Lo strangolatore dalle 9 dita

Despite the noticeable absence of series regulars Eddie Arent and Klaus Kinski, this is another solid entry in the long-running Edgar Wallace (or in this case, son Bryan) krimi series, and probably the most action-packed. Unlike the playfully gimmicky Alfred Vohrer, director Harald Reinl (an acknowledged Fritz Lang disciple) preferred to play his material straight, emphasising action and violence. The proceedings are highlighted by surprisingly gruesome assaults and murders (decapitation being a specialty here), but to his credit, Reinl filled in the edges with imaginative touches, eccentric behaviour by oddball characters, and quirky humour (the knock-out by moosehead would have pleased Vohrer immensely). The cheekiest Langian homage is the M inscribed on the victims' foreheads, but there are plenty of other visual and thematic tropes that smack of the master's influence (it was Reinl who took over Lang's Mabuse franchise at about the same time as this picture). For instance, one minor character, a henpecked clerk, insists that he could definitely tell that the suspect who phoned him was a blonde by her voice (wink-wink), prompting a withering look from his wife. The moody b&w cinematography is often striking, and the creepy modernist score is effective and memorable. The director's statuesque wife and regular leading lady, Karin Dor, is disappointingly mousy in her role, but Ingmar Zeisberg steals the show as a sultry, unnatural-blonde barmaid at a sleazy Soho cabaret who leads a double life. Only the final revelation of the murderer is a bit of letdown, but that was par for the course.

Very fun, sinister film. This is the kind of movie I remember waking up and seeing at three o'clock in the morning on television when I was a child--good thing or bad? Anyhow, Karin Dor is terrific, and who wouldn't love the disjointed creepiness of a German version of Britain in which everyone speaks American English--at least in the version I own. Nice use of marking victims with the letter M--reference to Lang? Why oh why can't we find these movies on television anymore?--not even on cable! And, by the way, where the heck is HUNCHBACK OF SOHO?

Enjoyable krimi film; I really need to see more of these. A man in black strangles people and threatens an old man to reveal where the diamonds he stole are hidden. The old man's niece is a journalist, so naturally she becomes interested in the story of the strangler (without knowing how her uncle is involved) and the police also investigate.

Reasonable suspects include the old man's strange butler, and the eccentric Lord of the castle, among others.

Despite the title, the "Strangler" also carves an "M" into his victims' foreheads and decapitates two of them, one of them right before our eyes.

As with the last Wallace krimi I watched, this one has people looking through peepholes, and secret passages.

Watched Alpha's DVD of this; no complaints.

THE STRANGLER OF BLACKMOOR CASTLE is one of the best of the German krimis I've watched, this one based on the works of Bryan Edgar Wallace. The story is relatively straightforward: a masked killer prowls the corridors of Blackmoor Castle, searching for a stash of hidden diamonds and ready to strangle anyone who gets in his way.

Veteran director Harald Reinl uses the opportunity to deliver a film that's loaded with atmosphere, murder and action. The killer, who has a penchant for beheading his victims, is truly a sinister creation and the scenes of him prowling through dimly-lit corridors are hugely atmosphere. Some of the set-pieces provide bizarre highlights, such as the motorcycle beheading, and there's even some fisticuffs to keep the story bubbling along.

The cast acquit themselves well enough that the viewer is able to distinguish some solid performances despite the atrocious English dubbing. Regular Scream Queen Karin Dor headlines but the statuesque Ingmar Zeisberg wins most of the attention as a scheming barmaid. There are red herrings galore, dogged detectives and intrepid reporters, everything you'd want from a good murder mystery. Add in some broad comedy involving a kilt-wearing "lord of the manor" who's got an obsession for birdsong and you have a great little movie overall.

Krimi is the German word for crime thriller.In the 60's through the very early 70's the Germans made dozens of them. Most were based on the works of Edgar & Bryan Wallace. While the quality of the individual films varied, this is one of the best I've seen so far.

The plot revolves around a country estate. A masked strangler is on the loose. His victims are branded with an "M" on their foreheads.The complex plot revolves around the killer,family skeletons in the closet,lineage,a fortune in diamonds and a ruthless gang of thugs.

The atmosphere of this film is appropriately dank but excellently done. The swirling fog on the moors adds a touch of menace to the night air.The castle and all of its secrets is a grand affair.Even the grounds capture the crispness of the air during the day.

The acting is top notch.Usually the same stable of actors appeared in most of the series.A lot of fun can be gained by seeing roles change from film to film as they move from the sides of good and evil.The comedy relief is not a millstone in this film as it usually is a bane.The soundtrack is moody and well done.

Best watched late at night with the lights down low. A rare 10.