La maison du tapis jaune

What we have here is another sublime yet criminally neglected giallo-highlight that urgently deserves to be out there on DVD along with the big boys! Once you witness how amazingly compelling and suspenseful this film is, you too will probably wonder why the hell it is still so unknown and incredibly difficult to purchase. "House of the Yellow Carpet" implements a unique and highly creative structure, the convoluted plot-twists are actually plausible for a change and – most of all – director Carlo Lizzani upholds a genuinely unsettling atmosphere throughout the entire film. The script is adapted from a stage play and this really shows, as there's just one main setting and only four characters that gather there. Exactly like in the terrific Audrey Hepburn thriller "Wait Until Dark" (also based on a play), the lack of filming locations increases the tension and, moreover, provides the film with an awkward feel of claustrophobia. Also, the titular yellow carpet might be a hideous piece of interior decoration, but it's definitely a cool gimmick for a movie that falls into the category of "gialli"! The opening sequence immediately sets a sober tone, as a husband overhears his wife talking in her sleep about sex with another man. The next morning, we learn that the couple placed an ad to sell an old inherited yellow carpet that hardly fits in their apartment. When she's alone later that morning, the woman receives a visitor who pretends to be interested in the carpet but the strange & uncanny man promptly ensues to psychologically terrorize Franca about her deepest desires and hidden childhood secrets. I know it's not much of a summary, but it's really all that I can tell about the story without revealing essential elements. And, trust me, this is the type of film for which you don't want to know already how it ends. "House of the Yellow Carpet" is not as violent or sick-spirited as most contemporary giallo-efforts (partly due to the budget?), but the lack of gore is widely compensated by a stylish photography and great dialogues. The acting performances are highly satisfying too, with a splendid role for the Swedish veteran actor Erland Josephson ("The Unbearable Lightness of Being"). Excellent film, truly recommended.

This not very well known Italian thriller (Giallo) is a thoroughly unique feature that reinvents classical issues of the Film Noir and the classical Italian Giallo of the 1960s and 1970s to become an extremely original movie of its own.

Most remarkably, "La Casa del Tappeto Giallo" is packed with surprises, and - best of all - they are all real surprises that manage to startle the viewer. Also, the setting of the flat where the yellow carpet of the title lies remains the almost only setting of the whole feature (with very few exceptions), which adds a creepy claustrophobic touch to the quite subversive and mean story. Lizzani also delivers a healthy portion of subtle but delicious black humor, and some nasty moments typical for the Giallo genre.

Not to forget the splendid cast. Especially Erland Josephson delivers a delightful performance. The fine score was composed by Stelvio Cipriani, best known for his compositions for Italian police thrillers of the 1970s (e.g. "La Polizia ha le Mani Legate").

Not to be missed... if one can get hold of a copy.

This a technically a giallo (it even has the word "giallo" or "yellow" in the Italian title), but it was made late in the giallo game and is different in many ways from most films in the genre. While many giallos are jet-set travelogues (stereotypically, beginning with an airplane taking off or landing), this movie is very claustrophobic, confined almost entirely to a dingy city apartment. Also, while most giallos are very cinematic, this one, with its limited sets and emphasis on acting, is very theatrical. As another reviewer said,it is a lot like "Wait Until Dark", but that movie was originally a play; I'm not sure whether this was as well, but it sure seems like one.

A married woman is left alone in an apartment after her husband leaves for a LONG time to attend to parking tickets. A strange man shows up looking to buy a yellow carpet that the couple is selling. The man reveals personal information about the woman and then attacks her, mercilessly chewing the scenery (I'm not sure if he's just a bad actor, or if he's actually a good actor PLAYING a bad actor). She accidentally murders the man (or he commits suicide--I was a little unclear on that part). Then the man's wife shows up looking for him . . . So is this another hare-brained giallo plot? Perhaps. So who might be behind it? Hmmm.

As ridiculous as the plot is, it is pretty effective in places. This kind of theatricality is often pretty annoying in movies, but it works sometimes when the characters themselves are SUPPOSED to be ham actors. Even more than "Wait Until Dark" this reminded me of another English move called "The Penthouse" in this respect. It's not as good as either of those, but it's not too bad for an 80's giallo either.

The House With Yellow Carpet is one of the lesser known Giallo's, but it's easily one of the most captivating I ever saw. The film does not adhere to most of the Giallo standards; and does not make murder and violence the main elements of the story. Instead, the film is a tightly-wound psychological thriller that relies mainly on its small cast of characters and many twists and turns to keep things interesting. The film is based on a stage play by Aldo Selleri and focuses on a young couple; Franca and Antonio. The live in a high rise apartment building and have a big yellow carpet for sale. They advertise the carpet and eventually a buyer responds to the ad; however, just as he is due to arrive, Antonio has to leave the apartment. The buyer arrives in the form of a strange man; and Franca is left to deal with him on her own. It's not long before it becomes apparent that buying the carpet is not his only motive for being there; and after confessing to murdering his wife on the carpet that is for sale, he proceeds to terrify the young woman.

The film is very much on a small scale; there are only four characters in the whole film and most of it takes place in just a small apartment. However, director Carlo Lizzani still manages to create a very interesting little film. The House With Yellow Carpet (another great Giallo title) is completely bizarre in the way that the plot works; and this helps to keep things intriguing. Erland Josephson is the pick of the cast in his role of the potential buyer. His style and mood fit the film perfectly and it's his character that delivers most of the twists. The film constantly changes as it goes along and the script constantly messes with the audience. As mentioned, there's little blood and violence in the film; although a sequence depicting a man inserting a needle into his eyeball is not for the feint of heart. After a while, it becomes clear that it's better to just let the film play out rather than try to second guess it; and thankfully the ending does come as a surprise (although the final twist can be guessed much earlier). Overall, this is a fascinating little film and is well worth the effort of tracking it down!

Carlo Lizzani's "La Casa del Tappeto Giallo" is based on a play by Aldo Selleri.It's very interesting and quite original psychological giallo about a young couple Antonio and Franca.Franca inherited yellow carpet from her abusive stepfather.Antonio wants to sell yellow carpet and puts an ad in the local newspaper.During the absence of Antonio Franca is visited by a middle-aged man with a paralyzed hand.This mysterious man becomes more threatening and violent as he tells Franca that he killed his wife on the same carpet Franca is selling."The House of the Yellow Carpet" is an atmospheric and theatrical giallo which mostly takes place in a small apartment.The acting is excellent and there are two nasty moments including vicious stabbing and syringe in the eye moment.7 yellow carpets out of 10.