4 mosche di velluto grigio (1971)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Dario Argento

Writers:

Dario Argento (screenplay)
Dario Argento (story)

Release Date:

25 August 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Music | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

When the flies start to crawl, so will your flesh...

Plot:

A musician is stalked by an unknown killer who's blackmailing him for an accidential killing of another stalker. But is everything what it appears to be?

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Night | Friend | Drummer | Stalker

Cast

Michael Brandon	...	Roberto Tobias
Mimsy Farmer	...	Nina Tobias
Jean-Pierre Marielle	...	Gianni Arrosio
Bud Spencer	...	Godfrey 'God'
Aldo Bufi Landi	...	Pathologist
Calisto Calisti	...	Carlo Marosi
Marisa Fabbri	...	Amelia, the maid
Oreste Lionello	...	The Professor
Fabrizio Moroni	...	Mirko
Corrado Olmi	...	Porter
Stefano Satta Flores	...	Andrea
Laura Troschel	...	Maria (as Costanza Spada)
Francine Racette	...	Dalia
Dante Cleri	...	Coffin Salesman
Guerrino Crivello	...	Rambaldi, the neighbor

Also Known As:

4 Flies on Grey Velvet (USA) (alternative spelling)
4 mouches de velours gris (France)
Four Flies on Grey Velvet (USA)
Four Patches of Grey Velvet
Quatre mouches de velours gris (France) (alternative spelling)
Quattro mosche di velluto grigio (Italy) (alternative spelling)
The Four Velvet Flies (International: English title)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Luxembourg:17 | Belgium:KNT | Germany:18 | Argentina:13 | Italy:VM14 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Incir De Paolis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Marianne Productions

Trivia:

Some of the earlier cast considerations for the main role Roberto Tobias were Terence Stamp, Michael York and even some members of The Beatles.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror (2000) (TV)

Final in The Animal Trilogy and a Good Scary One Too

I saw this on the big screen when it first was released in 1973 as a teen and later in 1992 at The Film Institute where it was shown with an unedited Susperia and Dario Argento himself was there to introduce both films and to discuss with the audience his craft after their showings. There must be something with this film since it was chosen for this unique seminar over all his other pre 1992 works. Upon the second viewing of this film, I still find it scary and spellbinding and the secret behind the title is quite chilling. Gives me the creeps just thinking about it. The stylish camerawork and storyline is pure Argento "black glove" period and this is my 3rd favorite film (tied with Deep Red) of his right behind #1 Susperia and #2 Tennebre. Why this film was never released on DVD or at least, after all these years, on VHS is a mystery in itself. I for one will be the first in line to purchase this if Anchor Bay or another reputable DVD distributor releases it.