed by Lucio Fulci. Production began in April 1981 and it was originally released in Italy on 4 March 1982.
Plot Summary
A serial killer is stalking the streets of New York, eviscerating young women while doing a strange duck impression. On the trail is down at heel detective Lt Fred Williams who seeks professional help from a psychiatrist as the body count rises. Red herrings abound as Williams struggles to capture the killer before he can strike again.
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Directed by: Lucio Fulci
Copyright MCMLXXXII [1982] by Fulvia Film s.r.l.
Fabrizio de Angelis presents a Lucio Fulci film A film produced by Fulvia Film S.r.l. – Rome
Producer: Fabrizio De Angelis (uncredited)
Screenplay by Gianfranco Clerici, Vincenzo Mannino, Lucio Fulci, Dardano Sacchetti
Story: Gianfranco Clerici, Vincenzo Mannino, Lucio Fulci
French Adaptation: Alain Lemaitre-Mory, Jean Lamy
Assistant Director: Roberto Giandalia
2nd Unit Assistant Director: Marisa Agostini
Continuity: Rita Agostini
Director of Photography: Luigi Kuveiller
2nd Unit Director of Photography: Guglielmo Mancori
Cameraman: Ubaldo Terzano
Assistant Cameramen: Antonio Annunziata, Renato Palmieri
2nd Unit Assistant Cameramen: Aldo Marchiori, Marco Sperduti
Chief Eletrician: Sabatino Sperandeo
Key Grip: Sergio Emidi
Stills, Stills Processing: Antonio Benetti
2nd Unit Stills: Roberto Nicosia
Camera Equipment: Cinenoleggio
Film Editor: Vincenzo Tomassi
Assistant Editors: Armando Pace, Massimo Cataldo
Color by: Luciano Vittori
Negatives: Eastmancolor
Music Composed and Directed by: Francesco De Masi
Music Copyright: Deaf Edizioni Musicali s.r.l.
Sound Engineer: Eros Giustini
Boom Operator: Guglielmo Smeraldi
Recording Studios: N.C.
Mixage: Bruno Moreal
French Version: Sonorinter
French Sound: Michel Peru
Costumes: Massimo Lentini
Make-up: Manlio Rocchetti, Luigi Rocchetti
2nd Unit Make-up: Franco Di Girolamo
2nd Unit Make-up Assistant: Rosario Prestopino
Hairstyles: Rosa Luciani
Wigs: Rocchetti-Carboni
Production Design: Massimo Lentini
Assistant Designer: Mariangela Capuano
Property Master: Rodolfo Ruzza
Set Dressings: Arredamenti Cineteatrali grp, L’immaginoteca, E. Rancati
Set Furnishings: D’Angelo
Set Construction: Fabio Traversari, Roberto Pace
Paymaster: Otello Tomassini
Production Assistants: Emilia Morale, Settimio Scacco
Locations: New York City, New York, USA
Interiors Filmed at: In.ci.r. – De Paolis Studios – Rome
Unit Managers: Paolo Gargano, Fabrizio De Martino
Stunt Coordinator: Nazzareno Cardinali
Cast
Jack Hedley (Lt Fred Williams)
Almanta Keller [real name: Almanta Suska] (Fay Majors)
Howard Ross (Mickey Scellenda)
Andrew Painter [real name: Andrea Occhipinti] (Peter Bunch)
Alexandra Delli Colli (Jane Forrester Lodge)
Paolo Malco (Dr Paul Davis)
Cinzia de Ponti (Rosie)
Laurence Welles [real name: Cosimo Cinieri] (Dr Lodge)
Daniela Doria (Kitty)
Babette New (Mrs Weissburger)
Zora Kerowa (Eva)
Paul Guskin (desk sergeant)
Anthon Kagan [real name: Antone Pagan] (Morales)
Johs Cruze (Chico)
Marsha Mac Bride (policewoman)
Rita Silva (Scellenda’s landlady)
Giordano Falzoni (Dr Barry Jones)
Lucio Fulci (Chief of Police)
Barbara Cupisti (Heather)
Martin Sorrentino (police detective)
Violetta Jean (hospital nurse)
Cesare Di Vito (red Volkswagen owner)
Elisa Cervi (hooker)
Chiara Ferrari (Susy Bunch)
Michele Soavi [man buying newspaper] *
Alternative Titles
Blodig voldtaegt – Netherlands
El descuartizador de New York – Argentina (video)
El descuartizador de Nueva York – Spain
El destripador de Nueva York – Spain
L’Éventreur de New York – Canada (French), France
Der New York Ripper – West Germany
The New York Ripper – UK, USA
Psycho Ripper
The Ripper
Der Schlitzer von New York – West Germany
Viiltäjä – Finland
References
Periodicals
- European Trash Cinema vol.2 no.6 p.36 – review
- Necronomicon no.7 (1995) pp.52-53 – review
- Rue Morgue no.196 (September/October 2020) pp.12-22 – illustrated interview with Dardano Sacchetti (Legacy of blood by Robert Freese)
- Shock Cinema no.9 p.8 – review
- Starburst no.53 pp.20-21 – illustrated review (The New York Ripper by Alan Jones)
- Starburst no.55 p.34 – review
- Video the Magazine January 1985 p.11 – note
Books
- The Aurum Film Encyclopedia: Horror by Phil Hardy (ed.) pp.382-383
- Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema by Jonathan Rigby p.392
- Horror and Science Fiction Films III by Donald C. Willis p.191 – credits
- Horror Films of the 1980s by John Kenneth Muir pp.603-604 – credits, synopsis, review
- Italian Horror 1979-1994 by Jim Harper pp.146-148 – illustrated credits, review
- The Mammoth Book of Slasher Movies: An A-Z Guide to Over Sixty Years of Blood and Guts by Peter Normanton pp.325-328
- Serial Killer Cinema: An Analytical Filmography by Robert Cetti pp.314-315
