Hombre sin memoria

This little seen thriller is a solid entry into the giallo canon that was directed by Duccio Tessari (who did the equally good "The Bloodstained Butterfly") and written by Ernesto Gastaldi (who is the iconic writer of the giallo genre).

The narrative features an interesting narrative hook (a man can't remember who he is and now thugs are after him for something he hid... and he doesn't know where it is, let alone *what* it is). Unfortunately, the film doesn't utilize its intriguing plot premise to the fullest, with essentially the amnesia element pushed aside for most of the movie, and instead relies on more conventional means of telling the story. Fortunately, the writer manages to more successfully integrate the amnesia element towards the end which allow for a few plot twists, but not to the degree it could have achieved.

The direction is fine but nothing exemplary, and the performances are all solid but not particularly memorable. In other words, everything is competent and efficient, but it doesn't really standout from the majority of thrillers that saturate our viewing repertoire.

However, it certainly is an above average example of the giallo genre, with narrative that is better than most gialli and even has a terrific climax, but it's also certainly not a classic film in any respect.

Highly recommended for giallo fans, a solid recommendation to thriller aficionados, but others may wish to simply view a better example of the genre, such as "Deep Red".

Also, the film references Stanley Donan's film "Charade", see if you can catch it...

Luc Merenda has amnesia. He woke up from an auto accident about a year ago and has been unable to remember anything about his life. He had identification on him, but nothing can be found about his past. His psychiatrist introduces him to someone who claims to know him, but he immediately attacks Merenda demanding to know where the stuff is. Someone shoots and kills him through Merenda's window.

Merenda learned a bit from the guy. He learned that his name is actually "Ted Walden" and that he has a wife waiting for him in Italy. When someone sends him info about his wife and a train ticket, he goes to see her.

His wife is Senta Berger. She's assumed for the last year that Merenda ran out on her. She learns of his imminent arrival, but someone breaks into her house ... but doesn't take anything. When Merenda arrives, he's confronted by Bruno Corazzari who claims they are friends and partners in a shady deal that was to net them $1 million. The problem is that Merenda has the goods, and if he doesn't start remembering, the big boss will come after all of them.

After this fairly compelling setup, this film settles into a long rut before livening up for a delightfully absurd climax involving Chekhov's chainsaw and a villain undone when the rug is literally pulled out from under him. I think anyone watching this will know who the main villain is long before the film bothers to tell you, but it's a mildly entertaining diversion. It's pretty tame for a giallo, especially one this late in the cycle, but Duccio Tessari delivers this one just fine.

Anita Strindberg has a tiny, but fairly significant role.

Duccio Tessari's "L'Uomo Senza Memoria" (aka. "The Man Without Memory" / "Puzzle") of 1974 is not (yet) a very well-known Giallo, but it sure is a great film worthy of more attention. For the great Giallo-genre, especially in the mid-70s, this film bares very few murders and little bloodshed, but that does in no way lessen its value as a terrific Thriller that no Giallo-buff, or even suspense-fan in general should miss. Especially to those who set the main value on the mystery aspect of a Giallo, this is an essential film. The title "The Man Without Memory" fits the film perfectly, of course, as the central character (superbly played by Luc Merenda) is a man who suffers from amnesia. Yet the aka. title "Puzzle" fits the film just as well, as this is indeed a highly compelling and intelligent puzzle, which is capable of stunning the viewer from the first minute.

Edward (Luc Merenda) has lost his memory. Without knowing why, he is being followed by people, who insist that he owes them something. He finds out that he has a wife in Italy, who turns out to be the beautiful Sara (Senta Berger). This is only the first step into his mysterious past, however... I do not want to give away too much about the plot, since this is an ingenious puzzle that all fellow Giallo-buffs should experience entirely for themselves. The film is excellent and stunning in its mystery and suspense, beautifully shot and accompanied by a great score. The performances are superb. Luc Merenda, star of Poliziotteschi such as "The Violent Professionals", was the perfect choice to play the lead here, and beautiful Senta Berger is sexy, lovable and great in the role of Sara. The cast furthermore includes the wonderful Anita Strindberg, who was part of many memorable Gialli, such as "The Scorpion's Tail", "Lizard In A Woman's Skin", "Who Saw Her Die", and, most notably in Sergio Martino's Poe-inspired masterpiece "Your Vice Is A Locked Room And Only I Have The Key", which is a strong contender for my personal all-time favorite Giallo. Strindberg only has a small role here, but she is doubtlessly great in it. The cast furthermore includes Umberto Orsini ("Violent City") and Genre-regular Bruno Corazzari ("The Strange Vice Of Mrs Wardh", "Seven Blood-Stained Orchids",...). "The Man Without Memory" is a very intelligent and enthralling film that deserves more attention, and that no Giallo-lover can afford to miss! Highly recommended!

