Baba Yaga (1973)

Director:

Corrado Farina

Writers:

Guido Crepax (comics)
Corrado Farina (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

20 September 1973 (Italy)

Genre:

Mystery

Plot:

A photographer finds herself falling under the spell of a witch.

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Lesbian | Witch | Photographer | Doll

Cast

Carroll Baker	...	Baba Yaga
George Eastman	...	Arno Treves
Isabelle De Funès	...	Valentina Rosselli
Ely Galleani	...	Annette
Daniela Balzaretti
Mario M. Giorgetti
Sergio Masieri
Angela Covello	...	Toni
Cesarina Amendola
Mario Paolo Giordani
Carla Mancini
Giorgio Pellizone
Lorenzo Piani
Natalie E. Spleptzow
Rodolfo Zola
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Franco Battiato	...	(uncredited)
Michele Mirabella	...	Man in white in commercial (uncredited)

Directed by
Corrado Farina

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Guido Crepax		comics
Corrado Farina		writer
François de Lannurien		additional dialogue

Produced by
Simone Allouche	....	producer

Original Music by
Piero Umiliani

Cinematography by
Aiace Parolin

Film Editing by
Giulio Berruti

Production Design by
Giulia Mafai

Costume Design by
Giulia Mafai

Makeup Department
Sergio Gennari	....	hair stylist
Orietta Melaranci	....	makeup artist (as Oretta Melaranci)

Production Management
Pino De Martino	....	production manager
Bruno Evangelisti	....	unit manager
Franco Tupini	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Giulio Berruti	....	assistant director

Art Department
Renato Moretti	....	assistant production designer

Sound Department
Mario Piovan	....	sound engineer

Camera and Electrical Department
Angelo Lannutti	....	camera operator (as Arcangelo Lannutti)
Eraldo Martella	....	key grip
Bruno Pasqualini	....	chief electrician
Claudio Tondi	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nadia Fabriani	....	dress maker

Editorial Department
Nicola Alluscia	....	assistant editor
Paolo Giaccio	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Lucia Luconi	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• 14 Luglio Cinematografica
• Allouche

Distributors

• Blue Underground (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Brentwood Home Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• DMEG (2004) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Diamond Entertainment Group (DEG) (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Paragon Video Productions (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Reel Media International (2005) (USA) (TV)
• Reel Media International (2007) (USA) (all media)
• St. Clair Vision (2004) (Canada) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Baby Yaga, Devil Witch (USA)
Black Magic
Kiss Me Kill Me (USA) (video title)
The Devil Witch

Runtime:

91 min | UK:81 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:12 (2007) | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Milan, Lombardia, Italy

Company:

14 Luglio Cinematografica

Trivia:

The Diamond Entertainment DVD box and menu erroneously attribute the direction to Umberto Lenzi, although the print itself correctly credits Corrado Farina.

Movie Connections:

Features Golem, wie er in die Welt kam, Der (1920)

Silly and stylish, just the way I like my eurotrash

The more I see of the late 60s / early 70s pop art eurotrash films, the more addicted I become to them. I initially didn't really like their extreme favoring of style over substance and high art pretensions, but they've grown on me. They range from very good ("Danger: Diabolik", "Venus In Furs") to lesser (such as this one), but I'm rarely outright bored by them. Their silly psychedelic shadings will be a turn off from many cult fans admittedly, but their often beautiful style will attract others. They're often classier than their American counterparts. Don't expect any depth or a coherent story from these, just get lost in the feel.

"Baby Yaga" is a prime example, if not one of the finest from the subgenre. Its full of goofy symbolism which serves absolutely no purpose (just what was the deal with the recurring dreams about Nazism?). However, they're highly entertaining to watch and the sheer strangeness of them more than makes up for the pretentiousness. Even though he apparently feels the film was a failure, Corrado Farina's direction is quite good. It keeps everything moving at a quick pace. Also, the editing is very good and psychedelic (there's very few shots that last for more than three seconds). And while there's no depth to any of this, there is a degree of creativity. Don't attempt to follow the storyline either. While it isn't nearly as confusing as Jess Franco's films from the era, it gets a bit difficult to follow.

If there's one major failing of the film, its the acting. Granted, one doesn't go to these films for Oscar winning performances, but still. As the lead, Isabelle De Funès (resembling a petite cross between Barbara Steele and Louise Brooks) fairs decently enough. However, the hero George Eastman is insufferably dull and Carroll Baker is badly miscast. Certainly past her prime, I wonder if Baker was put in the film simply to generate some star power. She turns in a wooden performance and is way too old for the part. Also, the style begins to wear a bit thin during the last twenty minutes or so. This aside, "Baby Yaga" is still an entertaining bit of erotic-horror. If you're into this kind of thing, dig in. (6/10)