This fine Giallo tells an unusual story in an unusual way, and even though not much happens in the first half of the film, director Tessari manages to grip the viewer's attention from the beginning through stylish directing and really thrilling and creepy moments. In the second half, as the plot thickens and the parts of the puzzle begin to fit into a whole (i.e. as the main character starts to remember more and more of his past), there are also some fairly violent scenes, e.g. as a villain falls over a cliff or beautiful female lead Senta Berger swings a chainsaw. But, most importantly, even though the plot is a quite complicated net of strings that has to be lead together to the climax, the story remains plausible until the end, which isn't always the case in films of this genre.

Apart from the convincing performance by Berger, Luc Merenda is also well casted in the title role, as is Umberto Orsini in the main supporting role. Look out for Giallo regular Anita Strindberg in a small but crucial role. The lush sound track is also very cool and adds to the viewing pleasure. The only shame is that, as with too many other Italian films of the 1970s, this memorable Giallo is quite rare and hard to get. Rating: 8 out of 10.

Puzzle aka Man without memory aka Uomo senza memoria, L' (1974)

Eight months after a near fatal car crash in London, Peter Smith (Luc Merenda)is still unsure of his real id, the only clue he has is the car was rented to someone by that name, the name he now goes under. His doctors say that through his sub conscious he is deliberately hiding his past, out of fear. He is introduced to a man, Philip, who claims his real name is in fact Ted and who claims that he, Ted/Peter is a conman, Ted/Peter can neither corroborate or deny the accusations, one thing for sure though is the man has a grudge against him, they go to Peter's apartment to discuss matters but Philip is shot and killed by an assailant with a rifle on the building opposite, Peter then receives a telegram which claims to be from his wife who lives in Portofino, Italy, and after hiding the body flees the scene.

Sara his wife (Senta Berger) has put her missing husband behind her now and has moved on to a new friendship with Daniel Reinhardt (Umberto Orsini), the local swimming coach , she has also befriended one of his pupils, Luca, a keen swimmer and amateur photographer who has a bit of a crush on her. On the eve of her husband's arrival she is attacked and drugged in her own home by an unseen assailant but the motive is unclear as nothing was taken, the police are baffled. On his arrival Peter is unable to recognize his estranged wife and is prompted by a red haired stranger as to her identity. Sara regails their past to an inquisitive Ted, she tells of their whirlwind relationship, and the fact that she never really knew what business he was in, just that it was secret work that may have involved antiques. "Who am I ? He pleads…"a dirty rotten bastard " she replies and every one seems to agree!. Ted/Peter is shocked to find out that Sara had not in fact sent the telegram, Ted tells her they may be in danger and that the killer has arranged it that way, but what is his motive? Puzzle shies away from the usual clichés of the genre and in so doing it turns out to be a rather slow and plodding affair, who the killer is? is always an important part of any Giallo and there are many suspects in the film, is Sara somehow involved?..is she really his wife…is he really Ted?…could it be the red haired stranger who introduces himself as George (Bruno Corazzari) who claims to have saved his life, could it be Daniel, the friend of Sara or perhaps the mysterious blonde Mary (an underused Anita Strindberg) or could it even be the helpful policeman?…well to anyone with a knowledge of Gialli, it will be pretty obvious. Puzzle isn't bad in any way, it just doesn't excel or excite, the way a Giallo should, the second half of the film is better when the pace builds but if feels more like your regular crime film as opposed to that of a Giallo, the performances of the three main leads are all good but there is a distinct lack of great set pieces but the best kill is saved until the end when the real killer is revealed. The film does however seem to foreshadow scenes from both TCM(1974) and The Shining(1980). Not essential Giallo by any means but an enjoyable way to pass 90 mins.